Kennel Club Statement - 10th February, 2011

The Kennel Club, BVA and Cavalier Clubs have issued a statement on the Recording and publication of results for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) issued under the proposed BVA/KC CM/SM (Chiari-like Malformation / Syringomyelia) Scheme following a meeting held on 3rd February 2011.

A meeting was held on, Thurs 3rd Feb, at the Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh Park of invited representatives of the CKCS breed clubs, the KC, the BVA Canine Health Schemes and experts representing the specialists who have developed the Scheme protocol and scientists who are developing estimated breeding values at the Animal Health Trust (AHT).

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss recording and publication of results issued under the proposed CM/SM Scheme by the Kennel Club.

A proposal for the way in which the KC could record and publish results was suggested to the attendees at the meeting and it was agreed that the proposal would be taken back to the clubs, the Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Association for discussion.

The need for a proposal arose because it was clear that the was a need to encourage participation in the new Scheme and aid speedy data collection and that simply following the way in which other BVA/KC Scheme data is recorded and published was unlikely to achieve this at this time.

Proposal for the recording and publication of results by the Kennel Club issued under the new BVA/KC CM/SM (Chiari-like Malformation / Syringomyelia) Scheme.

1. All CM and SM grades will be recorded on the screened dog's KC registration record.

2. All CM and SM results and dogs' details will automatically be passed to the AHT for research purposes.

3. Neither CM or SM grades will be published, nor will they be accessible via the Health Test Result Finder.

4. What will be published, next to the CM/SM Scheme name (i.e. BVA/KC CMSM Scheme:), is the fact that the dog has been screened (MRI scanned) and its age at the time of screening (e.g. Screened at 4yrs 6months).

5. Publication of the date of screening and age of dog will appear on KC registration certificates, the Breed Records Supplement and will be accessible via the Health Test Results Finder.

6. Dogs that have not been MRI scanned under the Scheme will be identified as having 'no result recorded'. This information will be available on the Health Test Result Finder and will also appear on any new registration certificate issued for the dog and on the registration certificates of any of the dog's future progeny.

7. Since SM appears to be a progressive disease, the same dog might have more than one MRI scan, taken at different ages, so any new scan result will replace an existing result.

8. It is intended that this recording and publication plan remain in place until such time as Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are available for this breed, at which time we will engage in consultation with a view to publishing the EBV for individual dogs.

Publication of the above is with the approval of the Kennel Club           10th February 2011

The Cavalier Health Liaison Committee also announces that it's new KC Health Representative is Mr Peter Towse (email kchealthrep@cavalierhealth.co.uk)

The CHLC consists of representatives from each of the UK Cavalier Clubs and is Chaired by Mr David Moger (email chairman@cavalierhealth.co.uk) and the

Secretary is Mrs Linda Flynn (email secretary@cavalierhealth.co.uk)