Cavalier Health Issues



Hip Dysplasia

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is the most common, heritable orthopedic problem seen in dogs. It afflicts virtually all breeds of dogs but is especially problematic in large and giant breeds. Clinically, the disease manifests itself in one of two ways: 1) a severe form that typically afflicts the younger animal and is usually characterized by marked pain and lameness, or 2) a more chronic form with more gradual onset of clinical signs such as mild, intermittent pain, stiffness and restricted range of motion in the hips as the dog ages. In many cases, the chronic form may be clinically silent.

Have your dog's hips x-rayed at age 2 and submit those x-rays to the OFA. It is important to know if a dog has hip dysplasia so you can restrict jumping, do any recommended surgery while they are young, and to inform your breeder of the results. The larger the number of Cavalier hips submitted to the OFA, the better they can predict the incidence of the disease in Cavaliers. The dog DOES NOT have to be anesthetized to do this! If your own vet won't do it without anesthesia, call around and find one who will.