Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) is a serious health concern for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels,

…significantly impacting their heart health. MVD is a progressive heart condition where the mitral valve, which regulates blood flow between the heart’s left atrium and ventricle, degenerates. This degeneration causes the valve to leak, leading to mitral regurgitation and potentially congestive heart failure. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Understanding MVD in Cavaliers:

Prevalence: MVD is exceptionally common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, with some studies indicating it affects a large percentage of the breed. [1, 5]
Progression: MVD is a progressive disease, meaning it worsens over time. The degeneration of the mitral valve can lead to a leak, causing blood to flow backward into the left atrium, reducing the heart’s efficiency. [4, 5]
Symptoms: Early stages of MVD may not show noticeable symptoms, but as the disease progresses, symptoms like coughing, difficulty breathing, decreased activity, and lethargy can appear. [6, 7]
Impact: If left untreated, MVD can progress to congestive heart failure, where the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. [1, 7]
Diagnosis: MVD is typically diagnosed through auscultation (listening to the heart with a stethoscope), which may reveal a heart murmur. Further diagnosis may involve echocardiography (an ultrasound of the heart) to assess valve function and blood flow. [8, 9, 10, 11]
Management: While MVD is not curable, early diagnosis and appropriate management can significantly improve a Cavalier’s quality of life and potentially extend their lifespan. Management strategies include medication, lifestyle adjustments, and potentially supplements. [1, 7, 12, 13, 14]

Breeding Considerations:

MVD Protocol: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, USA has developed a breeding protocol that discourages breeding dogs with MVD murmurs before the age of five. [15]
Responsible Breeding: Responsible breeders prioritize breeding healthy dogs with a low risk of MVD, aiming to minimize the prevalence of this condition in future generations. [5, 15, 16, 17]

In summary, MVD is a significant health concern for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, impacting their heart health and longevity. Understanding the disease, its progression, and management strategies is crucial for responsible pet ownership and breeding practices. [1, 5, 7, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22]

Echocardiography An important diagnostic tool to fully characterize the structure and function of the pulmonic valve and the support structures involves the ultrasound of the heart known as echocardiography. This test permits the examination not only of the muscle and valve, but also of the blood flow (Doppler echocardiography). Determination of the blood flow across the stenotic valve is important to learn the severity of the pulmonic stenosis because this guides the recommendations for treatment. The cardiologist will be able to determine the gradient across the stenotic valve. This is usually the first parameter used to decide if the dog requires treatment with balloon valvuloplasty. In most cases dogs with a gradient above 80 mmHg are recommended to have treatment when the stenosis is primarily valvular. Dogs with a gradient of less than 50 mmHg do not usually require treatment. When the gradient is in the middle, other factors are taken into consideration for the next step towards or away from the catheter procedure.

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://cvm.ncsu.edu/cavalier-king-charles-spaniels-research/

[2] https://wagwalking.com/condition/mitral-valve-disease

[3] https://wagwalking.com/breed/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel

[4] https://www.invoxia.com/blog/petcare/mvd-in-cavalier-king-charles/

[5] https://cavalierhealth.org/mitral_valve_disease.htm

[6] https://pawprintoxygen.com/blogs/healthy-paws/how-do-i-know-if-my-dog-has-mitral-valve-disease-mvd

[7] https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/mitral-valve-disease-in-dogs

[8] https://www.royalspaniel.com/health-testing/heart.html

[9] https://www.invoxia.com/blog/petcare/mvd-in-cavalier-king-charles/

[10] https://cavalierhealth.org/mitral_valve_disease.htm

[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3yVURW7yWI

[12] https://cavaliergifts.com/mitral-valve-disease-mvd-cavalier/

[13] https://www.invoxia.com/blog/petcare/mvd-in-cavalier-king-charles/

[14] https://tierarzt-karlsruhe-durlach.de/en/mitral-endocardiosis-in-dogs/

[15] https://cavalierhealth.org/mvdprotocol.htm

[16] https://pawprintoxygen.com/blogs/healthy-paws/mitral-valve-disease-or-mvd-in-dogs-everything-you-need-to-know

[17] https://beyondpets.com/pet-health-plus/mitral-valve-disease-in-dogs/

[18] https://ckcsc.org/blog/living-mvd

[19] https://www.cavalierhealth.com/images/stem_cell_treatment_of_mvd.pdf

[20] https://www.invoxia.com/blog/petcare/mvd-in-cavalier-king-charles/

[21] https://wagwalking.com/condition/mitral-valve-disease

[22] https://ackcsc.org/health/hearts/

Pulmonic Stenosis in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Also cause a heart murmur but has a better prognosis. The two conditions are worth separating and you can use the SAME diagnostic, Electrocardiogram.

Pulmonic stenosis (PS) is a common congenital heart defect in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, involving a narrowing of the pulmonary valve or outflow tract. This restricts blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, potentially leading to heart strain and other complications. Diagnosis typically involves a veterinary examination, including listening for a heart murmur, and further testing like X-rays, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms. Treatment depends on severity, with mild cases sometimes managed with monitoring and medication, while more severe cases may require surgical intervention. [1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Key points about pulmonic stenosis in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:

Congenital: It’s a birth defect, meaning it’s present from birth. [3, 9]
Narrowing: The pulmonary valve or the area just below it (subvalvular) is narrowed, obstructing blood flow. [4, 9]
Murmur: A heart murmur is a common finding during a veterinary exam. [1, 10]
Severity: The severity of PS can vary widely, from mild to severe. [5]
Symptoms: Mild cases may show no symptoms, while severe cases can lead to exercise intolerance, fainting, or even heart failure. [5, 11]
Diagnosis: Veterinary cardiologists use echocardiography (heart ultrasound) to assess the valve’s structure and blood flow. [1, 10]
Treatment: Mild cases may be managed with medication and monitoring, while severe cases might require surgery like balloon valvuloplasty. [2, 5]

Additional information:

Echocardiography: This is the gold standard for diagnosing and assessing the severity of PS, allowing visualization of the valve and blood flow. [1, 5]
Balloon valvuloplasty: This minimally invasive procedure can widen the narrowed valve using a catheter and balloon, improving blood flow. [5]
Prognosis: Dogs with mild PS can often live normal lives, while those with severe PS may require ongoing management. [5, 11]