King Charles Spaniels

[Hayburner]

Anyone have experience with this bred?

Wondering about health issues, etc.

The pup I'm looking at is part KCS.

I've read a few articles on-line but just looking for hands on experience with the bred.

Thanks

[KathyK]

This pup, being a mixed breed, will have hybrid vigor, and not necessarily any of the fairly minor health issues of the CKCS breed. Go get that pup!

[exvet]

Actually hybrid vigor is a possibility but I have seen multiple KCS mixes that have developed/inherited the expected cardiac, eye and ear problems as well as respiratory issues that this breed can possess. Testing such as Wisdom panels and other genetic tests may screen for some of the inheritable diseases of concern.

[WheresMyWhite]

FWIW, the breed is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel of CKCS for short

Some might refer to them as the King Charles Spaniel but fanciers of the breed may become incensed

They are cute dogs.

Always an excellent resource for any pure-bred dog is their national breed club. In the US, that would be the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club. There is an entire drop-down list regarding health of the CKCS.

https://www.ackcsc.org

[PaulaO]

I believe pictures are required....

[Canyon]

No hands-on experience, but I am familiar with someone from another board, who seems to be a very responsible breeder. She health tests and shows her dogs. Here is the FAQ section of her web site -

http://sonestafarms.com/cavaliers/faqs.htm

She has a lot of info on her web site, if you check out the other pages on it.

[Saanich]

Last August we lost our 9 year old Pomeranian to syringomyelia. As she suffered through this truly awful condition, I did extensive of research on it. It tends to affect dome headed breeds (the largest percentage by far being Cavaliers) in conjunction with chiari malformation which thankfully our Pom did not have. Her suffering with syringomyelia alone was bad enough.

I'm not saying that the dog you are considering has either or both of these conditions but recommend you have the dog thoroughly checked out by a vet who has experience with both conditions before you make your decision.

[Chancellor]

This pup, being a mixed breed, will have hybrid vigor, and not necessarily any of the fairly minor health issues of the CKCS breed. Go get that pup!

Hybrid vigor does NOT apply to mixed breed dogs. Mixed species are hybrids not mixed breeds!

[PaulaO]

Aren't CKCS prone to heart problems? I know 2 people who lost 5-7 year old dogs due to heart problems.

[Hayburner]

Thanks for all the replies! I have t heard back from the rescue yet, the Corona virus has us on lockdown!

Saanich- I did read about this disease and how the CKCS have a good chance of getting this. That certainly worries me, also many other health issues they can have. My last dog did have many issues with one ear,finally the vet said it's mostly due to the shape of that particular ears canal. Also, bladder stones, torn acl, allergies, congestive heart failure, etc., etc. he did live a good life and till he was a bit beyond 16.

I'm just hoping to not start out with health issues, I finally have more time for dog ownership and wish to enjoy every minute of it!

[Hayburner]

Chancellor can you elaborate on hybrid vigor and hybrids?

[Canyon]

FWIW, from personal experience, I agree with Chancellor about no hybrid vigor in mutts. We adopted a brown pound hound, probably a lab - chow mix, who developed an autoimmune disease. Her body destroyed platelets, leading to internal bleeding. My vet was able to figure out what was going on, and we were able to control the condition with prednisolone. She was on the drug for life, and she did live a long, fun life. But not a disease I previously would have expected from a mixed breed!

[Imperini]

I think the idea behind pups of a mixed breed having less of a chance of having the health problems that are associated with specific breeds is because if both parents have to pass the issue then a parent of a different breed may be less likely to have the issue and pass it on. It certainly doesn't mean that mixed breeds can't or won't have health problems just maybe a bit less likely for some typically breed specific issues.

I think that all made sense but if it doesn't I apologize, I'm very sleepy today..

[KathyK]

This pup, being a mixed breed, will have hybrid vigor, and not necessarily any of the fairly minor health issues of the CKCS breed. Go get that pup!

Hybrid vigor does NOT apply to mixed breed dogs. Mixed species are hybrids not mixed breeds!

Hybrid vigor absolutely does apply to outcrossing, as opposed to inbreeding, of animals or plants.

"In biology, a hybrid is the offspring resulting from combining the qualities of two organisms of different breeds, varieties, species or genera through sexual reproduction."

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALe ... CAs&uact=5

[exvet]

I'm afraid autoimmune diseases and immune-mediated diseases do not know specific breeds per se. While I may see purebred dogs with such diseases, the majority of my patients are heinz-57 models, mostly of unknown breeding.

[Chancellor]

This pup, being a mixed breed, will have hybrid vigor, and not necessarily any of the fairly minor health issues of the CKCS breed. Go get that pup!

Hybrid vigor does NOT apply to mixed breed dogs. Mixed species are hybrids not mixed breeds!

Hybrid vigor absolutely does apply to outcrossing, as opposed to inbreeding, of animals or plants.

"In biology, a hybrid is the offspring resulting from combining the qualities of two organisms of different breeds, varieties, species or genera through sexual reproduction."

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALe ... CAs&uact=5

Ok You can choose to believe what you like. I choose science

https://www.petguide.com/health/dog/wha ... r-in-dogs/

[Chisamba]

I am sorry Chancellor, there was nothing scientific about the article you posted.

The article uses the infertility of a mule to claim hybrid vigor doesn't exist which I find rather is rather ridiculous.

Hybrid vigor can have several definitions, and one if those definitions does include crossed breeds.

But , it clearly does not eradicate genetic weaknesses unless the gene requires a double recessive to affect the offspring

[Chancellor]

There is nothing scientific about that article. YOu are right. However the science I understand does not define hybrid vigor of a cross bred dog.