Most health problems in Cavaliers are found at a routine check-up, before the owner notices anything at all. That is why in this breed the schedule of examinations matters more than in most other dogs.
This article gives an overview by age: what is done for a puppy, what for an adult dog and what for a senior, and which examinations are specific to the Cavalier.
From the eighth to the sixteenth week
This is the period when the puppy arrives in its new home and when the groundwork is laid.
- The first visit to the vet within a few days of the puppy arriving. The vet listens to the heart, examines the eyes, ears, teeth and abdomen, and checks that the puppy is developing as it should for its age.
- Vaccination on the schedule set by the vet, usually in three doses up to the sixteenth week.
- Deworming before every vaccination.
- Microchipping and the issuing of a pet passport.
If the vet hears a quiet murmur at this age, it is usually not a reason to panic. In young dogs there is an innocent murmur that resolves on its own by the fourth or fifth month. What matters is that it is checked again later.
From six months to the first year
- A follow-up heart examination at around six months, especially if a murmur was heard earlier. A murmur still audible after the sixth month is no longer considered innocent.
- A decision on neutering or spaying, if planned. Agree the timing with your vet.
- A dental check after the milk teeth have been replaced. In small breeds a milk tooth sometimes does not fall out on its own.
- first booster one year after the initial course.
From the second to the seventh year
This is the period in which the Cavalier builds the routine that most affects its later years.
- A cardiac examination once a year, from the age of two or three. This is the examination that is not skipped in this breed, even when the dog is entirely healthy and shows no signs at all.
- A general examination once a year, together with the vaccination.
- A dental check once a year, with an assessment of whether tartar removal is needed.
- Weighing at every visit. In a dog of eight kilos, even half a kilo of excess is significant.
- Parasite protection all year round, as recommended by your vet for your region.
If the dog is intended for breeding, this is also the period for the examinations that are a condition for mating: a cardiac report, an MRI, an eye examination and genetic tests.
From the seventh year onwards
At seven the Cavalier is considered a senior dog. The schedule intensifies.
- A cardiac examination once a year, and on a cardiologist's recommendation twice a year if the heart is enlarged.
- A basic blood test once a year, to check kidney and liver function.
- The eye examination, because cataract most often appears at this age.
- Monitoring breathing at rest at home. A healthy dog takes fewer than thirty breaths per minute while asleep.
Examinations specific to the Cavalier
Beyond the usual schedule, this breed has two examinations that are not done routinely in other dogs.
A cardiac examination by a specialist is the single most important examination for a Cavalier. It involves listening to the heart and, if needed, an ultrasound that measures the size of the heart and the amount of backflow. The transition into the stage at which treatment is started cannot be noticed at home; only an ultrasound reveals it.
MRI screening is done in dogs suspected of syringomyelia and in dogs intended for breeding. It is not part of the routine schedule for a pet without symptoms.
When not to wait for the next scheduled visit
A few signs mean getting in touch straight away, whatever the schedule says:
- coughing, especially at night or after lying down
- faster breathing at rest or tiring on the usual walk
- scratching at the neck in which the paw does not touch the skin
- yelping with no visible cause
- a sudden loss of appetite or weight
- fainting
What to keep a note of
A cardiologist will be grateful for every one of these details:
- the date and result of every cardiac examination, including the grade of the murmur
- the dog's weight at every visit
- the number of breaths during sleep, measured occasionally at home
- any change in behaviour, appetite or stamina
A photo of the report on your phone is quite enough. What matters is that the data can be compared over the years, because change over time says more than any single result.
Conclusion
The schedule for a Cavalier is not complicated: once a year at the vet and once a year at the cardiologist, from the age of two or three. That is all. In this breed, the difference between a dog that is monitored and one that is not is measured in years, because the treatment that delays heart failure is started at a moment when the dog still looks entirely healthy.
Note: this article is informational and does not replace examination and advice from a veterinarian. The specific vaccination and check-up schedule is determined by your vet.
Related
- Mitral valve disease (MVD) in Cavaliers: stages, signs and treatment
- Heart murmur in Cavaliers: what it means and when it is a cause for concern
- Syringomyelia and Chiari-like malformation in Cavaliers
- Why Cavaliers scratch their neck and shoulder — when it is a sign of illness
- Which health tests are required for the parents of a Cavalier litter
- The expected lifespan of the Cavalier and what affects it
- Eye problems in Cavaliers: what occurs and how to recognise it
- Patellar luxation in Cavaliers: the slipping kneecap of small breeds
- Ear problems in Cavaliers — why drop ears need more care
- How to read a Cavalier cardiology report
- MRI screening for syringomyelia: when, how and what the report means
- Cavalier vaccination and deworming: schedule by age
- Living with a Cavalier diagnosed with MVD
- Health of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — an overview of all topics
- Puppies for sale from a kennel with health-tested parents
