Health Information for Kooikers
Generally, the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a healthy breed. However as with any dog breed hereditary diseases are found within the breed.
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of Canada (NKCC) takes the health of our dogs very seriously, and therefore works together closely with the Dutch Breed Club, the Vereniging Het Nederlandse Kooikerhondje (VHNK). The VHNK has kept very careful records over many years, and has recently managed to achieve collaboration of a large number of breed clubs from different countries to participate in a program with the University of Utrecht, Fit2Breed (see insert). This program helps breeders to select the combination of parent animals that is most likely to have offspring without health problems. All member breeders of the NKCC will have to complete the required health testing prior to breeding their dogs. The NKCC also encourages the testing of pet dogs, so that the database will have a full comprehensive view of the health status of the breed.
While all the health data will be compiled, and accessible to breeders associated with NKCC, future owners of puppies can not view this information easily. However, the owners of breeding dogs can obtain a CHIC (Canine Health Information Centre) number at the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). A dog achieves CHIC Certification if it has been screened for every disease recommended by the parent club (in this case the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the United States of America) for that breed and those results are publicly available in the database. Note that the tests do not need to be favourable in order to get a CHIC number. Always check the results.
The NKCC recommends that all future puppy buyers inform themselves that the parents of their potential pup have completed all health tests as required, and verify their information either through checking the CHIC number, or asking their breeder for the results of the health tests. A responsible breeder will usually offer you that information without you having to ask for it. It is important to realise that even with the most conscientious breeding practices possible, hereditary diseases can not be 100% prevented.
Genetic testing for ENM and Polymyositis needs to take place in the Netherlands. Click here for information and methodology for sampling, processing and mailing.
The Vereniging Het Nederlandse Kooikerhondje was established February 11, 1967, in Delft. The objective of the association is to maintain and improve the breed and to promote the welfare of Kooikerhondjes. Their interest extends to Kooikers bred and owned in other countries as well as the Netherlands, as they aim to keep the breed as healthy and consistent as possible worldwide.
Fit2Breed is a computer program developed by the Genetics Expertise Center of the Faculty of Medicine Utrecht. The program has been developed to select the best possible breeding combinations to produce the future generations of purebred dogs. It is the result of a unique project in which collaboration between international associations, breeders and owners to collect health data and process it together with the VHNK was paramount. It focuses on health as well as genetic diversity. It acheives this by recording all health and genetic information of as many Kooikers as possible.
(Poly)myositis (not yet required for CHIC) - Required by NKCC
Polymyositis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of one or more muscles, preventing them to function, which results in muscle weakness of the affected muscles. Myositis is a progressive disease with a very poor prognosis.
There are two groups. A group of relatively young dogs with mainly swallowing or eating problems. The second group of dogs is young to middle aged and has musculoskeletal problems or a combination with swallowing problems.
The disease has a poor prognosis, although some advances have been made in the treatment.
In 2020 a deletion mutation was identified. Dogs with two copies of the mutation have a chance of 10 – 20% to develop the disease, while dogs with one copy of the mutation have a chance of 0.5 – 2%. In very rare cases no mutation can be found. Breeders must avoid breeding two carriers of the mutation together.
The scientific publication on this can be accessed at: https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1011538
Recently a second mutation has been discovered that seems to modify the risk of developing the disease.
Updates to the status of ongoing research will be posted on the website and attached here.
Patella luxation
When a dog has patella luxation the kneecap can slide out of the normal groove it moves in. There are several gradations, where the kneecap can barely be moved out of the groove to situations where the kneecap is permanently dislocated. To reduce the incidence of the disease breeding dogs will be tested and breeding regulations are in place.
The NKCC’s requirements for breeding dogs will include the following health tests:
Von Willebrand Disease
This is an inherited bleeding disorder. The blood cannot clot normally, and affected animals will bruise and bleed. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive way, which means it needs two mutated genes for the disease to manifest itself. As a result of the mandatory testing for this gene, no diseased dogs are born.
Hereditary Necrotising Myelopathy (ENM), or Kooiker Paralysis
This is a neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord white matter and leads to paralysis. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive way, which means it needs two mutated genes for the disease to manifest itself.
Affected dogs show symptoms from the age of 6 to 15 months. At first, the symptoms are mild: subtle coordination problems in the hind limbs. As the disorder advances, symptoms will progress. The dogs will ‘walk like a drunk’ in the rear end. At this time, the front will also show functioning problems and postural reactions are disturbed. Affected animals are not in pain, but the disease is progressive and will lead to the dog’s death before it has reached the age of 2.
With mandatory testing for this gene and responsible breeding, we can ensure no diseased dogs will be born in the future. Genetic testing shows carriers of this disorder, and two carriers should never be bred together.
Plus the following examinations performed by a (specialised) veterinarian:
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia refers to an abnormal configuration of the hip joint. This condition can cause significant pain for the dog. Hip dysplasia is not a big problem in the Kooikerhondje. The Dutch parent club does not require testing for this disease, though the requirements of the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the USA make hip
X-rays necessary to assign a CHIC number.
Hereditary eye diseases
There are only a few hereditary eye diseases in the Kooikerhondje.
Cataract is a disorder where the lens of the eye becomes opaque, leading to vision loss and blindness.
Distichiasis is a condition where there is an extra set of eyelashes in the eyelid. These extra eyelashes can cause irritation to the surface of the eye.
Breeding dogs should be tested for these conditions by a certified veterinarian (American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists).
