Information and advice for Cavalier puppy buyers on hereditary health

Dry Eye Curly Coat: This disease is unique to Cavaliers and is visible in young puppies. These are normally euthanized.
  A DNA test is now available for DECC. Ask the breeder if she has carried out this test on the parents of your puppy. Ask her to show you
  the certificates.
Ear Disease: A progressive form of deafness has been identified in Cavaliers due to the degeneration of the hearing nerve. Ask the breeder if any of the dogs in the puppy's pedigree have suffered from deafness. Ideally parents should be BAER (brain stem auditory evoked response) tested before breeding.
  Primary Secretory Otitis Media (PSOM), a condition similar to 'glue ear' in children, also occurs in Cavaliers. CKCS ears drain poorly
  because of the narrow bullae and because their long soft palates block the eustachian tube. Depending on the degree of severity,
  PSOM may cause a dog pain or hearing impairment. Ask the breeder whether any of the puppy's near relatives or ancestors have
  suffered from this.
  Note that MRI screening of sire and dam for SM would also reveal the presence of PSOM.
Episodic Falling Syndrome (Episodic Collapse, Hyperexplexia): a syndrome of exercise or excitement induced muscle stiffness then collapse. The collapse can be brief or last a few minutes. Affected dogs may show signs from three months of age. Ask the breeder if there have been any cases of EF in the near relatives or ancestors of the puppies. A DNA test is now available for EFS. Ask the breeder
  if tests have been carried out on the parents of your puppy. Ask her to show you the certificates.
Pancreatic Disease: CKCS also have a higher incidence of pancreatic disease (diabetes mellitus and/or pancreatic digestive enzyme deficiency). Research into these disorders is ongoing.
Hip Dysplasia: The breed mean score (BMS) for Cavaliers is 16. Both parents' hip scores should be well below this.

Research is progressing towards the goal of providing all Cavaliers in the UK with an estimated breeding value (EBV) and eventually a genetic breeding value (geBV).

Please note that this information and advice will need to be modified in the light of new research