The birth of a litter of Welsh Springer Spaniels is
a wonderful event for a breeder, and for all of the families who anxiously
await their own red-and-white companion. A breeding should be carefully
planned with a variety of health concerns in mind. The Welsh Springer
Spaniel is prone to several health problems. A prospective buyer
should be aware of these problems,
and should engage in open discussion with the breeder
about measures taken to increase the odds of healthy puppies. A breeder
should be able to provide health clearances for the sire and dam in the
way of an OFA normal hip rating and a CERF or ACVO eye certification. A
breeder should also be able to discuss the occurrences of idiopathic epilepsy
in the pedigree. Thyroid screening, either TgAA or T4, gonioscopy,
and elbow x-rays are additional tests carried out by some breeders.
What does all of this mean for you? The following
is a basic description of the most frequent health problems in the Welsh
Springer Spaniel breed.
Hip Dysplasia:
Hip Dysplasia is a condition that occurs when the "ball"
of the hip joint does not fit securely in the "socket". The poor
fit causes scar tissue to develop and often results in significant arthritis.
This condition is hereditary. The severity can differ immensely.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals classifies dysplastic dogs as having
mild, moderate, or severe dysplasia. A dog with normal hip conformation
is given a rating of excellent, good, or fair. The sire and dam of
a litter should possess one of these normal ratings. More information
on hip dysplasia is available at:
The Orthopedic Foundation
for Animals
Eye Disease:
Although not as common as hip dysplasia, Welsh Springer
Spaniels can be afflicted with a variety of hereditary eye diseases.
Hereditary cataract, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Retinal Dysplasia, and
Primary Glaucoma are just a few of these ocular diseases. The sire
and dam of a litter should have their eyes examined by a diplomate of the
American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists once a year. Breeders
usually take a further step and obtain a CERF number as evidence of ocular
health. The CERF examination does not test for predisposition to
glaucoma, so some breeders do also have gonioscopy done to test for this.
More information on hereditary eye disease can be found at:
Canine
Eye Registration Foundation
Idiopathic Epilepsy:
Idiopathic epilepsy is epilepsy which cannot be attributed
to any other cause.
Dogs can develop seizures as the result of auto immune
disorders, thyroid problems, head trauma, or a wide host of other factors.
Seizures are deemed the result of idiopathic epilepsy when extensive testing
suggests that there is no other culprit. Epilepsy is hereditary.
Unfortunately, at the present time, we do not know how the disease is transmitted.
It seems to be a complex trait, involving more than one gene, so it can
be passed on for generations before manifesting itself in a litter.
The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America is supporting
the efforts of Dr. Gary Johnson and his team of veterinary geneticists
at the University of Missouri-Columbia as they work to identify the genetic
markers that cause this devastating disease. Our hope is that their
research will enable breeders to test for those genetic markers before
breeding, thus eliminating the problem from our gene pool.
Dr. Johnson's research is being funded through the generosity
of breed fanciers and the AKC-Canine Health Foundation. To donate,
visit the Canine Health Foundation
web site.
This is an excellent way to honor those Welshies and
Welshie fanciers who are no longer with us.
To learn more about Dr. Johnson's research, visit his
web site: Canine Epilepsy
Net
Although breeders are not yet able to definitively keep
carriers from their breeding programs, a few measures can be taken to lessen
the chance for epileptic offspring. The sire and dam of a litter should
not have produced any epileptic offspring and should not have any epileptic
siblings. In addition, it is best that this is true for the grand
sire and grand dam as well. A breeder should be knowledgeable about
the carriers in the prospective pedigree, and should be willing to discuss
this with you.
The above mentioned diseases are important for any prospective
Welsh Springer owner, whether you intend your dog as hunting companion,
a show dog, obedience competitor, or family pet.
All of these hereditary diseases have ramifications for
your dog's quality of life and your family's happiness. Take the
time to choose a breeder carefully.