The Flatcoated Retriever Society has a screening scheme for patellar luxation, assessments are carried out by Veterinary Surgeon Jane Alexander. The stifle (knee) joints are examined, and any abnormalities noted, a certificate is issued to owners of assessed dogs and this can be made available for prospective puppy purchasers to view. Patellar luxation is a developmental condition, but it is thought that there may be breed related inherited factors that predispose dogs to this condition. The aim of assessment is to give breeders knowledge to enable them to make informed choices in their breeding programmes without narrowing the gene pool,…
Health News
BVA/RKC/ISDS Eye Scheme – Revised grading system for Gonioscopy
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…
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…
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….
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…
