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Health Testing Guide
Which tests are mandatory, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel we've compiled 4 tests required by Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Deutschland e.V. (CCD) and 10 additionally recommended tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
See dogs available for adoptionWhat this grade means
With the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, you have to look very closely: around half of all Cavaliers show a heart murmur due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MVD) by the age of five, and almost all are affected by the age of ten. In addition, over 90% show a Chiari-like malformation on MRI, while the resulting syringomyelia affects around 40 to 48%, depending on the study, and increases with age. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Deutschland e.V. (CCD) prescribes mandatory examinations for patellar luxation (PL) (PL 0 required) as well as genetic testing for Curly Coat Dry Eye Syndrome (CC) and Episodic Falling (carriers only with a clear partner). Because the breed-specific risk is high, health-conscious breeders additionally have the parent animals examined cardiologically for myxomatous mitral valve disease (MVD) and via MRI for Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) – demand precisely these written findings.
Every breed is susceptible to certain inherited conditions. Just like humans, dogs inherit predispositions from their parents. Responsible breeders screen their breeding dogs for these conditions and make informed mating decisions to reduce the risk passed on to puppies.
No — but it's the strongest tool we have. Diet, exercise, environment, and genetics all contribute to whether a dog develops a condition. When breeders use the right tests to identify risk in potential parents, the likelihood of many conditions appearing in the puppies drops significantly.
There's no one-size-fits-all here. For the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Deutschland e.V. (CCD) requires 4 tests for breeding approval, plus 10 additional recommended tests. The specific tests and passing thresholds are detailed further below.
Keep in mind
Reliable screening tests still don't exist for many hereditary conditions, and tests for complex polygenic conditions don't always predict severity in the puppies. Even so, they're a powerful tool of responsible breeding.
There are two main types of health tests:
Screen the dog's DNA for known disease-causing mutations. Can be performed from puppyhood and give a binary result (clear / carrier / affected).
Clinical and imaging exams like X-ray, ultrasound, or ophthalmoscopy. They show how a predisposition actually manifests — usually only conclusive after 12–18 months.
We group breeding programs into three levels based on testing depth. Ask your breeder directly which level they meet.
A breeder at the Great level meets the Good level and performs 10 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)(BOAS)
Atmung
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a severe respiratory condition affecting short-muzzled dog breeds, where the physical shortening of the skull leaves insufficient space for the upper airways. This structural compression forces tissues like the soft palate and nasal passages into a restricted area, significantly obstructing the flow of oxygen to the lungs. Over time, the increased effort required to breathe puts chronic strain on the dog's respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Physical examination · Passing: clear
Exposure keratopathy syndrome (exophthalmos, lagophthalmos, and/or macroblepharon)(EKS)
Augen
This condition involves chronic damage to the cornea, which is the clear protective outer layer of the eye. It occurs when the eyelids cannot fully close to moisten the eye, often due to protruding eyeballs, incomplete eyelid closure, or an abnormally large eyelid opening. Without proper moisture, the delicate surface of the eye becomes dry, inflamed, and vulnerable to injury.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Corneal dystrophy(CD)
Augen
Corneal dystrophy is an inherited eye disorder where abnormal, opaque materials like fats or calcium build up in the cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the eye. This accumulation typically affects both eyes and is non-inflammatory, meaning it does not cause immediate swelling or redness. Over time, these deposits can disrupt the smooth surface of the eye.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Cataract(HC)
Augen
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the lens inside the dog's eye, which is the clear structure that focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye. When the lens becomes cloudy or opaque, it blocks light from entering, gradually impairing the dog's vision. If left untreated, this condition can eventually lead to complete blindness in the affected eye.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Microphthalmia
Augen
Microphthalmia is a congenital developmental disorder of the visual system where one or both of a dog's eyeballs are abnormally small. This structural defect occurs during embryonic development and is often accompanied by other eye abnormalities, such as cataracts, which are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye. Because the eyeball itself is underdeveloped, the surrounding eyelids may also appear droopy or misaligned.
Passing: clear
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)(PRA)
Augen
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited eye disease that affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. In this condition, the specialized cells responsible for detecting light, known as photoreceptors, gradually degenerate and die. Because these cells cannot recover or be replaced, the disease slowly but inevitably leads to complete blindness.
Passing: clear or carrier
Retinal Dysplasia(RD)
Augen
Retinal dysplasia is a congenital condition affecting the eyes, where the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) does not develop properly during growth in the womb. This abnormal development leads to structural defects like folds or gaps in the retinal layers. Because the retina is responsible for sending visual signals to the brain, these imperfections can impair normal vision.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
Hip dysplasia(HD)
Bewegungsapparat
Hip dysplasia is an inherited skeletal disorder where the ball and socket of the hip joint do not fit together properly. Instead of sliding smoothly, the bones rub and grind against each other, wearing down the protective cartilage. Over time, this chronic friction causes joint instability, painful inflammation, and progressive arthritis, which is the gradual wear and tear of the joint.
X-ray · Passing: HD A–B
Mitral valve dysplasia(MVD)
Herz
Mitral valve dysplasia is a congenital heart defect where the mitral valve, which acts as a one-way gate on the left side of the heart, does not form correctly. This malformation prevents the valve from closing tightly, allowing blood to leak backward instead of pumping efficiently to the body. Over time, this leakage strains the heart muscle, which can lead to heart enlargement and eventual heart failure.
Ultrasound · Passing: normal
Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM)(CM/SM)
Nervensystem
Chiari-like malformation is a structural neurological condition where the back of the skull is too small for the brain, forcing the lower part of the brain into the spinal canal. This displacement blocks the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, the protective liquid surrounding the brain and spine. Over time, the blocked fluid builds up and forms painful, fluid-filled cavities called syrinxes within the spinal cord, a secondary condition known as syringomyelia.
X-ray
These levels are a comparison framework, not an official certification. They help compare breeding programs at a glance.
A complete checklist with every core-standard and additionally recommended test, plus identity and rearing questions — take it with you.
Open the full checklistFor breeders
Machine-readable mating rules, minimum ages, scoring schemes, and what's required for HonestDog verification — as a printable guide.
Example rule — Curly Coat Dry Eye Syndrome
Both parents must be clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) or better.
We take mandatory tests from official breed regulations, build the recommended health standard from veterinary databases — and cross-check every uploaded certificate against the dog's profile using AI.
L1 = core standard: the club's required tests where its rules set them, otherwise the recommended health standard for the breed. L2 = additionally recommended or clinically indicated. L3 = lower prevalence. Every assignment carries a source and confidence rating.
VDH breeding regulations, CIDD (University of PEI), OMIA (University of Sydney), curated veterinary input.
Uploaded certificates are read by AI and checked for date, result, and consistency with the dog's profile — our team reviews anything inconclusive.
In the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, heart and nerve disease are the main issue – above all mitral valve disease and Chiari-like malformation with syringomyelia, which are widespread in the breed. Because we cannot yet reliably assess the screening this requires at breeders, we do not show breeders for this breed for now.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.