FOR INCLUSION WITH ANNUAL RETURNS 2012

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1 ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL BREED CLUBS HEALTH REPORT 2011/12 *on behalf of: The English Springer Spaniel Club The English Springer Spaniel Club of Scotland The English Springer Spaniel Club of Wales The Lancs & Cheshire English Springer Spaniel Club The Southern English Springer Spaniel Society The Midland English Springer Spaniel Society The Northern English Springer Spaniel Society The South Western English Springer Spaniel Club FOR INCLUSION WITH ANNUAL RETURNS 2012 The world of pedigree dogs was certainly shaken up when Pedigree Dogs Exposed was broadcast on TV in More than three years later, the health of pedigree dogs remains well and truly under the microscope, with PDE 2 having been broadcast in February 2012 and The Kennel Club having instituted independent Veterinary checks for the 15 High Profile Breeds at Crufts The ESS Breed Clubs continue to support a proactive approach towards health issues, in their efforts to protect the health and welfare of our wonderful Breed. Many more ESS owners and breeders are now responding positively to using the health tests available to them, and we will continue to work towards achieving a level playing field that requires everyone to meet certain standards of health and welfare for all dogs. Public education remains the most challenging of the many aspects of dog breeding and ownership, and is undoubtedly the key to long term success. In 2012, we hope to expand our avenues of communication on behalf of the ESS Breed Clubs, for example, through social networking sites, to spread our message further afield and enable us to gather more feedback from the general ESS owning public. Increasingly, we are collaborating with Health Representatives in other breeds, and the opportunity to learn from each other is proving to be extremely beneficial. For their part, the KC s second seminar for Breed Health Co-ordinators took place in November 2011, with delegates attending a varied and informative day (details available from the ESS Breed Club Secretaries and the Health Coordinators). At this point, we would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by Professor Jeff Sampson, who, in December 2011, announced his retirement from his position as the KC s Senior Genetics Consultant. We are greatly indebted to him for his time, expertise and guidance over the many years we worked with him in our roles as ESS Health Co-ordinators. Last, but not least, we take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed in so many different ways on the ESS health front, especially in these difficult times. This includes those of you who generously donated healthy control blood samples from your dogs for the Chronic Hepatitis research project, and offered cheek swab samples for a Control Group for a project into Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and also to anyone who came forward with information, data and feedback, all of which are essential to us if we are to carry out our roles effectively. 1

2 BREED SPECIFIC HEALTH MATTERS CHRONIC HEPATITIS RESEARCH PROJECT Nick Bexfield and Penny Watson of the University of Cambridge are continuing with their research into Chronic Hepatitis (CH) in the English Springer Spaniel. Their primary aim has been to identify if the disease is caused by a virus, although they have also performed studies to help understand if a dog's genes are involved in the development of the disease. In October 2011, they published a research paper in The Veterinary Journal which summarises the clinical and laboratory findings in a large number of dogs with CH (the full paper can be read by visiting sesss.org or englishspringer.org). From this work, they identified changes in liver tissue of affected dogs which are similar to those found in some humans with viral hepatitis. They have been using powerful techniques to identify any viruses in liver tissue of affected dogs. Although they have not discovered any viruses so far, this study is still ongoing. With financial support from English Springer Spaniel owners and English Springer Spaniel Welfare, they have also undertaken two genetic studies. This work may not only aid in understanding the cause of CH, but could allow the future development of genetic tests to help reduce the incidence of the disease. They are very grateful to the owners of both affected and healthy dogs who provided blood samples for this study. A component of the research has suggested that some of the genes which are involved in the control of the immune system may be a reason why some dogs develop the disease and others are protected. Results are currently being analysed from the larger and far more powerful study, known as a genome wide association study (where the whole of the dog's genome is screened to identify genes which may be involved in the development of CH), in which nearly 150 affected and healthy dogs have been screened (including the control samples that were so crucially donated following our appeal). This work has been done in collaboration with the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh. Analysing the data from this study is a lengthy process and the researchers are not expecting results for a few months. They plan on publishing the findings in due course. Clinical and pedigree information and (ideally) blood samples from dogs diagnosed with Hepatitis remain essential to the researchers; owners should please ask their Vet to contact either of the researchers (Nick Bexfield or Penny Watson), preferably before any liver biopsy is performed, so that they can discuss the ideal techniques of taking and storing biopsies beforehand. (Tel: nb289@cam.ac.uk or pjw36@cam.ac.uk). PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY (PRA) It has been established that some dogs have been identified as genetically affected for PRA Cord1, who appear clinically normal under standard ophthalmic examination. Research has been carried out using electroretinography (ERG), which has found abnormalities in the retinas of genetically affected dogs that could not be detected under normal clinical examination. ERG objectively measures the electrical responses of the light sensitive cells (rods and cones) in the retina at the back of the eye, and is much more sensitive to detecting abnormalities than standard eye examination. It is possible there may be a secondary gene that influences the age of clinical onset of PRA in dogs genetically affected for the Cord1 mutation. It is therefore vital that the owners of genetically 2

