Cavalier Talk

* WARNING *

Corona Virus: is a nasty virus that usually affects Cavalier King Charles Spaniels’ (dogs’) gastrointestinal systems, though it can also cause respiratory infections. Signs include most GI symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doctors can keep a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (dog) hydrated, warm, and comfortable, and help alleviate nausea, but there is no drug that kills corona viruses.

For more information on dog vaccines or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com

Canine Hepatitis: is a disease of the liver caused by a virus that is unrelated to the human form of hepatitis. Symptoms range from a slight fever and congestion of the mucous membranes to severe depression, vomiting, jaundice, stomach enlargement, and pain around the liver. Many dogs can overcome the mild form of the disease, but the severe form can kill. There is no cure, but doctors can treat the symptoms.

For more information on different dog vaccines or information on Cavalier king Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com

Canine Distemper: is a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous system of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (dogs), wild canids, raccoons, skunks, and other animals. It causes discharges from the eyes and nose, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching paralysis, and, oftem, death. There is no specific drug for the virus–the symptoms can be alleviated, giving the dog’s immune system a chance to fight it off.

For information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com

Bordetella Bronchiseptica: is a highly communicable bacterium that causes severe fits of coughing, whooping, vomiting, and, in rare cases seizures and death. It is the primary cause of kennel cough (see below). There are both injectable and nasal spray vaccines available. I recommend only using the injectable (shot version) of the vaccine and not the nasal vaccine. Many times the nasal vaccine can cause a mild case of keenel cough to appear especially in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies.

For more information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com

Syringomyelia (SM): is a condition in which fluid-filled cavities develop within the spinal cord near the brain.  It is also known as “neck scratcher’s disease”, because one of its common signs is scratching in the air near the neck. The back half of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s skull typically may be too small to accommodate all of the brain’s cerebellum, and so it squeezes through the foramen magnum – the hole at the back of the skull – partially blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) down the spinal cord. The variable pressure created by the abnormal flow of CSF is believed to create the SM cavities – called syrinx – in the spinal cord. Each Cavalier King Charles Spaniel diagnosed with SM may have a different degree of symptoms and degree of pain associated with the disorder. There are no genetic markers through DNA evaluation at this time. Some breeders and specialists have begun studies using MRI testing, but the specialists have not come up with a uniform grading of the MRI results so the MRI testing is still in its beginning stages as well. MRI testing can be upwards of $1000 - $2000 per dog and some specialists require a minimum of 5 dogs before they will even offer the MRI testing. Due to the cost and the lack of uniform grading many breeders cannot afford to test for this disorder at this time. Foundations all around the world are doing clinical trials and trying to study this disorder so hopefully in the near future there will be more information to guide breeders in an attempt to breed away from this disorder.

For more information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD): MVD is a degeneration of the heart’s mitral valve, one of four sets of valves in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s heart. As the mitral valve degenerates, the valve no longer fully closes after each pumping action, allowing some blood to flow backwards through them from the ventricle back into the atrium. As the condition worsens, more and more blood is able to backflow through the valve. In the final stages, the valve’s struts sometimes break, causing the valve to collapse completely. MVD is the most common heart disorder in older dogs of all breeds, affecting more than a third of all dogs over 10 years of age.

For more information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com

Luxating Patellar: Is a dislocated kneecap that cannot stay in its groove. Normally the kneecap moves up and down in a groove along the femur, but if this groove is shallow, the kneecap may move laterally and slip out. Most of the time a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a luxating patella has a medial luxation which can be caused by a traumatic accident or it can be genetic in origin. Since this disorder can also occur from trauma the only repair for the disorder is surgical. Signs of luxating patella include: difficulting straightening the knee, pain in the stifle, and limping. If you notice your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel limping then have your vet check their patellar on the leg showing the limp to see if a possible injury has occurred from just everyday running and playing in the yard. Many times if it is just a minor injury it may heal naturally without any need for surgery.

For more information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com

Hip Dysplasia: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can sometimes develop hip dysplasia, but the breed risk ranks 61st according to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) data. To get a true diagnosis of this disorder a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel must be put under anesthesia by a veterinarian with experience in x-raying the hips. The x-ray is then sent to OFA for the actual diagnosis. This disorder can also be caused from trauma after a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy is born so not all cases of hip dysplasia are genetic, but most of the time if hip dysplasia occurs the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (dog) already had a predisposition to the disorder. Most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with hip dysplasia live a long and normal life without much discomfort since they are a toy breed. It is also a condition that is very difficult to tell in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel without having the hips x-rayed, which is another example of how this disorder although not recommended for breeding does not usually affect the quality of life of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. All Cavaliers that have been cleared for hip dysplasia will be listed in with OFA. OFA is the ONLY screening that is absolute. A veterinarian cannot pass a Cavalier’s hips, but they can read the x-ray and have a good idea of whether the dog will pass or fail. There is no reason not to send the x-ray on to OFA for absolute diagnosis since it is only a minor charge.

For more information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com