Overview of the 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines and Recommendations
(.PDF - filesize:95k)

An article by
Kathy Yonkers, BSDH, RDH, BS, MS
 Post-Graduate Certification in Healthcare Evaluation
 Member of ACKCSC Health Committee

Vaccination Guidelines

This article is a primer on the current vaccination guidelines and recommendations for owners, breeders and exhibitors.  It gives background in understanding the key elements of immunity and addresses the common questions regarding vaccinations as it relates to these new guidelines. 

There is a recommended reading section at the end of the article.  Those who wish to obtain a copy of the "AAHA's 2003 Executive Summary of Canine Vaccine Guidelines" can do so by calling 1-800-883-6321.

The author recommends giving a copy to your DVM/DMV and keeping one for your records.

CHIC

New Health Registry for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel For the past several years the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), in a joint venture with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), has piloted a registry program for genetic problems using several breeds in its initial phases.

Now this program has been made available for all purebred dogs to participate in under the name of CHIC (Canine Health Information Program). Upon the recommendation of the ACKCSC Health Committee, the ACKCSC Board of Directors has approved participation in this new program. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will be the 35th breed to sign up for this registry, which is patterned after some of the European registries that have been successful in reducing genetic disease.

Syringomyelia

What is syringomyelia?
Syringomyelia (sir IN go my EEL ya), or SM, is an increasingly serious condition in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels caused by a skull malformation that results in the skull being too small for the brain. This forces the brain to protrude through the base of the skull into the opening for the spinal cord. The fluid that normally circulates around the brain and down the cord through this opening gets blocked, causing the fluid pressure to rise, which in turn can create pockets of fluid (syrinxes) in the spinal column. These pockets and the pressure they exert on nerve endings often have neurological side effects and can be very painful. While SM appears in other small breeds, the vast majority of cases seen by veterinary neurologists are cavaliers. Some researchers now believe SM should be considered the leading health issue in the breed.

Why is it appearing in cavaliers?
No one is really sure, but it is likely due to the small gene pool from which all cavaliers are descended (the breed was created in 1928). Researchers believe SM is carried on several different genes which have to combine in a particular way to cause the malformation. Some researchers believe they have traced all known cases of SM back to two English cavalier bitches from the post-WWII era, which were foundational dogs for the breed. With most cavaliers seemingly carrying one or more of the needed genes, the chances have increased over time for the needed combination of genes for SM to turn up in any given dog. Though SM has been known in the breed for many years, it is being seen in younger dogs, and in a more severe form, more frequently than ever before. This suggests a genetic tipping point for the condition has been reached.

MVD (Mitral Valve Disease)

TO MICROCHIP OR NOT TO MICROCHIP…...that is the question!