Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Syringomyelia rates in Australian Cavalier King Charles spaniels over
By McLeay, L & Child, G·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2026·Small Animal Specialist Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Syringomyelia in Australian Cavalier King Charles spaniels: prevalence and changes over 16 years of magnetic resonance imaging screening.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in Australia underwent MRI screening to check for syringomyelia, a condition where fluid builds up in the spinal cord, causing pain and other issues. The study found that over half of the dogs had syringomyelia, and the condition became more common as the dogs aged. Interestingly, black and tan Cavaliers were more severely affected than those with a Blenheim coat color. Despite ongoing screening and breeding recommendations, the prevalence and severity of syringomyelia did not improve over the 16 years of the study. This suggests that more rigorous screening and breeding practices may be needed to help reduce the occurrence of this condition in the breed.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel syringomyelia symptoms · dog spinal cord fluid treatment · MRI screening for dogs
Abstract
Syringomyelia is a common and heritable disorder in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), characterised by fluid accumulation within the spinal cord that may result in pain and neurological dysfunction. The prevalence of syringomyelia in CKCS in Australia has not previously been reported. The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of syringomyelia in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-screened breeding CKCS in New South Wales, Australia, from 2008 to 2024, and to evaluate changes over time. A secondary goal was to investigate associations between age and coat colour with the prevalence and severity of syringomyelia. A retrospective observational study was conducted on 386 CKCS undergoing voluntary MRI screening. The dogs included in the study had no clinical signs of syringomyelia or Chiari-like malformation. Syringomyelia was defined as fluid accumulation within the spinal cord with a diameter ≥ 1.0 mm. Dogs were graded by severity and grouped by age, coat color and screening period. Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank-sum, Kruskal-Wallis and multivariable logistic regression. Syringomyelia was detected in 50.5% of dogs. No significant change in prevalence or severity was observed over the 16-year period. Syringomyelia prevalence increased with age (P < 0.001). Coat colour was associated with both prevalence and severity, with black and tan dogs more severely affected than Blenheim dogs (P = 0.007). Syringomyelia was highly prevalent in Australian CKCS, with no significant improvement over time despite voluntary screening and breeding recommendations. Greater emphasis on MRI screening beyond 3 years of age and stricter breeding practices may be necessary to reduce disease prevalence and severity in the breed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40928733/