Chiari Malformation/ Syringomyelia (CM/SM)
This condition has been found in many breeds including the numerically popular Cavalier.
No responsible breeder would knowingly breed from visibly affected stock. As breeders have become more aware of these conditions breeding dogs that are symptomatic have been removed from the breeding programme.
The mode of inheritance is complex and at this current stage there can still be no guarantees given that any progeny will or will not inherit CM/SM whether the parents are MRI scanned clear or not.
Research will be ongoing and world-wide.
The CM/SM scheme run by the BVA and the KC, uses MRI scanning to score the dogs and gives breeding recommendations based on this.
For more information see the below link to the CM/SM page on the Kennel clubs website.