Degenerative Myelopathy / Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy) DM (Exon 2)
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel, Minature Poodle, Cockapoo
The Disease
Canine degenerative myelopathy (also known as chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy) is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 7 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs. As of July 15, 2008 the mutated gene responsible for DM has been found present in 43 breeds including English Cocker Spaniel, Poodle and Cockapoo. The disease is chronic and progressive, and resulting in paralysis.
Clinical Signs
Degenerative myelopathy initially affects the back legs and causes muscle weakness and loss, and lack of coordination. These cause a staggering effect that may appear to be arthritis. The dog may drag one or both rear paws when it walks. This dragging can cause the nails of one foot to be worn down. The condition may lead to extensive paralysis of the back legs. As the disease progresses, the animal may display symptoms such as incontinence and has considerable difficulties with both balance and walking. If allowed to progress, the animal will show front limb involvement and extensive muscle atrophy. Eventually cranial nerve or respiratory muscle involvement necessitates euthanasia. Progression of the disease is generally slow but highly variable. The animal could be crippled within a few months, or may survive up to three years
Familial Nephropathy (FN) / Hereditary Nephropathy
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel , Cockapoo (English).
Kennel Club
This test is part of the Official UK Kennel Club DNA Testing Scheme in English Cocker Spaniel.
The Disease
The Familial or Hereditary Nephropathy (FN) is a juvenile-
Clinical Signs
FN is a fatal kidney disease and the first clinical signs are excessive water consumption, excessive urine volume, a slowdown in growth, weight loss, reduced appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Gallbladder Mucoceles
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel , Cockapoo (English).
The Disease
A gallbladder mucocele is the distention of the gallbladder by an inappropriate accumulation of mucus.
Decreased bile flow, decreased gallbladder motility, and altered absorption of water from the gallbladder lumen are predisposing factors to biliary sludge. Biliary sludge may be a precipitating factor for the development of canine biliary mucoceles. However, it is more likely to be a small part of a complex disease process involving inflammation of the gallbladder wall and changes to the lining of the gallbladder changing the consistency of its secretions.
Hypersecretion of mucus leads to an accumulation of thick gelatinous bile within the gall bladder. Increased viscosity over a period of weeks or months leads to thick gelatinous material eventually occupying the entire lumen of the gallbladder and in some cases also being present in the ducts. The inciting cause of mucus hypersecretion is likely multifactorial and may be linked to certain diseases, such as, Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), hypothyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease.
Clinical Signs
Clinical signs associated with gallbladder mucocele are often nonspecific and vague and, in some cases, a mucocele is discovered incidentally. Your pet may show signs including: decreased appetite, anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, a yellowish tinge to the skin or gums and abdominal pain or splinting.
Adult Onset Neuropathy * (AON)
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel
The Disease
Adult Onset Neuropathy (AON) is an inherited neurological disorder in the English Cocker Spaniel breed
Clinical Signs
Clinical signs typically begin between 7.5 and 9 years of age and consist first of an uncoordinated gait or wobbling in the hind limbs. The stance in the hind limbs is wide-
Hyperuricosuria / Urate Stones (HUU, SLC)
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel, Minature Poodle, Cockapoo
The Disease
This disease is characterised by the excretion of uric acid leading to the formation of urinary calculi (stones), in their bladders or sometimes kidneys which may then require surgery.
Clinical Signs
Problems urinating freely.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd- PRA)
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel, Minature Poodle, Cockapoo
The Disease
An inherited disease that occurs in many dog breeds and also in different forms. The form of progressive rod-
Please Note: PRA is a nasty eye disease and is rife within the breeds and a lot of mis-
Our dogs are tested every two years and all hold current BVA Eye Certificates showing they are clear of any eye problems. In addition we go one step further and check for Glaucoma which is also in both breeds. With our puppies you get peace of mind knowing that any puppy we produce is completely clear of any eye conditions. Simply stating PRA Clear as though that is the end of it is not enough.
Clinical Signs
Age of onset of clinical symptoms is typically in early adolescence or early adulthood. Degeneration of sight.
Exercise Induced Collapse
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel
The Disease
A mutation in a gene involved in the communication between nerves of the central nervous system.
Clinical Signs
An inherited disease, affected dogs can endure mild to moderate exercise but after 5 to 20 minutes of heavy exercise with extreme excitement, the dog shows weakness and then collapse. Severely affected dogs may collapse whenever they are exercised to this extend – other dogs only exhibit collapse episodes sporadically.
Macrothrombocytopenia ( MTC- D )
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel, Minature Poodle
The disease
Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are produced in the bone marrow. Platelets play an important role in the blood clotting system when a blood vessel is injured. Congenital macrothrombocytopenia is characterized by oversized platelets, also called macroplatelets, and an abnormally low number of platelets. Macroplatelets function normally and the affected dogs do not exhibit any health problems due to either the size or the fewer numbers of its platelets. Macrothrombocytopenia is not associated with spontaneous bleeding; however, it is important not to mistake
macrothrombocytopenia for other more severe conditions characterized by low platelet counts. Does not respond to treatment. Although a dog can function normally with this disease, your vet would need to be aware so as not to diagnose wrongly other conditions.
Clinical Signs
No signs
Von Willebrand disease Type I (vWD I)
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel, Minature Poodle, Cockapoo
The disease
Probably the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs. It is caused by lack of von Willebrand factor which is a protein that plays a key role in the blood clotting process resulting in prolonged bleeding. The disorder occurs in varying degrees of severity ranging from trivial bleeding to excessive life threatening haemorrhages.
Clinical Signs
Spontaneous bleeding from the nose, gum and other mucous membranes. Excessive bleeding occurs after an injury, trauma or a surgery. Often dogs don’t show clinical signs until something starts the bleeding, such as nail trimming, teething, spaying, sterilizing, tail docking, cropping or other causes. Bleeding also occurs internally in the stomach, intestines, urinary tracts, the genitals and / or into the joints.Type I von Willebrand’s disease is considered relatively mild when compared to Type I.
Malignant Hyperthermia
Breeds
English Cocker Spaniel, Minature Poodle, Cockapoo (all breeds)
The disease
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a life-
Clinical Signs
Malignant hyperthermia is characterized by abnormally high body temperature, muscle rigidity, a very rapid and irregular heartbeat, increased breathing rate, bluish tinge to skin and mucous membranes, unstable blood pressure, fluid buildup in the lungs, impaired blood coagulation, kidney failure, and death.
Malignant hyperthermia is consistently triggered in susceptible animals by excitement, apprehension, exercise, or environmental stress. Giving certain anesthetics or specific drugs that affect the neurologic and muscular systems also consistently triggers malignant hyperthermia in susceptible animals.
Usually, malignant hyperthermia episodes come on suddenly and are very severe. If the condition is recognized early in an animal under anesthesia, supportive measures may be able to save the animal. Unfortunately, regardless of treatment, malignant hyperthermia is usually fatal.