Cocker spaniel diseaseWe use cookies to ensure our website works properly and to collect statistics about users so we can improve the website. Some may have been set already. By using this website you agree to our terms of use and the use of cookies during your visit.
For less experienced breeders and other visitors we have added a short explanation of the (health) terms used on this website. For more information, please contact your breed club.
COI and AVK
COI (inbreeding coefficient):
COI indicates a percentage of inbreeding, showing the likelihood of identical genes in a combination of parent animals. This calculation checks if the ancestors are related to each other. Typical values are: Sibling or parent/child 25%, half sibling or grandparent/grandchild 12.5%, etc. This formula keeps account with the distance between the ancestors. You can test your combination on the page: Virtual pedigree. The lower the score, the better. The average rate in the UK is 9%. Ideally, COI should be calculated with at least 10 generations and with totally complete pedigrees. Please note that the COI in reality only indicates the value based on the information available in this database.
AVK (ancestral loss coefficient):
This formula works with a defined number of generations and calculates the quotient of existing and the maximum possible number of ancestors. This is the percentage of ancestral loss in the pedigree.
Kidneys
(FN) Familial Nephropathy:
Disease of the kidneys in young Cocker Spaniels with fatal outcome. Renal failure due to FN typically begins between six and twenty-four months of age. Possible clinical symptoms include polydipsia (excessive drinking), polyuria (excessive urination), weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. FN is caused by an autosomal recessive gene. A DNA test is available.
JRD (or PNP) Juvenile Renal Dysplasia::
Affected puppies are born with underdeveloped kidneys, in which the nephrons are underdeveloped compared to the development of the body. The nephrons are no longer maturing, therefore the kidneys are not working at full capacity. Symptoms may vary from case to case, depending on progression and severity. They are equal to the symptoms in general kidney disease and include polydipsia (excessive drinking), polyuria (excessive urinating). Some puppies seem to have difficulty becoming housebroken, while others don't sound any signs until the moment they start drinking excessively. They may develop weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting and/or dehydration.
Eyes
GPRA (General Progressive Retinal Atrophy):
Hereditary disease of the eyes common in many breeds, including the Cocker Spaniel, and may occur at different stages of the dog's life. The disease begins with loss of vision in the dark and leads to total blindness. In Cocker Spaniels, PRA occurs at different ages, from as early as 18 months to as late as 7 years. It is inherited through a simple autosomal recessive gene, which means that for this disease to occur, one copy of the PRA gene must be inherited from both parents.
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Dystrophy (RPED) or CPRA (Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy):
New research shows that this condition in the Cocker Spaniel is related to an inherited metabolic inability to circulate vitamin E in the dog's system. This results in central loss of vision, but usually not total blindness. (Affected dogs retain peripheral vision).
MPP (or PPM) Persistent Pupillary Membranes:
Permanent remnants of a vascular network that has not completely regressed within a few weeks after birth. These strands may have connections from iris to iris, iris to cornea, iris to lens, or form an area of tie in the anterior chamber of the eye. The latter three cases form the greatest threat to vision. In severe cases, can lead to impaired vision or blindness.
PHTVL/PHPV:
Regression disorder whereby during the development of the eye blood vessel remnants are formed on the back surface of the lens or on the eye surface. of the lens capsule persist. The extent is expressed in degrees: – Grade 1: mild form, often in one eye, where small opacities remain. – Grade 2-6: Increasingly pronounced cases: both eyes are affected, a layer of colored scar tie is on the posterior surface of the lens, the lens is deformed and may slowly show forms of cataract.
Macroblepharon:
Excessive palpebral fire; this may lead to secondary problems associated with exposure of the cornea.
Ectropion:
Eyelid turned outward, may lead to irritation of the eye due to constant exposure.
Entropion:
Inwardly rotated eyelid (one or more), can cause irritation of the cornea.
Cataract:
Partial or total opacification of the lens, where one or both eyes may be affected. A total cataract in both eyes leads to blindness. A prudent approach ames that cataract is hereditary, segregating cases with as cause: a traumatic injury, other causes of ocular inflammation, metabolic diseases, persistent pupillary membranes (MPP), persistent hyaloid or inadequate diet.
Cataract can be classified according to the time of occurrence: – Congenital cataract: this cataract is present at birth. – Juvenile cataract: This cataract develops at a young age. – Senile cataract: This cataract occurs in dogs older than six years of age
And with localization of the opacity on the lens: – Anterior Cortex – Posterior Cortex – Equatorial Cortex – Anterior Sutures – Posterior Sutures – Nucleus
Distichia::
Eyelashes growing in the wrong place at the edge of the eyelid; often cause irritation or inflammation of the eye
Ectopic cilia:
A particular form of distichia, mostly in young dogs. One or more hairs growing in the middle of the upper eyelid ca. 3-4 mm behind the eyelid margin growing out of the conjunctiva, mostly in the middle of the upper eyelid.
Coloboma:
Een gat in een van de structuren van het oog dat aanwezig is bij de geboorte. Het kan veroorzaakt worden als de spleet in het vaatvlies tussen 2 onderdelen van het oog zich niet volledig sluit na de geboorte. Coloboma kan in een of twee ogen voorkomen.