About Cavaliers
History of the Cavalier
Cavaliers were originally bred for royalty, and are often referred to as a "velcro dog" due to their loving temperament. Many Cavaliers enjoy having a job or hobby, but almost all Cavaliers will prefer to be right at their human's side on the couch!
Grooming
Most Cavaliers do not require a lot of grooming, but with their silky coat and long ears, brushing is key. We recommend a slicker brush and comb to keep any painful mats away. As with any breed, keeping up to date on nail trims, teeth and ear cleanings are essential to keeping them happy and healthy!
Health
Cavaliers are known to have major health conditions that can occur, which is why it is essential to advocate for any breeding Cavalier to be fully tested before breeding after the age of 2 years, so that all puppies are given the best chance at a long and healthy life. Of course health testing the parents will never guarantee the puppy will never develop an issue, but it is less likely to occur.
Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) is the most common health condition with Cavaliers. Most, if not all, Cavaliers will develop MVD in their lifetime, which is why it is important to make sure all breeding dogs are tested yearly by licensed professionals.
Eye diseases, such as corneal ulcers, dry eye, cataracts and more can be found in this breed, which is another reason why it is important for sires and dams to be tested.
Patellar Luxation, or loose or floating kneecaps, can be very debilitating. This will cause the dog to not walk correctly, which can lead to a wide variety of other health conditions as well.
Hip Dysplasia is the abnormal development of the hip, and can cause severe pain and be debilitating. Breeding Cavaliers are tested after the age of 2 years by x-ray sent to the OFA for reading.
Chiari Malformation is very common in the Cavalier breed. CM is where the skull has developed just short of the brain, so the brain does not fit well into the skull. This causes discomfort in the dog, and it is likely, but not certain, that CM is believed to be a major role in the development of syringomyelia (SM). The best way to describe CM is if your foot is a size 9 shoe, but you try to fit it into a size 7 shoe. Researchers estimate over 90% of all Cavaliers have CM.
Syringomyelia is rare in many breeds, but has become more prevalent in Cavaliers, Brussels Griffons, Chihuahuas, and French Bulldogs. SM is where a syrinx develops in the spinal cord, and is often referred to as neck scratchers disease, because of the "air scratch" the dog will do. Researchers estimate nearly 50% of all Cavaliers have some degree of SM.
Please visit www.cavalierhealth.org to learn about Cavalier health. We test for a lower COI%, dry eye curly coat syndrome, episodic falling syndrome, degenerative myelopathy, MCADD, and muscular dystrophy.
Photo of Elizabeth and Echo after giving a lecture at the University of Indianapolis in 2019 on the importance of MRI testing on Cavaliers for syringomyelia and chiari malformation, as well as the need for strict OFA testing for this breed