Buying a Cavalier Pup? Read This Post First to Understand What Makes for a Responsible Breeder
- Admin
- Dec 24, 2017
- 4 min read
In my quest to better understand and promote ethical, responsible Cavalier breeding, I connected with Sarah Sweetman, experienced breeder at Kazuri.
Sarah Sweetman of Kazuri was a five-year beagle breeding veteran when she was inspired by her daughter to enter the Cavalier breeding ring. Her daughter had considered several dog types but settled on Cavaliers because of the breed's love for warm laps and its affinity for wearing cute outfits!
After spending an hour on the phone with Sarah, I came away wishing that every Cavalier breeder was just like her. Her love for dogs is apparent. Her commitment to disease-free pups is strong. According to Sarah, she knew from the start that Cavs would be difficult to breed. Before Kazuri’s first Cav litter, she was told by a show judge that she hoped Sarah would remain a Cav breeder because so many don’t stay long-term. The judge expressed it can be heartbreaking. Determined, Sarah felt she could make a positive difference on the long-term health of the breed.
Becoming a Lockestar in Cavalier Health
Just as she had done with her Beagles, Sarah was committed to be an exceptional, highly responsible breeder of Cavaliers. Her first step was buying her first pup and finding a Cavalier breeder who screened for major health issues. She learned of Lockestar Cavaliers through her connections and was told it “MRI screened” which was something Sarah wasn’t familiar with. She soon learned why this expensive health test was necessary. Syringomyelia, the disease that can only be accurately diagnosed by MRI scans, is plaguing the Cavalier breed.
According to CavalierHealth.org:
Syringomyelia (SM) is an extremely serious condition in which fluid-filled cavities develop within the spinal cord near the brain. It is also known as "neck scratcher's disease", because one of its common signs is scratching in the air near the neck.
The back half of the cavalier King Charles spaniel’s skull typically may be too small to accommodate all of the brain’s cerebellum, which may also be too large, and so it squeezes through the foramen magnum – the hole at the back of the skull – partially blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) down the spinal cord. The variable pressure created by the abnormal flow of CSF is believed to create the SM cavities – called syrinx – in the spinal cord.
It's estimated almost 50% of all Cavaliers have this chronic disease, causing precious pups to be put down at a young age and leaving their owners devastated.
Arrow Points Sarah in the Right Direction
Lockestar Cavaliers had Arrow, a nine-month old girl who was bred to be a show dog but taking a bit longer to blossom. Sarah felt Arrow would be the perfect addition to the Sweetman family. She and her daughter planned to show and breed her. It would be a while, however, before Sarah could breed her, She needed to wait until Arrow’s skull was fully developed at two years of age before taking her to Canada to be MRI scanned. Sarah explained that MRI scanning is much more common in Canada and is therefore much less expensive (under $1,000 compared to $2,000-$3,000 in the U.S.).
She said that the procedure is more thorough there too. In Canada, dogs are scanned from their skulls to their shoulder blades. In the U.S., they stop at their necks. Why is it critical to have Cavaliers scanned prior to breeding? Sarah claims they are 70% less likely to have pups with SM. For males who can turn out hundreds of pups a year, MRI scanning isn’t a "nice-to-do." It’s a "must-do" to protect the future health of the Cavalier breed!
Arrow was clear of SM and has produced two healthy litters.
Looking for a Cavalier Pup?
If you’re in the market for a Cavalier pup, Sarah offers some helpful tips:
Check the health records of the moms and the dads. Ensure they are more extensive than just regular health checks. Here’s what you should look for:
A cardiologist report showing an Auscultation and an echo-cardiogram if needed.. (MVD is disease also ravaging the breed).
A neurologist report showing a clear MRI scan. Note that the dogs must be two or older before they are scanned.
X-rays showing no hip problems or luxating patellas.
ALL REPUTABLE BREEDERS WILL HAVE HEALTH RECORDS ON THEIR DOGS! DON’T TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD! You can also visit the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (https://www.ofa.org/) to check on information that's been shared with you if something seems fishy.
Look for signs of puppy mills by asking the following:
How long have you been breeding your girls?
Do you give your girls a break?
Where do you find your studs? (Having males on site can be a red flag)
How many litters do you produce each year? (Over a few is a red flag)
Do you always have dogs available? (Most reputable breeders have very limited availability and waiting lists)
Sarah is committed. She passionately offered some final thoughts. “We can make our dogs live longer. We don’t have to accept the state of things. Breeders need to accept responsibility and not bury their heads in the sand.”
In addition to Kazuri, here are breeders that Sarah says do MRI scanning for SM/CM and regular cardiologist check hearts for MVD.
Authors note: Trisha, my Cavalier who passed before her 8th birthday, had severe SM and brain surgery to stop the progression at 2 years of age. It’s a heartbreaking disease that robs dogs of a healthy life. I was completely uneducated when I bought Trisha from Willow Springs Kennels. With Sarah’s advice above, I would have never considered a dog from Willow Springs which turns out hundreds of dogs a year. I loved Trisha and wouldn’t have traded her for the world. However, the longer we support breeders who aren’t committed to healthy dogs, the more we will see the lives of precious Cavaliers cut short like my Trisha. Please share this post with anyone who is considering a Cavalier purchase.
