British Veterinary Association / Kennel Club 
Chiari malformation / Syringomyelia (CM/SM) (launched at Crufts 2012)



The scheme will screen dogs, particularly potential breeding stock, for chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia (CM/SM). Chiari-like malformation (CM) is characterised by a mismatch in size between the brain (too big) and the skull (too small). This constricts the opening from the skull into the vertebral canal and alters the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As a result a fluid-filled cavity develops within the spinal cord called a syrinx, with the condition being called syringomyelia (SM). Both conditions can cause a significant amount of pain and the aim of the scheme is to reduce, and hopefully eliminate, the incidence of inherited CM and SM in dogs.

These debilitating inherited conditions affect certain breeds, most prominently the cavalier King Charles spaniel, but also the griffon Bruxellois. CM/SM is also suspected to be inherited in a number of other small (toy) breeds including King Charles spaniels, chihuahuas, pomeranians, affenpinschers and Maltese terriers.

The BVA/KC Canine Health Schemes also announced that MRI scans previously taken can be submitted to the scheme but will not be charged for unless they are suitable for grading under the scheme. 

How the scheme worksTo take part in the CM/SM scheme owners will need to have their dog MRI scanned at a veterinary practice. The dog must be permanently identified. The scans will then be reviewed by two scrutineers from a BVA-appointed panel of expert neurologists and radiologists and graded for severity for both CM and SM.

The results will be sent back to owners via the veterinary practice that performed the MRI scan. Results of Kennel Club registered dogs will be sent to the KC for publication on the KC Health Test Results Finder online and to the Animal Health Trust for inclusion in the Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) calculations.

Publication of results by the Kennel Club will commence once the first batch of results is available, after the first quarter. In the interim, the online Health Test Results Finder will indicate that the dog has been screened and that results are available from the owner. User-friendly guidance on how to understand the results will be made available on the KC website.

The scrutineer panel is
  • Prof M E Herrtage MA BVSc DVSc DVR DVD DSAM DipECVDI Dip ECVIM MRCVS (Chief scrutineer)
  • Mrs R Dennis MA VetMB DVR DipECVDI MRCVS
  • Dr C Rusbridge BVMS PHD DipECVN MRCVS

The BVA/KC Canine Health Schemes serve to provide dog breeders with the option of testing for certain inherited diseases, to enable them to breed only from dogs which have fewer or no signs of inherited disease and thus help to reduce the incidence of these diseases. There are four schemes – Hip Scheme (hip dysplasia), Elbow Scheme (elbow dysplasia), Eye Scheme (hereditary eye disease) and CM/SM Scheme.




Further information on the BVA/KC scheme can be found on the following links

Basic Information - http://www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/syringomyelia/docs/bva_information.pdf

Protocol for MRI screening - http://www.veterinaryneurologist.co.uk/syringomyelia/docs/bva_protocol.pdf

CM/SM Grading Scheme - http://www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/syringomyelia/docs/bva_grading.pdf

CM/SM breeding guidelines summary (all relevant toy breeds) - http://www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/syringomyelia/docs/BVA_KC_summary_download.pdf

Conversion of 2006 Breeding Guidelines to BVA/KC Scheme - http://www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/downloads/chart_2006_%20to_2012.pdf

Chiari Malformation/Syringomyelia Scheme - 
http://www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/Syringomyelia/SM_Screening/CM-SM_info_Leaflet.pdf








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