Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Changes in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel head shape over time
By Knowler, Susan Penelope et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2019·Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pilot study of head conformation changes over time in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel breed.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) was evaluated for head shape changes that could increase their risk of serious health issues like Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia (SM). Thirteen dogs were assessed by judges using a checklist that looked at their head shape, and their results were compared with MRI scans. The study found that certain head shapes were linked to a higher risk of SM, raising concerns about the breed's conformation standards. While some dogs showed no signs of SM, the findings suggest that head shape could be an important factor in their health, indicating a need for further research.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel head shape problems · Chiari-like malformation in dogs · syringomyelia risk in CKCS
Abstract
Modern interpretation of head conformation in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) has favoured a smaller, more exaggerated, brachycephalic type than originally described in the 1929 breed standard. Recent research studies identified brachycephaly and reduced hind cranium as two conformational (dysmorphic) features that increase risk for symptomatic Chiari-like malformation and secondary syringomyelia (SM). A prospective pilot study investigated the hypothesis that dysmorphic head features could be assessed visually and correlated with risk of SM. Thirteen CKCS, selected from anonymised photographic evidence, were physically appraised by authorised Kennel Club judges using a head shape checklist. These subjective evaluations were then matched with objective measurements of the cranium (cephalic index and rostrocaudal doming) and their subsequent MRI. A positive correlation (P=0.039) between the judges' checklist score and rostrocaudal doming (hindskull ratio) and a positive correlation between the cephalic index and hindskull ratio (P=0.042) were identified. Five CKCS had no SM and their status tallied with 62 per cent of the judges' evaluation. Although the ability of adjudicators to identify differences in head conformation varied, there was sufficient association between the dysmorphic parameters and the risk of SM to cause concern and propose a larger study in CKCS breed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30635451/