The RKC health team have advised that changes are being made to the way in which grades are recorded for pectinate ligament abnormality (PLA)/ goniodysgenesis under the scheme from January 2026. They write: ‘following feedback from breed communities and in particular the flagging of discrepancies between grade 0 and grade 1 dogs, we held a meeting with the BVA, the scheme’s Chief Panellist, and representatives from PLA breeds back in September, and report that as of January 2026 there will be changes made to the scheme to address this feedback. This involves the merging of grade 0 and grade 1…
Health
Cambridge Veterinary School proposed closure.
The Flatcoated Retriever Society are extremely concerned to hear of the recent proposal to close Cambridge Veterinary School, clinicians and researchers at the facility have been committed to supporting Flatcoated Retriever breed health for many years. The continued operation of Cambridge veterinary school is vital, not only for the preservation of specialist clinical expertise but also for the provision of much needed veterinary education. If you would like to show your support for the campaign to save the veterinary school please do so via this dedicated website set up by the school: https://savethevetschool.co.uk/…
Health updates from The Kennel Club Health department – Recording International Health Scheme Screening Results
Health updates from The Kennel Club Health department Recording International Health Scheme Screening Results The Kennel Club is now able to record official international health scheme screening results in their database. These results will appear on Health Test Result Finder as “Test result with owner” and will be eligible for Find a Puppy Health Standard icon allocation and listing prioritisation. Further information regarding eligibility, conditions and screening methods appropriate for submission and how to submit can be found on the Society website HERE Glaucoma Health Survey The Kennel Club in conjunction with the BVA are running a survey to learn…
Kennel Club Free Webinar about Heart Disease in Dogs – Wed 18th June
The KC are hosting another free webinar onWednesday 18 June from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, for anyone who would like to find out more about heart disease in dogs. In partnership with the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society (VCS), The Kennel Club’s Health team is hosting a series of free webinars exploring a range of canine heart problems. This second webinar, with expert cardiologist Dr Emily Dutton, will build on the insights from the introductory webinar held earlier this year. It will cover acquired heart disease, with a particular focus on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). For more information or if you’d like to attend the…
Further KC Health webinar – find out more about heart disease in dogs. 12th Feb 25
In partnership with the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society (VCS), The Kennel Club’s Health team is hosting a series of free webinars exploring a range of canine heart problems, the first of which will be an introduction to congenital (present from birth) and acquired (developing later in life) heart disease on Wednesday 12th February 7-8.30pm. The webinar will include a presentation from expert cardiologist, Dr Hannah Stephenson, and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. For more information and if you would like to attend the webinar you can register here The webinar will be available on the KC YouTube channel after the event for those…
Kennel Club Health Webinars
The kennel club have now uploaded the recent health webinar ‘Can we protect our dogs from GDV/bloat’ to their Yutube channel, to listen to this and other health webinars follow this link: Kennel Club Health Webinars…
Kennel Club Health Webinar November 12th 2024
Protecting your dog from Gastric Dilation Volvulus syndrome (GDV), also known as bloat The webinar is freely available to anyone who would like to find out more about gastric dilation volvulus syndrome (GDV), also known as bloat, a serious and life-threatening condition in dogs. The webinar will take place via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 12th November from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. For more information or if you’d like to attend the webinar, please register here. The webinar will include a presentation from Professor Mark Dunning, an expert from the University of Nottingham. This presentation will be followed by a Q&A session, giving…
Survey that the BVA have developed for owners and breeders who have used the BVA/KC Eye Scheme
I have received an email from the Kennel Club Breed Health Liaison Manager with information about a survey that the BVA have developed for owners and breeders who have used the BVA/KC Eye Scheme, to gain valuable feedback on the scheme’s performance and particular areas that need development. This survey is open to all breeds, and obviously they would appreciate as much useful feedback as possible so please complete the survey if you have used the eye scheme: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ML2WN2S The survey will be open for one month and will be closing on the 24th November. Many thanks Liz Liz Branscombe DipAVN(Surgical) RVN Kennel Club…
Patellar Luxation Screening Session to be held at FCRS Champ Show 3rd April 2022
See link below for further details:…
Health Webinars 2021
There will be two live webinars, with an opportunity for Q & As after each.
Immune mediated disease: How our immune system works and what happens when things go wrong? By Emma Rogers-Smith BSc(Hons) BA VetMB MRCVS ECVIM-CA Resident in Internal Medicine, Davies Veterinary Specialists…
The Kennel Club/British Veterinary Association Canine Health Schemes update regarding the current national lockdown
The following update from the Kennel Club Health Team has been sent to Breed Health Coordinators today (08/01/2021) The Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Association (BVA) would like to provide an update to all breeders currently awaiting results from hip or elbow screening and to provide reassurance of the measures being taken to ensure those waiting for results receive them at the earliest possible opportunity. Furthermore we wish to issue guidance relating to use of the Kennel Club/British Veterinary Association Canine Health Schemes (CHS) during the current national lockdown. Customers waiting for results for dogs screened pre-January 2021 As…
Kennel Club Press Release AHT
Kennel Club/AHT Press release about the future of the Genetics research data and biological material currently stored at the AHT https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/press-releases/2020/july/kennel-club-genetics-centre-data-and-biological-material-saved/…
Update About AHT Closure
Further to the announcement that the Animal Health Trust will close on 31st July 2020 the following message has been sent to Breed Health Coordinators by Cathryn Mellersh today (13th July 2020): ‘’The future of canine genetics research and DNA testing service following closure of Animal Health Trust on July 31st, 2020 I would like to extend my sincere and heartfelt thanks to everybody who has contacted me and my colleagues to express their sadness at the imminent closure of the Animal Health Trust on July 31st. I have worked at the AHT for 19 years, as have many of…
Health Seminar 12th July 2020
Regretfully, given the uncertainty regarding when gatherings will be able to resume, the Society Health Sub-Committee have made the decision to postpone the Health seminar which was arranged for 12th July this year. We plan to move the seminar to Sunday 11th July 2021 at the same venue. We apologise for any disappointment that this may cause and look forward to welcoming everyone in 2021….
