I just don’t want to be arguing with you.

I am just the facts as I have been told them.

As to the 30,000 of the Cavalier Population claimed to be suffering from SM, Dr M Willis,the World Renowned Geneticist,has said in his Book on Genetics ,that when a Health Problem appears in a Breed ,it is a Priority to discover how wide-spread the Problem is.

Since Dr Blott has mentioned in a recent CKCS CLUB News-Letter ,that it it is possible that the SM figures are Biased ,they were Based on Clinical Cases of SM seen by Neurologists,this is why she ,hopefully will have more of an idea how wide-spread the Problem is by 2010.

I do so hope that the EBV Research will help in the SM Problem, but because it has only been used for Cows to increase their Milk Yield,Pigs for Fat Content ,and Sheep to incease their Wool,this is really a new diection this type of Research is going .

Bet Hargreaves

http://www.doggenetichealth.org/cavalier_king_charles_spaniel_club.php

I am all for the championing of causes but not flogging dead horses. Obviously the Cavalier community have always recognized the challenges that have cropped up in their breed over the years, and have done the best they could to address them, just as most breed clubs do. Health problems are not easy issues and often little progress can be made until technology catches up and can shed light on the matter. There is plenty of room for energetic individuals interested in helping Cavaliers in the areas of fund-raising for research and disseminating information. I suggest people put their efforts into helping Cavaliers rather than bashing breeders. If you are not part of the solution than you are most definitely part of the problem. The Cavalier community is taking the necessary steps to address problems in the breed. I remain firm on my position that there are worldwide people problems which are far more pressing and for which there are no answers in sight. If one can’t find it in their heart to support the Cavalier community in their efforts than one is living too insular an existance. Go out and see the human misery that abounds in this world and get some perspective in life. Please let the Cavalier Community get on with their mission without the ongoing negativity and finger-pointing; far too much energy is being wasted in these non-productive activities.

For tackling all the human suffering and atrocities in the world may I suggest you search for sites such as Amnesty International. They are a fantastic organisation and well worth supporting for addressing those important issues you raise. But just for your information it is my understanding that K9 Magazine is a publication that champions a wide range of causes in canine health and welfare reform. That is why this excellent piece by Carol Fowler would be published here.

And Ryan is correct in looking at it in black and white terms. Carol has mapped out a clear route through which Cavalier owners can try to address the health issues this breed now faces. It is up to you whether you support these best efforts or not. It seems to me, as so often is the case with many a breed ruined by the show world that standing round arguing the toss over the numbers of dogs affected is a complete waste of time and will only harm the dogs further. So please cavalier breeders and enthusiasts please do take up this call.

I am ,at the moment asking the Kennel Club,why they wont stop Registering Cavalier Puppies whose Sires and Dams have not been Heart Tested.This would also get the Puppy Farmers involved.

Now to MRI Scanning ,first of all an Important Cavalier Breeder in America ,has stated publicly ,that full MRI Scans must be being carried out ,Mini MRI Scans are not really of much use.

There have been MRI Scans done ,and the results showed the Cavaliers having no signs of SM,they were mated ,and the Off-Springs did have SM.

I just don’t know the answer to this,

Particularly now ,since it has just been announced a couple of days ago that Foetal Research,have discovered that there was not a single case of proper Cerebellar Herniation in any of the Still Born Pups submitted.

So is this one of the mysteries of SM discovered? .

Time will tell.

There is now a Neuropathologist involved in this Research Work.

As I mentioned ,I am glad that I am not a Cavalier Breeder ,

With this latest Foetal Research information ,I for sure don’t know, but could the SM problem be Environmental,and this is why it is involving other Small Breeds of Dogs.

Just maybe it is not a Genetic Problem after all.

So much needs to be being found out about the SM Disease .

Bet Hargreaves.

Really has no bearing at all on human issues and, as I came in with, this is an obscure line of thinking. It’s like saying anyone who works with disadvantaged children should, on a scale of suffering, not be wasting their time on that but should instead be putting their efforts in to schemes tackling genocides. Life doesn’t work this way.

When I see a dog that has been indiscriminately bred by someone who opted not to even bother using the screening tools available to them, I have no distinction between that type of person and someone else who neglects their animals. They are as bad as each other.

Ryan, I wish you would bring your black and white thinking to the all the human atrocities and human suffering that happen in the world every day. There are people living in inhumane conditions in this world without clean safe water or sufficint food who could benefit from your tenacity. The plight of Cavaliers and their dedicated owners, while important, pales in comparison to the life and death situations many people face everyday. To suggest that not MRI’ing a dog is “tantamount to animal abuse” is despicable. Be resaonable.

I am glad I am not a Cavalier Breeder ,I know when any of our Cavaliers had to have their Teeth removed ,and that was only a GE for a limited time, because of the Heart Trouble in the Breed I was very worried .

Finally ,there has been quite a number of Reports of Cavalier Bitches whelping Dead and Deformed Litters recently, could this be a result of MRI Scanning .

I wonder has there been any Research carried out to discover if MRI Scanning could be causing problems.?

Bet Hargreaves