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Health and Welfare Challenges in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Surrender Reasons and Disease in a Rescue population
Rebecca Mosley1, Tena Kras2, Clare Buxton2, Felipe Zabaneh Rodal2, Peter Buxton2, Clare Rusbridge3,4
1. Bliss Cavalier Rescue, Barrow-upon-Humber, UK
2. Barton Veterinary Practice, Barton-upon-Humber, UK.
3. School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Guildford, Surrey, UK
4 Wear Referrals Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Hospital, Stockton-on-Tees, UK
admin@blisscavalierrescue.org, c.rusbridge@surrey.ac.uk,
This study examines data from surrendered dogs to assess prevalent surrender reasons and overall health status, following concerns raised by a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
(CKCS) Rescue charity regarding the increasing number of dogs surrendered with multiple health conditions and the resulting financial, emotional and logistic burden.
Objectives
❖Rescue CKCS have a disproportionate likelihood of chronic health issues with age-
associated trends and multiple acute and chronic diseases.
❖This places a large financial burden on the charity and emotional burden to caregivers.
❖The necessity for long term care of complex and chronic health conditions prevents
rehoming from foster placements and blocks the ability to take new dogs.
Conclusions
Information from 177 dogs was gathered and examined. The data originated from 4 sources: 1) a pre-surrender questionnaire, 2) a surrender questionnaire completed by the
previous owner, 3) a fosterer questionnaire that included health checklists, and 4) veterinary medical histories and veterinary examination after surrender. 164 dogs were consecutive
surrenders from 2021 onwards (post Covid lockdown). 13 dogs were surrendered before 2021. Groups were compared using ANOVA single factor then t -Test Two Sample.
Materials and Methods
2
3
References:
1. Carter AJ, Martin JH. Demographic Changes in UK Rescue Centre Dog Population between 2014 and 2018. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2021 Oct-Dec;24(4):347-
356. doi: 10.1080/10888705.2020.1839755. Epub 2020 Nov 5. PMID: 33151782.
2. Spitznagel MB, Jacobson DM, Cox MD, Carlson MD. Caregiver burden in owners of a sick companion animal: a cross-sectional observational study. Vet Rec.
2017 Sep 21;181(12):321. doi: 10.1136/vr.104295. Epub 2017 Sep 4. PMID: 28870976.
a
Acknowledgements and Funding
Discussion
The most common health issues, each affecting over 20% dogs, were anxiety (79.7%), Chiari-pain /
syringomyelia (71.8%), dental disease requiring extractions (68.4%), mitral valve disease (49.2%),
keratoconjunctivitis sicca (38.4%), obesity (36.2%), chronic ear disease (32.8%), ear mites (23.7%),
behavioural problems (27.7%), osteoarthritis (29.9%), patella luxation (22.6%), and hip dysplasia
(22.0%). Conditions were not more likely in one surrender group over another.
Results – Age at and reason for surrender
Surrender reasons fell into four categories (some overlapping): caregiver circumstances change
(31.1%), behavioural problems (28.2%), financial reasons (27.1%), and retired breeding dogs (21.5%;
94.4% Kennel Club registered). Dogs surrendered due to changed caregiver circumstances were older
(mean: 6.9 years) compared to ex-breeding (5.5 years; p=0.003), financial (5.1 years; p=0.005), and
behavioural (5.3 years; p= 0.001) reasons.
Results – Most common health issues
Results – Multi-morbidities
❖Multiple chronic or acute diseases were common with an average of 6 separate health conditions per
dog (range 0-18, median 5; data on anxiety and obesity / being underweight excluded as these
conditions may improve with time in foster care).
❖The number of multi-morbidities showed a trend to increase with age, with no significant difference
among surrender categories.
❖Dogs with behavioural problems were not more likely to have a painful health condition.