Report a Health Condition
Please use this form to report a health condition if you are a UK Flatcoated Retriever owner. By submitting this form, you agree to the Flatcoated Retriever Society saving the data you supply to inform breed health plans. All information provided will be treated in confidence by the Breed Health Co-ordinator. Data may be shared anonymously with researchers for the benefit of the breed. {rsform 3} back to health home page…
Health Testing at FCRS Championship Show 2020
Jane Alexander BVet Med Cert BA, MRCVS will be offering patellar screening at the Society Championship show to be held at the Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ on April 5th 2020. Members: £12 for first dog, £10 for subsequent dogs in same ownership. Non-members £20 per dog. Dogs must be 12 months of age or over Please bring the dog’s KC owner registration document with you Payment by cash or cheque only. Appointments for the testing session should be made in advance by contacting Liz Branscombe Tel: 01525 405884 or email: [email protected] …
Health Seminar July 2020
A Health Seminar Day is to be hosted by the Flatcoated Retriever Society and sponsored by Davies Veterinary Specialists on 12th July 2020. THe day is free to members and £20 non-members, a buffet lunch will be provided. Click here for further details….
Histiocytic Sarcoma research project that the Society have recently funded
Please visit the Cancer Research page for further information, or follow the link below. AHT Article…
Health News
Breed Health Coordinator Award 2019 Many congratulations to the Society’s Health Coordinator,Liz Branscombe, she has won the KC Breed Health Coordinator Award for 2019 at the International Canine Health Awards, supported by The Vernon and Shirley Hill Foundation administrated by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. Liz is proud to have won the award which recognises both the hard work that went into setting up our breed health initiatives in the past and those that continue to support ongoing breed health projects within all of our four breed organisations. Article In Field Magazine Following an article published in the Field…
KC Health Links
Breed Health and Conservation Plan (BHCP) Project: Please click here for the KC Information about the project. To read the Flatcoated Retriever Breed Health and Conservation Plan Summary click here. To read the entire BHCP document click here. Kennel Club Health Resources Kennel Club Academy free learning resources Link to the Kennel Club Dog Health Information Understanding Canine Genetics What the KC does for Dog Health KC Health Survey 2014 Breeding for Health Leaflet Health Test Result Finder Read the KC’s Dog Health Group annual report here: KC Breed Population Analyses September 2015 Recognising the importance of managing…
Health Seminars
A Health Seminar Day is to be hosted by the Flatcoated Retriever Society and sponsored by Davies Veterinary Specialists on 12th July 2020. THe day is free to members and £20 non-members, a buffet lunch will be provided. Booking information and the programme will be circulated as soon as speakers are confirmed. A Health Seminar day, hosted by the Flatcoated Retriever Society and sponsored by Davies Veterinary Specialists was held on 26th June 2016 The speakers have kindly allowed us to post pdf versions of their presentations these can be viewed by following the links below: ‘The Red Eye’ Georgie…
DNA Research
AHT Glaucoma Research Click here for the 2018 project reportClick here for the 2017 project report Click here for the 2016 project reportClick here for the 2015 project report Click here for the link for the 2016 publication. Click here for the Goniodysgenesis Publication 2013 DNA Banking at AHT: Click here Sample submission form for canine genetic research Health Status update Form 2Hpdate Form 2H The Animal Health Trust (AHT)/Kennel Club (KC) Give a Dog a Genome ProjectThe AHT and the KC genetics centre have recently launched a research project called ‘Give a Dog a Genome’ (GDG) the aim is to sequence the entire…
Health Testing Information
Please click on the links to read about specific health testing. Elbows: Elbow scheme information: BVA Elbow Scheme Eyes: Updated information on hereditary eye diseases in dogs. BVA Eye Leaflet Eye scheme BVA Eye Scheme Primary Glaucoma and Goniodygenesis : BVA Primary Glaucoma Leaflet Gonioscopy Grading Scheme Updates (December 2017): Click here Gonioscopy breeding advice: Click here If you have any queries regarding these updates please contact Liz Branscombe, contact details on the Contacts page. Subsidised Eye Testing of Older Flatcoats The British Veterinary Association (BVA) advise that gonioscopy screening for Pectinate Ligament Abnormality (PLA) be carried out every three years….
Cancer Research
The Flatcoated Retriever Tumour Survey, 25 years on An article by Dr Jane Dobson, Tess Hoather and Fernando Constantino-Casas from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge summarising their breed specific work has been published in the Veterinary Times (volume 46 No 27 p14-18). Please follow the links to view the article and the figures referenced within the text (in a separate document). Veterinary Times Article Figures & Figure Legends Cancer Research Reports Tumour Survey Report (2015)Jane Dobson’s Cancer Research Report 2016 Jane Dobson’s Cancer Research Report 2017Jane Dobson’s Cancer Research Report 2018 …
Group Study
For the foreseeable future the group study will be a rolling study open to ALL Flatcoated Retrievers, regardless of their breeding and country of origin. The study aims to follow the life of a Flatcoat without anonymity from the age of 8 weeks. If you have a Flatcoat puppy aged 12 months or under and would be interested in taking part please contact Liz Branscombe (collator) email: [email protected] New participants will be emailed a questionnaire for completion after their dog’s first birthday. The annual questionnaire for adult dogs (aged two and older) will be circulated electronically in May and will…