Health and Wellbeing at CameronCavs

At CameronCavs, the health and wellbeing of our dogs is our top priority. We want our dogs and pups to have the best possible chance of living long, happy and healthy lives.

Kennel Club Good Practice and Best Practice Tests (2026)

The Kennel Club divides recommended health testing into Good Practice and Best Practice tests. Below are the tests successfully completed by our breeding dogs.

Cavaliers, Good Practice Tests

Heart Testing: Heart testing from two years of age.

DNA Testing: Screening for Curly Coat, Dry Eye and Episodic Falling.

Cavaliers, Best Practice Tests

Eye Testing: Eye examinations to check for hereditary eye conditions.

Toy Poodles, Good Practice Tests

DNA Testing: Screening for prcd-PRA (Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration).

Additional Measures We Take

Specialist Heart Testing:
We travel to England for our Cavaliers to be heart tested by a cardiologist, providing a thorough specialist assessment of their heart health.

Specialist Eye Testing:
Our proximity to a Small Animal Hospital allows us to arrange eye testing with a qualified veterinary ophthalmologist.

Genetic Screening:
We work with leading genetic testing providers and keep up to date with developments in canine DNA testing. This allows us to consider additional relevant tests and reduce the risk of inherited conditions being passed to future generations.

This comprehensive approach helps us give our puppies the strongest possible start and provides reassurance to their new families.

Further information about each health test can be found below.

For a Cavalier puppy, please read the health testing information for Cavaliers.

For an F1 Cavapoo puppy, please read both the Cavalier and Toy Poodle health testing information, as an F1 Cavapoo has one Cavalier parent and one Toy Poodle parent.read both the Cavalier & Toy Poodle tests.

Mitral Valve Disease: Cavaliers

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) is one of the most common and significant health concerns in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. This condition affects the heart's mitral valve, which controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle. Over time, the valve can become thickened or misshapen, leading to leakage (regurgitation) and reduced heart function.

At CameronCavs, we follow the Kennel Club Cavalier Heart Scheme, and our breeding dogs are noted as GREEN for breeding.

Additional Information

BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme: Cavaliers & Toy Poodles

The British Veterinary Association (BVA), Kennel Club UK (KC), and the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) work together to promote eye testing for identifying inherited eye diseases in both pedigree and crossbreed dogs.

At CameronCavs we follow the BVA/KC/ISDS eye scheme.

Additional Information

Curly Coat and Dry Eye Syndrome, and Episodic Falling: Cavaliers

Curly Coat and Dry Eye Syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects both the eyes and skin, causing significant discomfort and often leading to severe health complications.

Episodic Falling is a neurological disorder in Cavaliers, triggered by physical activity, excitement, or frustration. The condition causes a sudden and severe increase in muscle tone, preventing the dog from relaxing its muscles.

At CameronCavs all our Cavaliers are HEREDITARY CLEAR or DNA CLEAR for these diseases.

Additional Information

Syringomyelia and Chiari Malformation: Cavaliers

Syringomyelia (SM) is a serious neurological condition often associated with Chiari Malformation (CM) in Cavaliers. It is characterised by the formation of fluid-filled cavities, or syrinxes, within the spinal cord. CM is a structural abnormality at the back of the skull that disrupts normal cerebrospinal fluid flow, often contributing to the development of SM.

At CameronCavs, we currently do not test for CM/SM due to the conditionā€™s complexity and the limitations of MRI screening. A negative scan result does not guarantee that offspring will remain unaffected, which complicates breeding decisions nor that the adult dog will develop the disease later in life. We will continue to closely monitor developments in CM/SM research and testing.

Additional Information

Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Toy Poodles

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA) is a leading hereditary cause of blindness in Toy Poodles. This condition is genetically diverse, with several distinct forms already identified and others still under investigation.

At CameronCavs our Toy Poodle is DNA tested CLEAR for this disease.

Additional Information

Additional DNA Testing for our Toy Poodle Male

At CameronCavs, we conducted extensive DNA testing on our Toy Poodle male to ensureĀ he isĀ free of genetic conditions that could affect his health or be passed to our F1 Cavapoo pups. This is additional testing not required by the Kennel Club.

At CameronCavs our Toy Poodle is DNA tested CLEAR for these diseases.

Additional Information