-Bernard-Soulier-Syndrom (BSS)-

Bernard-Soulier Syndrome is a rare congenital blood clotting disorder that can occur in English Cocker Spaniels. It is caused by a genetic mutation that impairs the function of platelets.
Typical Symptoms

Increased tendency to bleed
Prolonged bleeding time from minor injuries
Bruising (hematomas)
In severe cases: internal bleeding

The condition can be life threatening, especially during surgeries, accidents, or in everyday situations when bleeding cannot be stopped quickly.
Inheritance: How BSS is Passed On
BSS is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, which means:

Only dogs inheriting two mutated genes, one from each parent, will develop the disease.
Carriers with one defective gene remain healthy but have a 50 percent chance of passing the gene to their offspring.
The disease manifests only if both parents are carriers. In such cases, 25 percent of puppies are statistically affected.

Genotypes

Genotype	Meaning	Health Status	Breeding Eligibility
N/N (frei /clear)	The dog has tested clear of any defective genes	Will not develop the disease	Eligible for Unrestricted Breeding Use
N/BSS (Träger / carrier )	The dog carries a defective gene	Clinically unaffected, with a 50% carrier gene	Breed only with a clear/free partner
BSS/BSS (betroffen / affected )	Genetic status: affected (two copies of the mutation)	Significantly increased risk of illness	*Not approved for breeding.*

Mating Charts – What Do They Show?
Mating charts help predict the genetic outcome of planned breedings. They show the likelihood of offspring being clear, carriers, or affected by inherited diseases based on the genetic status of both parents. This ensures responsible and health-focused breeding decisions.

Sire	Dam	Progeny
A (clear)	A (clear)	100 % A (clear)
A (clear)	B (carrier)	50 % A, 50 % B
A (clear)	C (affected)	100 % B
B (carrier)	B (carrier)	25 % A, 50 % B, 25 % C
B (carrier)	C (affected)	50 % B, 50 % C
C (affected)	C (affected)	100 % C (affected)

The Genetic Test for BSS

The genetic test for BSS is easy to perform and reliably shows whether a dog is:

Clear (N/N)
Carrier (N/BSS)
Affected (BSS/BSS)

💡 Responsible breeders test their dogs before breeding to ensure that no puppies are born with this dangerous blood clotting disorder.