The cavalier King Charles spaniel has a long history as a pet, as shown by paintings dating back to around the 16th century. This should not surprise us, because this breed of dog, in addition to being small and perfectly manageable, has a very active and cheerful temperament.
In ancient times, this breed was very popular with the nobility of England and is partly named after King Charles II with whom it was closely associated. Between 2007 and 2009 it achieved great popularity that it still maintains today, so it is very possible that you have decided to welcome a dog with these characteristics into your home. So that you can provide the best care for your pet, in this article on our site we show you what are the common diseases of the cavalier King Charles spaniel
Syringomyelia in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
When we talk about the diseases that a Cavalier King Charles spaniel can suffer from, it is essential to mention syringomyelia, one of the most painful hereditary pathologiesthat exist. It occurs when the size of the skull is too small to correctly understand the brain mass, which causes an alternation of cerebrospinal fluid movement.
As mentioned in the BBC documentary "Pedigree Dogs Exposed", it is estimated that syringomyelia affects 33% of dogs belonging to this breed and causes terrible pain, as well such as neurological damage. The only treatment for most affected dogs is a complicated brain intervention.
Heart problems
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an increased risk of heart disease, primarily degenerative mitral valve disease which ultimately leads to regurgitation and, in the most severe cases, congestive heart failure. Mitral valve degeneration cannot always be treated surgically, so pharmacological treatments accompanied by regular veterinary follow-up are usually used to stabilize the patient.
heart failure occurs when the dog's heart is unable to pump blood throughout the body and severely affects the whole organism. If left untreated, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can develop congestion in different parts of the body, such as the lungs or abdomen. Although heart failure is often a hereditary disease of this breed, it can also be caused by heartworms.
Due to genetic predisposition, half of Cavaliers experience a heart murmur by age 5, a rate that increases as they age.
Eye problems
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is also prone to various eye problems, the most common of which are shown below:
- Nystagmus: this is an eye disease caused primarily by alterations in the nervous system. A dog suffering from nystagmus will exhibit constant involuntary movement of the eyeballs.
- Retinal dysplasia: this eye disease develops progressively and in it the structure of the retina is defective, which intervenes directly with the quality of vision.
- Microphthalmia: it is a congenital defect, that is, it will be observed from birth, and it consists of presenting an eyeball more smaller than normal.
This breed of dog can also inherit cataracts, which are actually an opacity of the lens of the eye, which prevents light from being properly projected onto the retina.
Hearing problems
The ear is another of the weak points of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, since in this structure there are various alterations that this dog can suffer, the most common being the following:
- Hypoacusis: decreased hearing capacity, although in this breed of dog this disorder generally occurs unilaterally, that is, it affects to one ear only.
- Deafness: Hearing loss that can occur with varying degrees of severity.
- Otitis externa: otitis in dogs especially affects this breed, causing inflammation, usually in the external ear or its most superficial structures organ.
How to prevent he alth problems in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
According to Simon Swift, a cardiologist at Liverpool University, the fact that this breed has such a common hereditary predisposition is due to dog breedingcavalier King Charles spaniels affected by these diseases in the 1960s and 1970s. "Some of them had many offspring and that was the main reason why the diseases spread so quickly," he explains.
Although this type of dog, due to genetic predisposition, presents a greater risk of suffering from the diseases that we have shown, as well as other less frequent ones, the truth is that we are speaking in any case of a predisposition. That is why it is very convenient to study the family tree of any dog belonging to this breed before adopting or breeding it, to ensure that we are not promoting the spread of these diseases one more time.
This does not mean that a dog of this breed will necessarily suffer from these alterations, however we must be aware that it will be essential to go to the vet every 6 monthsfor regular checkups and early detection of any of these common Cavalier King Charles Spaniel illnesses.
Provided the dog is adopted from a responsible breeder and proper veterinary care is followed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can make a great companion dog in excellent he alth.
