• If you're a past member of the board, but can't recall your password any more, you don't need to set up a new account (unless you wish to). As long as you recall your old login name, you can log in with that user name then select 'forgot password' and the board will email you at your registration email, to let you reset your password.

Breeding recommendations on SM

Gigi

New member
Is there any specific breeding recommendations for siblings of SM affected cavaliers? Is it safe to use them?
 
The first thing to say is that no cavalier is ever 'safe' to use. The condition is so widespread, in all lines now, that there are no 'safe' dogs or lines. Inheritence is not fully understood either, but almost every cavalier has the skull malformation that creates the constriction that seems to generate SM in both humans and dogs. And a research sample of over 550 cavaliers indicated 70% or more eventually will have SM as they age.

A sibling of an affected dog certainly would be considered a much higher risk from the very start, because it would be known that parents already have produced affected offspring in that litter. You'd also want to know the scan results on the older parents of the sibling of course -- that's some of the best information a breeder can have.

But -- to even begin to consider breeding the sibling (or any cavalier), the breeder MUST scan the sibling, at the appropriate age, and certainly, the older the dog was at the time of scan the better for a sibling of an affected dog. (at minimum, 2.5 or 3 according to protocols, but with affected siblings, I at least would consider this way too young for the scan and a breeding even on a clear scan).

There's lots of detail on the breeding guidelines and research at http://www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/ and also at www.cavalierhealth.org.
 
Back
Top