Spaniel (English Springer)

We advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

Priority health schemes and tests

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.

• Eye testing - PLA (gonioscopy) (BVA/KC/ISDS)
• DNA test - Fuco. - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
• DNA test - PRA (cord1) - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
• Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS) - Find results for the pre 2020 MRD open register. This only lists dogs that were diagnosed as 'affected by MRD'. MRD results published after 31 Dec 2019 can be found in their Health Test Results Finder entry

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

• Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
• DNA test - PFK - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
• Bitches under 20 months not to produce a litter
• Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
• Check inbreeding calculators

Other health schemes and tests available

• DNA test - AMS - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
• DNA test - DAMS - find a list of tested dogs

*The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our DNA Testing Services. This includes:

• AMS (Acral mutilation syndrome)
• Fuco (Fucosidosis)
• PFK (Phosphofructokinase deficiency)
• PRA-Cord1 (Progressive retinal atrophy - Cord-1)
• DNA profile (SNP ISAG 2020)

Kennel Club Assured breeders and Kennel Club Accredited Instructors receive a 10% discount.

Find out more about our DNA Testing Services.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email either 

Louise Scott

or 

Lesley Field

Find out more about health issues in this breed by visiting the UK English Springer Spaniel breed clubs' health website.

The Breed Health and Conservation Plans

Our breed health and conservation plans (BHCPs) use evidence and data to help us understand the health issues found in each pedigree dog breed. These plans help breeders and owners identify health and welfare problems and use information, health tests and health schemes to avoid passing on those problems to future puppies. They also support and provide breeders with tools and specialist expertise to help manage genetic diversity, understand the impacts of close breeding, and find the best ways to preserve the population of their breed.

Working together for the breed

We’ve worked with breed clubs and breed representatives to gather all available evidence to help us determine the priority concerns for the breed and decide how we can work together to manage and reduce these problems.

Breed priorities

The current key priorities for the breed are:

• Genetic diversity
• Breed health education
• Engaging in further research

How we plan to make improvements

We’ve agreed the following list of actions with the breed clubs to improve the health of the breed. Both parties are committed to working on these areas and will review these on a regular basis to ensure the actions remain focussed and relevant to the breed’s health.

Breed club actions include:

• The breed clubs to provide husbandry advice (particularly ears, teeth and weight) on the English Springer Spaniel health website
• The breed clubs to investigate avenues into incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle (IOHC) research, with the Kennel Club to assist in recruitment of dogs – IN PROGRESS (information about the ongoing IOHC research can be found here)
• The breed clubs to continue to engage in research opportunities for their breed – ONGOING

Our actions include:

• To investigate the possibility of directing traffic through the Breed Information Centre to the English Springer Spaniel health website – COMPLETE (this action was completed in 2020, with a link available above)
• To keep the breed updated on any advancements in a cruciate ligament study
• To share the findings of the popular sire study– IN PROGRESS (We are undertaking a complete review of every breed’s population analysis, which will be released once finalised)
• To investigate formulating breeding advice regarding the consequences of close breeding and genetic diversity – IN PROGRESS (this will be included in the action above)

The full evidence base is available at the discretion of the breed clubs, however if you would like to seek access to the full report, please contact our health team here.

Health (The Kennel Club)

 

How do I use this information?

Breeders should be mindful of the top priorities in their breed and ensure they are working to reduce and eliminate the presence of these diseases when choosing to breed their dogs.

Puppy buyers should also be aware of these issues and be sure to ask their breeder how they are contributing towards the above actions, and whether any of these problems have been seen in their breeding lines.

There are not currently any additional breed specific restrictions in place for this breed.