Condition
Number dogs
(total 177)
Percentage of dogs affected
Anxiety (generalised
–
recorded by fosterer)
141 79.7%
Chiari
- pain / syringomyelia 127 71.8%
Dental disease requiring extractions
121 68.4 %
Mitral valve disease
87 49.2 %
Dry eye
68 38.4 %
Obesity
64 36.2%
Chronic ear disease
58 32.8 %
Ear mites
42 23.7%
Behavioural problems
49 27.7 %
Osteoarthritis
53 29.9%
Patella luxation
40 22.6 %
Hip Dysplasia
39 22.0 %
❖Breed-specific rescue organisations wield specialised knowledge to address the distinct challenges faced by some breeds, ensuring individualised
care and facilitate appropriate rehoming.
❖Reasons for surrender can be subcategorised as “caregiver circumstances change”, “behavioural problems”, “financial”, and “retired from breeding”.
❖The older age of dogs surrendered highlights the complex interplay between age and surrender motivations, especially in the “caregiver
circumstances changed” category.
❖The health profile of these dogs revealed a concerning prevalence of many conditions, with generalised anxiety, Chiari-pain, syringomyelia, dental
issues, and mitral valve disease being particularly common.
❖The substantial number of multiple morbidities emphasises the complex health landscape in this rescue population.
❖There was a trend for increasing multiple morbidities with age – at 6 years of age the average CKCS has 6 health conditions.
❖Breed-specific rescue organisations face additional financial burden if a breed is predisposed to inherent and chronic health issues. (1)
❖There is high caregiver burden for people with responsibility for (often several) long-term foster dogs with complex and multiple health conditions. (2)
31.1
28.2
27.1
21.5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CHANGED CAREGIVER
CIRCUMSTANCES
BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEM
FINANCIAL REASON
RETIRED BREEDING DOG
Percentage of dogs
Reason for Surrender
Results – Impact of dental disease
Average age 5.5 years
Average age 5.1 years
Average age 5.3 years
Average age 6.9 years
94.4% UK Kennel Club registered
Many breeders use breed specific rescue societies to
dispose of “stock” that no longer have commercial value
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0
Number of separate health problems
Age of dog
Number of co-occurring medical problems (not including anxiety and obesity / underweight )
At 6 years of age the average
CKCS has 6 diseases
❖121 of 177 dogs (68.45%) had periodontal disease and required
dental treatment with extractions.
1
3
1
3
1
1
3
3
10
5
7
5
8
14
14
29
19
BEHAVIOURAL
PROBLEM
FINANCIAL REASON
RETIRED BREEDING
DOGS
CAREGIVER
CIRCUMSTANCES
DOGS REQUIRING DENTAL EXTRACTIONS
1-3 4-7 8-12 13-20 21 plus
Periodontal disease in a 4-year-old KC
registered female CKCS surrendered
from a licensed breeding establishment
Number teeth extracted
❖Typical cost to the charity for a dental procedure is £900 per dog.
❖Dental costs are the most significant contribution to the £1188 per
adoptable dog cost (this figure does not include cost of dogs in long term
foster care with chronic health problems).
❖Dogs from breeding establishments had the worst
dental disease
❖92% of this cohort required a dental with extraction
❖76.3% of this cohort required 21 or more teeth
removed.
❖Dogs surrendered because of changed
owner circumstance were most likely to
require dental with extractions (23.1%
cohort)
❖Perhaps reflecting older age of group?
❖We extend heartfelt gratitude to all donors and supporters of Bliss Cavalier Rescue for their generous contributions,
enabling the essential healthcare for these dogs.
❖Many thanks to the tireless efforts & dedication of the Bliss Cavalier Rescue team of foster carers, transporters & volunteers
❖Special thanks to the Hannah Hasty Memorial Fund for covering the expenses associated with poster production
Changed caregiver circumstances (% total cohort)
Died/terminally ill – 13%
Ill or disabled – 5.6%
Returning to work or increasing hours – 4.5%
Having baby – 2.8%
Moved abroad – 2.3%
Relationship breakdown – 1.7%
Moved into residential care – 1.1%
CKCS are more likely to
be surrendered as adult
or geriatric dogs
Word Cloud - Emotions expressed by
Bliss Cavalier Rescue foster carers
when asked about the state of dog
rescue in 2024.
