Understanding Health Test Results

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Toy Poodles

Here at CameronCavs we DNA test our breeding stock to make sure that we are not producing puppies that are Carriers or will be Affected.

Once we have the DNA results (which are held at Kennel Club UK) we will then base our mate selection on that result.

An autosomal-recessive condition means that a dog must inherit two copies of an abnormal gene before its health is affected. A dog will inherit one copy of a gene from its mother and one from its father.

Clear

The dog will not be affected by the disorder.

Carrier

The dog has one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the abnormal gene and will not be affected by the disorder, the dog upon mating may pass one copy of the normal gene, or one copy of the abnormal gene on to its pups. Carrier dogs should only be mated to clear dogs so that affected puppies are not produced. Mating a carrier to a carrier, or a carrier to an affected dog is putting the health of future puppies at risk.

Kennel Club Comments regarding Carrier's

View the link noted on the Kennel Club website regarding mating Carrier dogs and the reasons behind keeping them in any breeding programme to improve the genetic diversity of the breed. https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-breeders/dna-testing-simple-inherited-disorders

Affected

The dog has two copies of the abnormal gene associated with the condition and the dog will be clinically affected by the disorder. Affected dogs should only be mated to clear dogs however all resulting puppies will be carriers. Mating an affected dog to a carrier, or another affected dog is putting the health of future puppies at risk.

Updated July 2020