CONNECTING
CAVALIER LOVERS

Editors/Publishers:
Per Wallentin
Lena Svalling-Ekdahl
 

Independent, non-profit Magazine covering news
and information about
Cavaliers & Charlies

Independent Evaluation of the Swedish Health Program

 
INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE SWEDISH

HEALTH PROGRAM

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

HEALTH PROGRAM HEART STATUS
(MURMUR – CARDIAC AUSCULTATION OVER THE MITRAL AREA)

Study made by;
Per Wallentin (per@ckcs.se)
for www.ckcs.se on private initiative

copyright©ckcs.se 2006 

”5 years since the Swedish Health program started in order to improve the Heart Status.
A Health program in order to improve the situation on murmur –
cardiac auscultation over the mitral area.

We have on independent basis search for information on the Internet and other sources in
order to analyze what happen during these 5 years.

Our intentions are not to create opinion against or pro the Health Program,
we simply want to know what the effects have been.

We truly believe that is our responsibility as breeders or owners of a Cavalier to push the development
for a better breed. A positive discussion will make us move one step further.

During year 1996 to 2005 the following certificates was done on Heart Status:
·          1996 to 2000       = 3.083 certificates
·          2001 to 2005       = 4.734 certificates
·          Total  -96 till -05  = 7.817 certificates

Although many of the Cavaliers were checked more than one time, the total number of Cavaliers was as down below:
·          1996 to 2000       = 2.833 Cavaliers
·          2001 to 2005       = 4.066 Cavaliers

It clearly shows an increase of certificates between the period 1996-2000 and 2001-2005 with more than +44% which is very positive. It’s very clear that with the Health Program our Cavaliers get a regular check. During 1996-2000 it was 8% of the cavaliers that was checked more than one time, during 2001-2005 the same number were 14%, a clear positive increase.

Although, please be aware of that only 6-8% of the total estimated population is checked on Health Status – and that is a small amount of the total number.

SYSTOLIC MURMUR DURING CARDIAC AUSCULTATION
During the last 10 years the following heart status with systolic murmur during cardiac auscultation has been registries. Please be aware of that if the same Cavaliers have 2 or more certificates with murmur as a result, only one of the certificates has been counted.

·          1996 to 2000       = 154 Cavaliers
·          2001 to 2005       = 248 Cavaliers
·          Total -96 to -05   = 393 Cavaliers (9 Cavaliers was in both periods)

That means that for the period 1996-2000 approximately 5% of all checked Cavaliers had murmur and for the period 2001-2005 approximately 6% of all checked Cavaliers had murmur. Although this % figure is not relevant though you have to dig into the figures and analyze by age.

MURMUR BROKEN DOWN IN AGE FOR THE PERIOD 1996-2000 AND 2001-2005
Most accurate numbers you get from the period 2001-2005 though much more Cavaliers have been checked. During the period of 1996-2000 it was amazing 41% of the checked Cavaliers with murmur that only was checked once, so no history to lean on. For the period 2001-2005 this number was only 18% (even if that is a high number) and then we get closer to figures in the system that we could rely on.

Cavaliers with murmur, but never checked earlier is of the total number very high. Normally you don’t include these in a survey, though the accurate information is not there. But when the number is this high, we need to include them. We assume that they were without murmur until they got the certificate of having murmur.

Results as follow:

Please observe that the numbers above is when the Cavaliers was without a murmur and had a health certificate saying so. X is those Cavaliers that had a murmur but after that they got a clearance of not having murmur. Z is those Cavaliers that were checked during this period but not have any history of being healthy before they got the certificate of having murmur.

Results as follow when Z is included in the age categories:

The Health Program don’t officially accept results from Cavaliers under 2 years, also the Health Program accept Cavaliers that is older than 7 years that was free but got murmur later. So the important figures are the ones between 2-6 years in order to see how big the murmur problem is.

Results as follow:

During the last 10 years we have 254(*) Cavaliers with a murmur before 7 yrs old. During the period of the Health Program it looks like we hade a dramatic increase, but it should be compared with the total number of checked Cavaliers, it is the percentage that is important.

(*)= 9 Cavaliers was in both of the periods!

Results as follow:

Unfortunately we could see an increase of murmur during the period of the Health Program, but it is very small figures and could be in the margin of reality and can’t be said that it is an increase. It is also difficult to compare the periods though the figures from 1996-2000 includes less Cavaliers checked with less frequency.

During 2001-2005 we have established a base that is more trustful and reliable than compared to 1996-2000. If you just look at the result you may start wonder why we have a Health Program at all.

Under no circumstances there is no ground in increasing the breeding terms in age, by increasing from 2 to 4 years and 4 to 6 years on the parent Cavaliers.

Although an important question for the future is to handle the imported Cavaliers to Sweden. Clearly we need to stimulate breeders to import new breed lines, in order to decrease the in-breed grade. Our Health Program works negative on this, though it’s almost impossible to get the certificates on the parents that are required with a cardiologic veterinary.

HEALTH PROGRAM  – CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

Source:
·          Cavaliersällskapets Rasdata – Internet
      1996-2004 full year, and January – November 2005
      The information is cleared from the same Cavalier is counted twice.
·          SKK Hunddata – Internet
·          Hundsports figures on newborn puppies per breed per year

Assumption:
·          We estimate the live length for a Cavalier to minimum 10 years, which should be an average for the  
      breed in Sweden.

