A vet has revealed the dog breed he would never own, despite finding them “adorable” and “great with kids”. Dr Ben Simpson-Vernon, known as Ben The Vet (@ben.the.vet) on TikTok, regularly shares advice about our furry friends and offers guidance to pet owners on how to best care for them.
In a recent post, Ben disclosed one dog breed he absolutely loves but could never have himself. Despite being described as “sweet” and “great with children”, the vet said he couldn’t own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel due to their numerous health problems.
Ben stated: “The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is my favourite breed, but as a vet I’d never get one. They’re the sweetest dogs, they are great with kids and I personally don’t say that about any other breed and they attract lovely caring owners.
“I know exactly why people love these dogs because I love them too, but their health issues are so numerous, severe, painful and widespread. Bred in the wrong hands, these dogs can be extremely poorley.”
Ben explained that the reason why cavaliers are so adorable is due to their appearance.
He added: “But this cute appearance come at a cost to the dog, their skull is too small to contain the brain causing overcrowding and pressure build-up at the back of the skull.
“This is a problem called Chaiari-like malformation, humans get it too and sufferers describe headaches or a throbbing, stabbing or sharp pain in the back of your head, neck or shoulders.”
Ben claims 92% of cavaliers show some evidence of the malformation when examined using an MRI scanner.
He also stated that as a consequence of the malformation, cavaliers also suffer from syringomyelia – a condition where fluid builds up inside the spinal cord.
The accumulation can trigger pain in the neck or back, yelping or discomfort when changing position, phantom nerve pain, air scratching and weakness and unsteadiness.
Ben said: “They [the dogs] also have a tiny gene pool, all Cavaliers will develop a heart condition called mitral valve disease.
“Around 50% of them die from the heart failure caused by this condition. I’ve lost count of how many cavaliers I have treated with this problem and it breaks my heart.
“Their genetics and appearance also mean an elevated risk of all of these conditions; periodontal disease. corneal ulcers, idopathic epilepsy, chronic kidney disease and liver disease.”
Norway prohibited the breeding of Cavaliers in 2022 due to the breed’s high rate of inheritable health problems, such as syringomyelia and heart issues.
Ben added that breeders in several Scandinavian countries have been crossbreeding Cavaliers with other breeds with the aim of reducing the frequency of these problems. Ben the Vet issued a stern warning to those who “desperately” still want a Cavalier, advising them to choose a breeder who conducts multiple health tests on both parents including CM/SM screening scheme, KC/VCS heart scheme for MVD, BAV/KC screening for eye disease, DNA testing for CC/DE, EF, DM, and Putnam scoring for patella luxation.
He advised: “But if you want my advice, it would be prioritise your dog’s future health and comfort over your desire for a particular dog, and consider a different breed if you’re buying a puppy.
“Let’s make healthy the new cute.”
