
Originally Posted by
Davecav
I think all this is very interesting and a bit

way above my head. Humans have CM and they suffer very badly from this from what I have read and gathered.
So these are the people who have bad symptoms and have been diagnosed. But there may be many others who don't have any symptoms but still have CM - I might have CM, you might have CM? but because we don't have a problem, then no one will know. not even us, yet we have children who might get the full blown disease.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here, but there are probaly lots of dogs that aren't suffering - who have the genetic makeup of this and look bad on a scan, and others when MRI scanned who look on screen exactly the same, but have loads of pain.

You are probably right, but they will all have the CM genes to pass on to their offspring, which is a grim thought.
A human CM sufferer would be unlucky to meet and marry another human CM sufferer, but with 98% of cavaliers with CM nearly every cavalier litter will be the product of two CM affected dogs, so doubling up on these genes with each cavalier generation.

Originally Posted by
Davecav
There looks as if there is much much more to all this, so how does a new pet owner or even a dedicted breeder go about it all now? given as read that a good breeder won't breed from a dog that shows signs of pain.

Good breeders won't, if they have educated themselves enough to know what constitutes signs of pain.
But as Maggie has written.......
" the presence of symptoms of discomfort or pain is entirely down to breeder perception, understanding and HONESTY.
How many people see that which they do not want to see ?"
Pet owners and breeders alike sometimes find it hard to admit to themselves the truth that is staring them in the face.
Pet owners need to face the fact that this is a health compromised breed and if they are going to take the risk of owning a cavalier, for their own sake and the breed's sake they should support responsible breeders.
Dedicated breeders would obviously be breeding to the MVD & SM guidelines.
It would be selfish uncaring breeders that do not bother.
Margaret C
Cavaliers......Faith, The Ginger Tank and Woody.
Japanese Chins.... Dandy, Benny, Bridgette and Hana.
Remembered with love......... Tommy Tuppence and Fonzi
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