3 affected dogs who appear to be clinically normal come forward to allow further research to progress. On the other side of the coin, there are dogs that have been clinically diagnosed with PRA, but found not to be genetically affected for the Cord1 mutation. This suggests that there is more than one genetic mutation for PRA in our breed. We therefore need the owners of such dogs to come forward so that further research can be carried out. DNA TESTING The following is an update on the numbers of English Springer Spaniels DNA tested by The Animal Health Trust for Fucosidosis, PRA Cord1 and PFK in 2011 alone and the cumulative totals since each test became available. FUCOSIDOSIS Clear Carrier Affected January-December 2011 UK Registered 76 (97.4%) 2 (2.6%) 0 Non UK Registered 20 (100%) UK Registered 657 (95.3%) 24 (3.5%) 8 (1.2%) Non UK Registered 806 (91.5%) 71 (8.1%) 4 (0.4%) PRA CORD1 Clear Carrier Affected January-December 2011 UK Registered 90 (79.6%) 21 (18.6%) 2 (1.8%) Non UK Registered 25 (49.0%) 22 (43.2%) 4 (7.8%) UK Registered 352 (73%) 117 (24.3%) 298 Non UK Registered (56.1%) 197 (37.1%) (2.7%) 36 (6.8%) PFK Clear Carrier Affected January-December 2011 UK Registered 21 (95.5%) 0 1 (4.5%) Non UK Registered UK Registered 104 (90.4%) 2 (1.8%) 9 (7.8%) Non UK Registered 10 (100%) 0 0 It is important to note that these are not results from a statistically-significant research study and so may not represent the proportions of clears, carriers and affecteds in the wider ESS population. This is particularly true with PFK, where the symptoms could be confused with other conditions, and consequently the results may reflect a disproportionately high number of affected dogs referred by Vets to confirm a clinical diagnosis. 3

4 KC ASSURED BREEDER SCHEME (ABS) Following a consultation process early in 2011, the eight UK ESS Breed Clubs agreed to put forward a number of proposals to the Kennel Club for the inclusion of additional breed specific requirements and recommendations under the Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS).** All of these proposals were approved by the KC and have been incorporated into the ABS with effect from 1 st July 2011 as follows: REQUIREMENTS for the sire and dam of any ESS litter registered under the ABS: Fucosidosis DNA Test PRA Cord1 DNA Test Gonioscopy Eye Test RECOMMENDATIONS for the sire and dam of any ESS litter registered under the ABS: PFK DNA Test Bitches under 20 months of age not to produce a litter ** Standard eye testing remains an ABS Requirement, as before. ** Hip scoring remains an ABS Recommendation, as before. The UK ESS Breed Clubs have now also contributed to a consultation process to consider the submission of a further proposal for the following addition to the ABS breed specific requirements and recommendations: A recommendation that Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period. This proposal will be submitted for acceptance for the KC ABS in EYE TESTING The Southern ESS Society again provided eye testing facilities at their annual Championship Show in February 2012, with Professor Peter Bedford in attendance. ESS owners and breeders are encouraged to use all such testing availabilities throughout the year whether they be held privately (in a Veterinary Surgery, or in a private home) or at a (Breed Specific or General) Championship Show. Mr Ian Mason, BVA Chief Panellist has recently stated that following the veterinary checks at Crufts some confusion has arisen regarding the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme, which we would like to address. The Scheme does not currently certify adnexal (accessory or adjoining anatomical part) problems such as entropion and ectropion, although this information may be noted and discussed during the eye examination. The Eye Panel Working Party is very keen to collect data on breedrelated ocular problems. We are currently finalising a new certification to give this information more prominence, and we discussed these changes with representatives of the high profile breeds at a Kennel Cub Seminar in November. We hope that the increased attention on eye conditions as a result of the veterinary checks at Crufts will allow us to educate more and more breeders and owners Information about clinical eye testing and the costs involved can be found at 4

