Owners of Italian Spinones are being asked to participate in a health survey that will help the Kennel Club and the Animal Health Trust to understand and treat cancer, epilepsy and gastric dilation/torsion (bloat) in the breed.

Owners of Kennel Club registered Spinones born between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2011 are being asked to complete the questionnaire, which will help geneticists at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust to understand the incidence of these conditions in the breed. 

The questionnaire will be the first part of a study that will take place in several stages and which will ultimately help the AHT and the Kennel Club to help affected dogs.

It is also hoped that the information from the study will lead geneticists at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre to develop tools for breeders that will help them to ensure that future generations of Spinones are less likely to be affected.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Breeders and breed clubs all want to understand, treat and ultimately eliminate conditions that can affect their beloved breed. The Kennel Club registers around 250,000 puppies each year and these vast pedigree records and our contact with breeders are vital to helping us improve the health of all dogs in the future.

“We are grateful to the Italian Spinone Breed Club of Great Britain for supporting this study and look forward to working with breeders and the Animal Health Trust on this important project.”

Other breeds that have provided information that has ultimately enabled the Kennel Club and the AHT to develop DNA tests include Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, leading to the creation of DNA tests for Curly Coat and Dry Eye Syndrome and Episodic Falling, and Beagles leading to a test for Neonatal Cerebella Cortical Degeneration (NCCD).

Cathryn Mellersh, Head of Genetics at the Kennel Club’s Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust, said: “At the moment we don’t have a clear picture about the incidence of cancer, epilepsy and bloat in the Italian Spinone. By working with the breeders of Kennel Club registered dogs, we hope to considerably increase our understanding of these diseases, so that we can find treatments and develop tools that will help breeders to breed future generation of Spinones that are less likely to be affected.”