Health Disorders from Brendael English Springer Spaniels

Health issues occur in every breed. Genetic based disorders in Springers include hip dysplasia, retinal dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hypothyroidism, and epilepsy.

Breeders are working together to minimize health disorders in our breed. Work funded by the ESSFTA foundation is currently underway to find the genetic marker for PRA and epilepsy. Everyone can support efforts to minimize health disorders by participating in the DNA bank at the University of Missouri. Blood samples from both healthy Springers and those with an inherited problem are "banked" for current and future research.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is one of the hereditary problems English Springer Spaniels can have. This condition is characterized by a malformation of the hip joint. In severe cases the hip socket does not surround the head of the femur to form a ball and socket joint. Rather, the socket is flat, or dish-shaped, allowing the head of the femur to slip and slide around instead of fitting tightly. The result is a break down or wearing of the cartilage in the joint which can become painful and eventually crippling as the dog matures. There are several surgical procedures which may help alleviate pain and function. Hip dysplasia is an inherited defect with a "many genes" mode of inheritance. The degree of hereditability is moderate, meaning that the formation of the hip joints is also modified by environmental factors such as over nutrition, excessively rapid growth, and certain traumas during the growth period of the skeleton. The condition of the hip joints can only be determined accurately by x-ray examination. Hip dysplasia may be diagnosed by x-ray between six months and a year of age, but this is not entirely reliable. Two years of age is considered to be the minimum age for accurate radiographic determination of desirable conformation. We recommend that you have your puppy's hips x-rayed at 24-26 months AND send the x-rays to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) in Columbia, Missouri for a diagnostic evaluation. Your veterinarian should have the information on how to do this. We also recommend that you follow the guidelines for exercise and feeding your puppy under nutrition to help in the prevention of hip dysplasia.

Retinal Dysplasia

English Springer Spaniels also have several hereditary eye diseases. Retinal dysplasia and retinal folds are genetic defects present at birth where the retina may be curved, irregularly shaped, or detached. These cause small blind spots in the retinal. Retinal dysplasia rarely causes vision problems for the individual dog and does not usually get worse. Rarely an individual puppy has such large areas of retinal detachment and a subsequent decrease the visual field to the extent where he is completely blind. Responsible breeders will check their litters by the age of 8 weeks for eye disorders.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy is a degeneration of the retinal tissue that progresses to blindness. It is a slowly progressive disease and the earliest signs may be overlooked. The first indicator is usually a reluctance to go out a night as night blindness is the first clinical sign of PRA. Night blindness gradually progresses to the point where it is difficult to even see in bright light. Unfortunately, in Springers the disease can appear as late as 7 or 8 years of age. Responsible breeders check their dogs throughout their lives, monitoring them for the development of hereditary eye disorders.

Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland has a number of different functions, but it is most well known for regulating metabolism. Hypothyroidism occurs when not enough thyroid hormone is produced. The most common signs of low thyroid function include lethargy, mental dullness, loss or thinning of the fur, dull hair coat, excess shedding or scaling, weight gain, reduced activity, and reduced ability to tolerate the cold. The hair loss occurs primarily on the body not over the head and legs. Dogs often have ear and skin infections.

Epilepsy

Idiopathic epilepsy is a disorder associated with recurrent seizures that are not caused by by other disorders. Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy frequently begin seizing between one and three years of age. As idiopathic epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion, tests are run to eliminate other causes. Although there is no cure for epilepsy, many dogs can be managed with medication and stress management. Unfortunately some Springers are unresponsive to treatment.

Idiopathic Aggression

Unfortunately, no discussion on Springer health is complete without addressing "Rage Syndrome" or "Springer Rage." “Rage Syndrome” is an old term, essentially a misnomer that should be dropped from the behavior vocabulary. It is more correctly called idiopathic aggression. It is a rare disorder that occurs in other popular breeds, not just Springers. An otherwise normal dog goes into a sudden unprovoked aggression, attacking people. During the attacks the dog has a glazed look in his eyes and does not respond to commands. It is most commonly felt that this is a form of epilepsy. Many cases of identifiable aggression are misdiagnosed. Aggression can be a complex behavior. If your dog is misdiagnosed as having "Springer Rage" find a competent behavioral consultant to help you find out why your dog is biting.

Updated March 25, 2008