The Breed is an active, hardy and game little dog with a life span of appox 12 to 15 years. But like all living creatures some Cairns will have on occasion a health problem.

If your Cairn develops a Health problem then the Cairn Terrier Health Group would welcome you reporting it to the Group.

All members of the group are happy to give advice on health conditions.

Contact Maud Hawkes msascience@onetel.com or telephone 01623 812856.

Yvonne Catto birselaw@ycatto.freeserve.co.uk or telephone 0131 449 2790

When reporting a condition, please send a vet report and copy of pedigree of the Cairn involved to Maud Hawkes, who will deal with all data on health conditions. Information can be send to her at msascience@onetel.com or cases discussed on telephone 01623 812856. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

CAIRN TERRIER HEALTH GROUP REPORT 2011

Another year has gone by with continued good contact between owners and the Health Group. The Cairn is of course generally a very healthy breed, but it is important that it will remain that way. Health monitoring is vital to achieve this, so all information is gratefully received. Many Thanks to those who submit case histories and updates !

The UK Cairn Terrier Symposium did take place on Saturday 16 July, the day before the Joint Cairn Terrier Clubs' show. Professor Steve Dean did contribute to the discussion on health issues, which naturally dealt mainly with Porto Systemic Shunt and Ocular Melanosis.

It was most encouraging to receive the message from the Kennel Club that new additions have been made to the Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS) for our breed. It is now strongly recommended that ABS breeders use the following health screening schemes : BVA/KC/ISDS Eye scheme on breeding stock and Bile acid testing of puppies.

Reported cases this year include 1 each of : Diabetes; Epilepsy; Granulomatous colitis; Hip dysplasia; Hydrometra; Hypothyroidism; Ischemic myelopathy; Renal failure/PLN. Liver and eye cases are listed separately.

Owners often seek advice on conditions that are not exactly qualifying as 'disease cases' but are nevertheless of great worry to them. This also sometimes happens towards the very end of an old, much loved Cairn's life. The aim of the Health Group is to offer help and support whenever possible, so don't hesitate to contact us !

Porto Systemic Shunt (PSS), or Liver Shunt, also included is Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD).

Many more breeders are now bile acid testing their Cairn litters, but it still only amounts to around 5% of registered litters. One reason for this is of course that the majority of litters are bred by non-breed club members. Some of those breeders do however belong to the Assured Breeder Scheme, so the new KC recommendations will hopefully have some effect on the situation. It is also important that breeders who use the procedure remember to send the results to the Health Group !

1 case of, and 1 suspected of, MVD has been reported. 2 puppies were found to have abnormal bile acid values and are being monitored. 1 case of congenital PSS has been diagnosed in a dog as old as 5 years. The latter shows that the condition certainly can be hidden for a long time and in a seemingly healthy dog !

Ocular melanosis (OM), or bilateral secondary glaucoma.

It appears to have been 'a good year' on this front, with no new cases reported. Previously unreported cases have however come to light and cases reported on earlier are still being followed. Yet another dog did sadly have to lose an eye and its remaining eye is now under threat. It must be stressed that this condition is progressive and not congenital. Regular eye testing, at least every two years, of breeding stock is therefore most important. The condition falls under Schedule B of the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme. The test results are sent to the BVA where they are collated. Schedule B results are however not sent to the KC computer base and will therefore not appear on the KC's Mate Select.

The yearly, subsidized Eye Examination resulted in 17 examinations and the session organized by Dawn Inett in 4 examinations. 1 result from a private consultation has also been added. No evidence of OM/APD was found.

Many Thanks to those who have given generous donations to the Health Fund !

Maud Hawkes BSc(Hons)Animal Science

Tel: 01623 812856 email: msascience@onetel.com