Purpose:
·          To collect and summaries the Health Program (2001-2005) with facts and evaluate the effects on   
      murmur on total numbers of checked Cavaliers.
·          To compare the health program (2001-2005) with the period before it started, that means the period
      1996-2000.

NEWBORN PUPPIES PER YEAR

Description: Total number of Newborn puppies in Sweden on a historical basis.

NEWBORN PUPPIES + ESTIMATED CAVALIERS IN SWEDEN PER YEAR.

Description: An Estimation of Cavaliers in Sweden based on number of puppies born.

TOTAL CHECKED CAVALIERS + ESTIMATED TOTAL CAVALIERS IN SWEDEN

Description: Total checked Cavaliers compared to estimated total Cavaliers in Sweden.

Clearly it shows that breeders and owners to a Cavalier recognize the importance of checking on a regular basis their Cavalier. In 1996 only 190 Cavaliers were checked, today almost 900 Cavaliers were checked.

Although only 6-8% of the total estimated stock on Cavaliers in the country is checked. This is a very low number, a priority should be to influence owners of checking their Cavaliers more, by then they help the breed to improve in a positive way. Though bigger number of checked Cavaliers we have, the better “ground” we stand on to make good decisions.

TOTAL CHECKED CAVALIERS + TOTAL NUMBER OF CAVALIERS WITH MURMUR

Description: Total checked Cavaliers compared to total number of discoverd Cavaliers with murmur per year.

Above you may se, without considering or evaluation) the number of murmur per year that were discovered. Although it’s important to split these numbers down to year categories in order to see the value of the result.

TOTAL NUMBER OF CAVALIERS WITH MURMUR FOR THE PERIOD 2001-2005

Description: Total number of Cavaliers with murmur for the period 2001-2005 divided in age, when they last was clear from murmur with a certificate proofing this. Also Code X is Cavaliers that have been cleared from murmur and Code Z is Cavaliers that got murmur, but never have been checked earlier – so no history.

Above you see that in total 248 Cavaliers got murmur during 2001-2005. We have divided them in age categories from where they were healthy with a certificate proofing this.
E.g. it was 51 Cavaliers that were over 7 years with a clear heart before they got the judgement of having murmur.

Please observe that Code X is Cavaliers that first had murmur, but later on has been cleared from this. Code Z is Cavaliers that got murmur, but never before has been checked. These you can’t say when they were healthy because it’s no background history to proof this.

However Z-group includes more than 18% of the total number of Cavaliers with murmur these are an important factor. Down below you may see how these influence the statistic if you divide them by age. Normally you don’t put insecure results like this into the calculation, but when the number is this high, you have to.

TOTAL NUMBER OF CAVALIERS WITH MURMUR IN 2001-2005 (Z-INCLUDED)

Description: Total number of Cavaliers with murmur during the period 2001-2005 divided per age.  Code Z is included in the age category (Z=Cavaliers that never has been checked earlier)

In our Health Program we admit Cavaliers that are more than 7 years old with a clear heart. That means that 169 Cavaliers with murmur for the period 2001-2005..

AVERAGE/YEAR (2001-2005) CHECKED CAVALIERS & NET MURMUR/YEAR

Description: Total result for 2001-2005 divided per year (5years) = average per year. Shows total Cavaliers and total murmur (reduced by non relevant fact such as Cavaliers with clear heart over 7 years old)

During 2001-2005 (The Health Program) we have average/year checked 813 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and the outcome was 34 Cavaliers with a murmur (cleaned figure). This means that 4.18% of the checked Cavaliers developed murmur before they became 7 years old.

IMPORTANT!
The result shows minor figures – because of that it’s difficult to draw a conclusion. It’s difficult to say if the result is reasonable, low or high. Unfortunately this survey doesn’t give you that answer.

Although, we will compare this result with the 5 years before we started the Health Program, maybe that could show us something to draw a conclusion of.

TOTAL NUMBER OF CAVALIERS WITH MURMUR FOR THE PERIOD 1996-2000
Description: Total number of Cavaliers with murmur for the period 1996-2000 divided in age, when they last was clear from murmur with a certificate proofing this. Also Code X is Cavaliers that have been cleared from murmur and Code Z is Cavaliers that got murmur, but never have been checked earlier – so no history.

TOTAL NUMBER OF CAVALIERS WITH MURMUR IN 1996-2000 (Z-INCLUDED)

Description: Total number of Cavaliers with murmur during the period 1996-2000 divided per age.  Code Z is included in the age category (Z=Cavaliers that never has been checked earlier)

AVERAGE/YEAR (1996-2000) CHECKED CAVALIERS & NET MURMUR/YEAR

Description: Total result for 1996-2000 divided per year (5years) = average per year. Shows total Cavaliers and total murmur (reduced by non relevant fact such as Cavaliers with clear heart over 7 years old

During 1996-2000 (before the Health Program) we have average/year checked 567 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and the outcome was 19 Cavaliers with a murmur (cleaned figure). This means that 3,4% of the checked Cavaliers developed murmur before they became 7 years old.

Per Wallentin,
www.ckcs.se