English Springer Spaniel — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Fucosidosiscan shorten life or cause chronic pain
A fatal genetic disease from a missing enzyme (alpha-fucosidase), causing progressive loss of learned behaviour, unsteady walking and blindness from one to two years of age, usually leading to death within weeks of onset. Noted in the literature as concentrated in dogs from UK and Australian conformation lines.
Ask to see: A fucosidosis DNA test on both parents
AKC Canine Health Foundation / Fucosidosis in the English Springer Spaniel (https://www.akcchf.org/disease-history/fucosidosis-in-the-english-springer-spaniel/)
Phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFK)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A metabolic disorder in which red blood cells and muscle cells cannot produce enough energy, causing episodes of weakness, exercise intolerance, dark urine and anaemia. OFA states this test is for English Springer Spaniels only among the breeds it screens.
Ask to see: A PFK deficiency DNA test on both parents
OFA / Phosphofructokinase Deficiency (PFK) (https://ofa.org/phosphofructokinase-deficiency-pfk/)
Progressive retinal atrophy, cone-rod dystrophy (cord1/CRD4)
A degeneration of both rod and cone cells in the retina causing progressive vision loss, usually apparent by around three years of age. OFA names the English Springer Spaniel as one of only two breeds (with the Miniature Long-haired Dachshund) at real risk of clinical disease from this variant; in most other breeds carrying it, the risk of clinical disease is described as low.
Ask to see: A PRA-CRD4/CORD1 (RPGRIP1) DNA test on both parents
OFA / Progressive Retinal Atrophy CRD4/CORD1 (https://ofa.org/crd4-progressive-retinal-atrophy/)