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ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL BREED CLUBS on behalf of: GENERAL SUMMARY The past year has been a particularly momentous one on the health front, which has provided the English Springer Spaniel Breed Clubs with their greatest challenges to date. Nonetheless, through a proactive and unified approach, a great deal has been achieved on health and welfare issues of which the Breed can be justly proud. In August 2008, the television programme "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" was broadcast. It appeared to lay much of the blame for the ills of pedigree dogs on those who breed dogs for their appearance (i.e. for the show ring), allegedly at the expense of their health and welfare. Whilst the vast majority of the 209 KC recognised breeds in the UK are generally healthy, the door to damaging media publicity was left open by a small minority of breeds (and breeders) in which there were serious and genuine health issues that, over many years, had not been properly recognised and addressed. The Kennel Club have, since August 2008, issued a mass of new guidelines and regulations, which included a review of every Breed Standard, a new Mandatory Code of Ethics for all Breed Clubs, and a Health Plan for every Breed. With regard to the Breed Standard for the ESS, no changes were deemed by the KC to be necessary, as they did not consider that it encourages traits which may be perceived as "exaggerated" or detrimental to the structure, appearance or health of the dog. The KC Mandatory Code of Ethics produced a "one size fits all" Code, with a watered down set of clauses that fell far short of the much more stringent ones used for many years by many of the Breed Clubs. These additional clauses will now be submitted by the ESS Breed Clubs to the KC for inclusion with the Kennel Club's Mandatory Code of Ethics. The "Health Plan" sent out to the Breed Clubs by the KC in December 2008 was intended to be breed specific and included a list of diseases and conditions "known to exist" in English Springer Spaniels. Sadly, the list bore very little resemblance to anything that might be considered useful. The KC's information was extracted from three sources: (a) The KC/BSAVA Pure Bred Dog Health Survey (2004) - The only disease listed was "Cancer", considered to be a higher than average risk in ESS (although it failed to indicate which type, and is therefore of little value. In addition, the number of responses to the survey was extremely small and unrepresentative). (b) Data from insurance claims covered by The KC Healthcare Plan over the last 5 years - This listed "gastroenteritis" and "traumatic wound/injury" as the most common claims. Both are considered to be a "normal" consequence of everyday living and are of no use to the Breed in highlighting inherited diseases worthy of further examination. (c) Conditions relating to ESS that have been the subject of academic scientific literature - Many of these were so obscure that their relevance is, to say the least, is dubious. More worrying than those diseases that were listed, are those that were not. Even diseases included within the KC's own schedules under their official testing schemes were omitted, such as Hip Dysplasia, PRA and Goniodysgenesis/Primary Glaucoma. Most alarming of all, the single most important disease highlighted as a concern to the Breed in recent times, i.e. Chronic Hepatitis, was not listed anywhere at all. A response to the KC Health Plan was compiled by the Health Co-ordinators on behalf of all the Breed Clubs and sent to The Kennel Club. On the KC's request, a list of the conditions currently of most concern to the Breed, in perceived order of importance, was submitted as follows: 2. Goniodysgenesis/Primary Glaucoma 3. PRA 4. Endocrine Disorders: (Hypothyroidism; Addison's Disease; Cushing's Disease) 5. Epilepsy In their response to The KC Health Plan, all eight UK ESS Breed Clubs confirmed that it is their intention to continue their unified approach to all health issues affecting the Breed, through their two appointed Health Co-ordinators, whose mandate is to represent them jointly and equally. This structure has been in place since 1999 and provides an effective means of identifying, monitoring, communicating and reporting on all ESS health matters. The Health Co-ordinators provide a central focal point, which is widely known, streamlined and, most importantly, guarantees confidentiality. They have developed strong collaborative relationships with vets, referral clinicians, researchers, professional organisations and regulatory bodies, both within the UK and worldwide. The current widespread support of the ongoing study into canine Chronic Hepatitis at the University of Cambridge is a prime example of such efforts in practice. It is the overall aim of the ESS Breed Clubs to continue to promote the health and welfare of English Springer Spaniels as fit for purpose, whether as a companion, show or working dog. A Joint ESS Breed Clubs' Mission Statement was issued in February 2009. It has been published on Breed Club websites and in the Dog Press, and is available to all ESS owners and breeders who wish to display it on their websites. The ESS Breed Clubs have also made joint submissions to both The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) and the KC/Dogs Trust Independent Inquiry. As the English Springer Spaniel is numerically the 3rd most popular KC registered breed in the UK, the ESS Breed Clubs felt it important that their opinions and views were heard and hopefully taken into consideration. OTHER IMPORTANT KC ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. The KC will refuse to register puppies that are born from any mother/son, father/daughter or brother/sister mating, taking place on or after 1st March 2009. Departures from this principle will only be made in exceptional circumstances or for scientifically proven welfare reasons. The full-scale research project into chronic hepatitis in ESS began in April 2008 under Principal Researcher, Penny Watson, and her Assistant, Nick Bexfield. Although the cause of the disease is not yet known, progress has been promising. Genetic studies have now begun to try to ascertain whether there is any inherited basis or tendency. Pedigrees have already been collected from a number of ‘affected' dogs, and the researchers still very much want to hear from owners (or their Vets) of any other ESS with hepatitis who have not yet contacted them. (Tel: 01223 337621 Email: pjw36@cam.ac.uk or nb289@cam.ac.uk ) In order to progress with their genetic studies, an appeal has been launched for "control" blood samples and five generation pedigrees from unaffected ESS that are clinically normal. To be classed as ‘normal', an ESS needs to be 7 years or older in age and never to have suffered from hepatitis. In return, the Cambridge team will carry out a free ‘liver screen' on every donated blood sample. Any Veterinary costs incurred by owners will also be fully re-imbursed. Funding for Nick Bexfield's role as full-time researcher is secure for the proposed remaining two years of the project. Other applications for major funding have been submitted and results are still awaited. A fund for additional voluntary donations has been set up within the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which has been ring-fenced specifically for the hepatitis research project. Significant donations have already been received, the largest of which is a sum of £5,000 from English Springer Spaniel Welfare. Any donations should be sent to: Cas Oakes, Charitable Trust Administrator, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, 1-5 Clarges Street, Piccadilly, London W1J 8AB with a covering letter requesting that the donation should be added to the ESS Hepatitis Research Project ring-fenced fund. GONIODYSGENESIS/PRIMARY GLAUCOMA On January 1st 2009, Goniodysgenesis in the ESS was moved to Schedule A of the KC/BVA/ISDS Eye Scheme, whereby test results ("Affected" or "Unaffected") are automatically recorded on registrations and published by the KC. A number of breeders have expressed concern about the possibility of conflicting diagnoses in those dogs that fall into the borderline area between "Affected" and "Unaffected". It has to be accepted that, unlike DNA tests, gonioscopy involves an unavoidable element of subjective interpretation. In the small minority of "borderline" cases, where the owner is unhappy with the diagnosis, they are advised to use the formal Appeals Procedure available to them. The BVA has confirmed that gonioscopy tests carried out before 1st January 2009, under Schedule B, cannot be treated as retrospective Schedule A results (i.e. they cannot be used for recording on registrations and publication by the KC). Owners wishing to have their dogs' results recorded and published by the KC have been advised to have them re-tested under Schedule A at the full cost. Given that these owners originally undertook gonioscopy in good faith on the basis that it is intended as a one-off test in ESS, the current situation is considered by many to be unsatisfactory. The ESS Breed Clubs' Health Co-ordinators are continuing discussions with the KC and BVA to explore ways of resolving this issue. A DNA test for the Cord1 PRA mutation has been available since April 2007, and ESS breeders are advised to make use of this test. Cord1 is currently the only genetic mutation that has been identified as a major risk factor for PRA in ESS. Clinical eye testing remains the only way of diagnosing all forms of PRA that may exist in the Breed, but it is only the Cord1 mutation for which the hidden "carriers" can currently be identified. Figures released by the Animal Health Trust show that a total of 172 English Springers have been DNA tested for the PRA Cord1 mutation between April 2007 (when the test became available) and December 2008. Of these, 42 dogs were UK registered, 130 were non-UK registered. The breakdown of results is as follows:
Athough less than 25% of the total number of dogs tested are UK registered, it can be noted that the carrier rate is significantly higher in the non-UK registered dogs. One possibility is that their gene pool includes more bloodlines from the USA, where the carrier rate is higher than in the UK. Further research is attempting to understand why the age of onset of Cord1 PRA varies so greatly, and why some dogs found to be genetically affected for this mutation never clinically develop PRA during their lifetimes. For this research to progress, an appeal has been made for dogs diagnosed (by DNA test) as genetically affected for Cord1 PRA, but whose diagnosis (by eye examination) shows that they are not clinically affected with PRA. Ongoing research also aims to identify other PRA mutations that may also exist in ESS. An appeal has been made for dogs that have been diagnosed (by eye examination) as clinically affected with PRA, but which have been found (by DNA test) not to be genetically affected for the Cord1 mutation. The Animal Health Trust Oncology Research Group, which undertakes research into canine cancers, is carrying out genetic studies into the cause of mammary tumours in English Springer Spaniels. The researchers would like to hear from the owners of any ESS bitches diagnosed with a mammary tumour, in order that blood or cheek swab samples might be obtained from them to help the project. In addition, "control" samples are required from healthy ESS bitches, aged 7 or over, that have never been diagnosed with a mammary tumour. (Contact Lisa Jeffery, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7UU. Tel: 01638 751000, ext. 1214; E-mail: lisa.jeffery@aht.org.uk) The ESS Health Co-ordinators are working with the AHT mammary tumour researchers and the chronic hepatitis researchers at Queens Veterinary School, to ensure that blood samples donated from bitches eligible for both "control" groups are used to help both research projects. Further information will be circulated by the Health Co-ordinators in due course. The DNA test for Fucosidosis has now been available for 12 years - a relatively long time. Updated figures released in December 2008 by the Animal Health Trust show that a total of 1,267 English Springers have been tested (488 UK registered, 779 non-UK). An increasing number of dogs entering the gene pool are "hereditarily clear" and as such they don't require a DNA test. The following breakdown shows the dogs tested in 2008 alone, and the total number of dogs tested between 1997 - 20
The above figures (especially those for 2008) are extremely impressive, and the proportion of carriers and affected dogs is continuing to fall. It should, however, be borne in mind that these statistics only relate to dogs that have been tested - we cannot know what the rates are within the overall ESS gene pool unless testing becomes widespread amongst all breeding stock. ENDOCRINE DISORDERS: (HYPOTHYROIDISM; ADDISON'S DISEASE; CUSHING'S DISEASE) The English Springer Spaniel (amongst many other breeds) continues to be suspected of having a predisposition to autoimmune endocrine disorders. The Health Co-ordinators have highlighted these conditions as being amongst the top five health issues currently of most concern to the Breed, and they have appealed for anyone whose dog has been clinically diagnosed as suffering from any of the above, to contact them. As with autoimmune endocrine disorders, the Health Co-ordinators have highlighted Epilepsy as being amongst the top five health issues currently of most concern. More detailed information on this complex disorder is available from the Health Co-ordinators, together with helpful contact information for support and advice from organisations that deal specifically with dogs suffering from epileptic conditions. The Southern ESS Society again provided eye testing facilities at their annual Championship Show in February 2009, with Professor Peter Bedford in attendance. Nicola Calvert (Calvdale) again hosted an annual Eye Testing session at her home in the North East in October 2008. ESS owners/breeders are also encouraged to use the various eye testing facilities available throughout the year around the country. The ESS Breed Clubs offer sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr Keith Barnett on his sudden death in March 2009. Dr. Barnett was much admired and respected by many and he will be sorely missed. There is to date no notified programme of genetic study of HD in the English Springer Spaniel in the UK. The ESS Breed Clubs will be advised by the Health Co-ordinators should there be any changes to the status of HD in the Breed in the future. The ESS Breed Clubs continue to support all ESS owners/breeders who wish to make use of the KC/BVA Scheme for HD testing. DNA PROFILING For anyone interested in participating in this Scheme (if they have not done so already either independently or via the KC Accredited Breeders Scheme) there is a 5 - 6 week turnaround time for results. The Laboratory concerned is working to improve on this. This means of canine identification may have its significant and purposeful uses in the longer term, but at this stage its implications have yet to be fully explored.
THE ALAN EMENEY FOUNDATION (TAEF) FOR ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL HEALTH AND RESEARCH - CHARITY NO 111450 The Alan Emeney Foundation (TAEF) for English Springer Spaniel Health & Research was established in 2001 in memory of Alan Emeney, Secretary of The English Springer Spaniel Club. It is hoped that 2009 will see the appointment of new Trustees who will be able to take the Foundation forward following a period of inactivity. The Foundation remains financially sound and stable, and any enquiries can be addressed to its Treasurer: Mr Kevan Grant BREED CLUB HEALTH RELATED SEMINARS Secretaries of any Breed Club holding a health related event are advised to contact the Kennel Club direct, so that the event can be listed on the health pages of the KC Website. Details required are the date, venue, title, organiser's contact details, cost of attending and the start time. They are also invited to email the details to the Kennel Club's Health and Breeder Services Department so that the event can be listed on the KC Events Calendar. KC ACCREDITED BREEDERS SCHEME As part of its programme of development, the KC states that the ABS is designed to be tailored to best suit the needs of individual breeds. Breed Clubs and interested individuals are invited on an ongoing basis to communicate with the Kennel Club and suggest refinements and changes to the Scheme. As a result of this ongoing communication, changes relating to the health and suitability of breeding stock of the breeds have been made to the ABS Specific Requirements (including health screening) and Recommendations. This News Release was published in January 2008 and sent to all ESS Breed Club Secretaries on January 29th 2008. Further information can be obtained from the KC website or from their Health and Information Department - or telephone 0870 606 6750. As of March 2009, there were 3,500 registered Accredited Breeders across all breeds. There is still strong evidence of several anomalies within the Scheme that are yet to be properly addressed. While this situation continues to exist, many breeders still view the Scheme with some scepticism. ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL BREED CLUB WEBSITES The intention is to continue to publish health related articles/updates on the ESS Club and SESSS Websites. Any other ESS Club wishing to publish this information on their own Websites are asked to contact the Health Co-ordinators; Lesley Bloomfield Louise Scott
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