'Make healthy the new cute': The surprising reason one vet would 'never' own his favourite dog breed

They're one of Australia's most-loved dog breeds, known far and wide for their sweet, affectionate – and incredibly family-friendly – disposition.

But they're also the one breed veterinarian Dr. Ben Simpson-Vernon would never own.

The UK-based vet and Tiktok educator admitted in a post on Tiktok that while the toy dog breed, named for King Charles II of England, is his "favourite", there are a number of issues that have permanently deterred him from getting one.

Simpson-Vernon was quick to sing the spaniel's praises, lauding them as an exceptionally kid-friendly option, but he says the "numerous, severe, painful and widespread," health issues that plague the breed far outweigh their positive qualities.

"Bred in the wrong hands, these dogs can be extremely poorly."

Shockingly, the quality that makes these pups so irresistibly cute to prospective dog owners, is the hidden culprit at the centre of their spate of health issues.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel's visual appearance – characterised by a spherical, almost teddy bear-like head, large eyes and a subtly squished face – creates something known as the "baby schema effect."

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But their appearance comes at a heavy cost to the dog. Their skulls, according to Simpson-Vernon, are too small to comfortably accommodate their own brain.

He says this "causes overcrowding, pressure and build up at the back of their skull,"

"This is a problem caused by Chiari-like formation – humans get it too, and describe it as throbbing, stabbing or sharp pain in the back of your head, neck or shoulders."

As many as 92 per cent of the breed has some evidence of the condition present, while one-in-four go on to develop a build-up of fluid in the spinal cord, also known as Syringomyelia.

But according to Dogs Australia registered breeder Lyndy Morris, "Testing for SM is difficult and impractical for a lot of breeders due to Australia's vast size and the sparse availability of expensive MRI equipment in many states."

While the condition often goes undiagnosed, there are some key signs to look out for; including yelping when shifting position, weakness or wobbliness in the back legs and air scratching.

"Hopefully, in the future it will be more readily accessible and less cost restrictive."

Morris has been working as a vet nurse in tandem with Cavalier breeding for 34 years, and has been looking at ways to mitigate the health issues rife within the breed.

"Many have searched worldwide to bring in good healthy lines and together with what has already been bred here, we are certainly in a good position to take the breed forward with the healthiest dogs we can." Morris says.

And Simpson-Vernon offered this advice for those looking at bringing one of the miniature spaniels home: "If you decide to get a Cavalier puppy, you must do your homework and choose a breeder who health tests for all of their common problems."

According to Dogs Australia, the key ongoing health tests to check for with breeders are as follows:

• Annual heart testing preferably with a specialist cardiologist vet (Mitral Valve Disease which can affect other breeds as well)
• Eyes test (checking for abnormalities and early onset Juvenile Cataracts by Specialist Animal Ophthalmologists)
• DNA testing for Curly Coat/Dry Eye Syndrome
• DNA testing for Episodic Falling
• MRI scanning for Syringomyelia (if scanning is available in their area)

The vet and Tiktoker admitted "I know exactly why people love these dogs because I love them too."

"But please do be aware that even in the best hands, health testing only mitigates against some of the health risks I highlight in this post."

He gave one final piece of advice for future dog owners: to prioritise the health and comfort of the puppy over the desire to buy a particular breed – and to ultimately opt for a healthier one.

"Make healthy the new cute," he concluded.

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