5 GENERAL CANINE HEALTH MATTERS KENNEL CLUB NEW REGULATIONS As of 1st January 2012: The KC will not register more than four litters from any one bitch. Puppies born by caesarean section from any bitch which has already had two previous caesareans can no longer be registered, except for scientifically proven welfare reasons, and where application for KC registration is made prior to the mating. This is irrespective of whether previous caesarean litters from the same bitch were registered with the KC. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the British Veterinary Association and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association have agreed to advise their members that any caesarean sections which they perform on a Kennel Club registered bitch should be reported to the Kennel Club. To enable this reporting, an additional section has been incorporated into the form which is currently completed by Vets to notify the Kennel Club of any operation which alters the natural conformation of a registered pedigree dog. KENNEL CLUB INITIATIVES Mate Select This is a new online service for dog breeders which is initially to help breeders manage inbreeding and maintain genetic diversity in their future breeding programmes. Inbreeding is defined as a risk factor for the emergence of new inherited disease. Phase 1 of Mate Select was launched in May 2011 and provides breeders with three particular features: The facility to find a dog s individual inbreeding coefficient (COI), which indicates the chances that a dog will have inherited the same copies of genes, whether good or bad, from both its dam and sire; the higher the dog s inbreeding coefficient, the greater the chances of this happening. The facility to look up the average inbreeding coefficient for each individual breed recognised by the KC. (Average COI for ESS is 8.7%.) The facility for breeders to perform hypothetical matings on paper, and predict the inbreeding coefficients of the resulting puppies. The Kennel Club hopes that Mate Select will grow and develop over time and already there are two important enhancements under way. The first will begin to address the problem of the overuse of popular sires which clearly has an impact on the erosion of a breed s genetic diversity. Research scientists at the KC Genetics Centre are looking at the introduction of optimum contributions to monitor the proportion of a breed that a given sire has already produced and advise on the wisdom of using the dog to produce more progeny. It will also be possible to keep track on dams that have made a higher than desired contribution to a breed too. 5

6 The second development will involve the establishment of a Stud Dog Register which will be able to be searched for available Stud Dogs, with the breeder then being able to use Mate Select and the Health Test Results Finder to a dog of their choice which is compatible with a bitch. It is hoped that the system will allow the incorporation of health result comparisons to help breeders deal with the ever increasing complex network of health information. It is vital that breeders should not feel in the least bit threatened by these new developments and simply regard them as tools to help them gain a better understanding of the impact that a proposed litter might have, not only on the puppies produced, but also on the broader population structure of the breed in question. There should be no reason why the traditional art of the dedicated dog breeder should be compromised and they should use the availability of these new services to give them added confidence that the breeding selections they make will be to the long term benefit of their breed. Health Test Results Finder Health test results for individual dogs can be found on the KC website at Results received and recorded by the KC under official BVA/KC Health Schemes (Eye/Hip/Elbow) or official KC/ESS DNA Testing Schemes (Fucosidosis/PRA Cord1/PFK) will be shown. Lists of DNA test results for Fucosidosis, PRA Cord1 and PFK can also be found on the KC website at ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE WELFARE ISSUES OF DOG BREEDING Six meetings took place in 2011, culminating in a Council meeting in November, to which members of the public were invited to observe. They were provided with copies of the papers under discussion and at the end of the meeting were given the opportunity to ask questions and comment on the issues that had been raised. The Council is concentrating on several projects which include: Developing a minimum specification for any breeder assurance scheme intended to provide assurance of high standards of health, welfare and customer service, regardless of which organisation(s) might operate such a scheme. Reviewing existing legislation and its enforcement, and recommending improvements or new regulation if required. Identifying a list of the top conditions / breed priorities which cause the worst health and welfare problems, and devising effective measures to resolve them. Establishing the basic data that needs to be collected, and how it can be collected accurately. Developing guidance for the public on how to buy a dog (puppy or adult), and linking this to other recognised, trustworthy organisations. We are fortunate that ESS Health Co-ordinator, Lesley Bloomfield, is an Advisory Council member, and she would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to offer constructive views or evidence that may be relevant to any of the above issues. Further information and updates on the Council s work can be found on their website at ********************************** 6

7 Further details about any of the above issues can be found on the Health pages of either the ESSC ( or the SESSS ( websites. As always, we would encourage anyone needing information, help or support to contact us, and we welcome any constructive and practical suggestions that may improve the health and welfare of the Breed. Anyone needing information, help or support may rest assured that all enquiries will always be dealt with by the Health Co-ordinators in the strictest confidence. UK English Springer Spaniel Clubs* Health Co-ordinators Lesley Bloomfield Tel: Louise Scott Tel: