This joint effort builds on more than five years of cooperation between the two organisations, aimed at improving the overall cardiovascular health of dogs in the UK. In 2019, The Kennel Club launched its official Heart Scheme for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. This initiative seeks to detect early signs of heart disease in the breed and provide breeders with guidance on reducing the risk of mitral valve disease (MVD) in future generations. As of 2023, 41.5% of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel litters had at least one parent screened for heart issues under the scheme.
Exploring Cardiac Health in Pedigree Breeds
Last year, exploratory heart testing sessions were conducted for Whippets, with 53 dogs undergoing auscultation and doppler screening. Earlier this year, similar testing was extended to Chihuahuas, involving 49 dogs. These sessions provided a snapshot of the cardiac health of both breeds and offered support for future health management through their respective Breed Health and Conservation Plans.
Building on the success of these initiatives, The Kennel Club and VCS have identified six additional breeds that will be the focus of further research into heart health: Boxers, Dobermanns, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and Bull Terriers. These breeds have been chosen due to their increased risk of heart conditions, and the programme will offer discounted heart testing opportunities for owners over the next five years.
Advancing Heart Health Research
While the new programme may not immediately result in formal screening schemes for the six breeds, the insights gathered from testing and research will feed into The Kennel Club’s Breed Health and Conservation Plans. These plans are informed by comprehensive data and research, and are designed to offer breed-specific guidance on improving the health of pedigree dogs.
The Kennel Club has been continuously reviewing health data, with more than 4,000 research papers contributing to its efforts. This makes the project one of the most comprehensive reviews of pedigree health data globally.
Charlotte McNamara, Head of Health at The Kennel Club, commented: “The Kennel Club is committed to improving heart health and identifying and addressing breed-associated issues for these wonderful breeds and hopefully others in future. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this opportunity for discounted testing as we know cardiology appointments for owners can be at great cost. We look forward to working alongside the cardiologists, owners and breeders to help collect data and improve heart health.”
Upcoming Testing Sessions
The Kennel Club and VCS have scheduled exploratory heart testing sessions for the six targeted breeds on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 October 2024. The sessions will be held at The Kennel Club building in Stoneleigh, Coventry. Owners of Boxers, Dobermanns, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and Bull Terriers are encouraged to participate to help gather valuable data for the ongoing heart health programme.
Hannah Stephenson, a cardiologist at VCS, added: “The VCS are delighted that further progress is being made to identify heart disease in different pedigree dog breeds. As a society, we are keen to reduce the incidence of canine heart disease and look forward to our continued collaboration with The Kennel Club.”
In addition to the heart testing sessions, The Kennel Club is making a final call for participants in its online survey aimed at improving understanding of heart disease prevalence in different pedigree dog breeds. The survey results will guide future research into areas requiring further attention. To date, nearly 6,000 people have taken part, with the goal of reaching 10,000 respondents.
The survey is open to any dog owner, regardless of breed, and provides an opportunity to contribute to a better understanding of canine heart health. Those interested can access the survey on The Kennel Club’s website.
Looking ahead, The Kennel Club will host a free educational heart webinar in February 2025. The webinar will explore various heart problems found in dogs and is open to both owners and breeders, regardless of their level of experience. More information about this event will be available on The Kennel Club’s website closer to the date.
