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Heart Research News

Dr. (Professor) Dougall
Dr. (Professor) Dougall

Recently there has been news about a search for a gene which is still in the early stages, may help protect Cavaliers against early onset Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease (MMVD). This gene is called the NEBL3 gene.

Dougall is 17 years and 2 months. He was first diagnosed with a murmur at age 11; is regularly checked by the vet and cardiologist and remains B1 (earliest stage of the disease with no heart enlargement), NO medication for his heart.

As Dougall has remained stable we decided to carry out the DNA test.

The MMVD result was a surprise – his result was genetically affected for Myxomatous mitral valve disease [MMVD]. To date, 97% of Cavaliers have this result.

Even though we were surprised at the result we hope this will give re-assurance and comfort to people who have a similar result.

Further Reading

Dr Dougall's MMVD Research Results
Dr Dougall’s MMVD Research Results

The 2022 Australian NEBL3 study (which is not even in the pilot study stage) found 6 NEBL3 cavaliers; 5 of which they had diagnosed as having Mitral Valve Disease before the study began. However all 5 had milder cases of MMVD than the average of the other dogs in the study.

It is hoped that future studies with more NEBL3 cavaliers will show that the NEBL3 mutation slows down the progression of Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease (MMVD) in the breed.

Swedish Research News

A mandatory heart screening program was introduced in Sweden and the risk of dying before age 10 is now almost half of what it was prior to the program; early cases of heart murmurs and heart failure is almost gone from the Swedish population. However the Swedish breed club stated that Mitral Valve Disease and Syringomyelia are near to impossible to extinguish in a screening programme unless new genes are added to the breed. The Finnish and Swedish Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Clubs have started cross-breeding programs to improve the health of the breed.

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