Health and Wellbeing at CameronCavs

At CameronCavs, the health and wellbeing of our dogs are our top priorities. We go above and beyond to ensure that every puppy we breed comes from parents who meet the highest health standards. Our commitment to health testing exceeds the requirements set by The Kennel Club (KC) to ensure our Cavaliers and Cavapoos lead long, happy, and healthy lives.

Kennel Club Priority Health Schemes & Tests (2025)

For Cavaliers :

  • Cavalier Heart Scheme: Heart testing at ages 2, 4, 6, and 8 years.
  • BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme: Annual testing to check for any hereditary eye conditions.
  • DNA Tests: Screening for Curly Coat (CC), Dry Eye (DE), and Episodic Falling (EF).

For Toy Poodles:

  • BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme: Annual testing to check for any hereditary eye conditions.
  • DNA Test: Screening for prcdPRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy).

Our Enhanced Health Testing

We take extra measures to ensure the health of our dogs:

  • Heart Testing: We regularly travel to England for heart testing with a Cardiologist under the KC Cavalier Scheme to ensure thorough and up-to-date assessments.
  • Eye Testing: Our proximity to a Small Animal Hospital allows us to conduct annual BVA eye tests with an Optometrist with ease and reliability.
  • Genetic Screening: We partner with leading genetics experts to stay informed about the latest DNA tests, ensuring we’re always ahead in identifying and preventing hereditary conditions.

This comprehensive approach helps us breed dogs with the best chance of a healthy life, providing peace of mind for new owners and giving puppies the strongest start possible.

See below further information on the testing completed. For Cavalier pups read the Cavalier tests, for F1 Cavapoo's 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 and our breeding dogs are noted as UNAFFECTED for breeding.

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 condition’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 ensure he is 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