Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
DogSmallWeight 5–8 kgLifespan 9–14 yrs
The gentle sweetheart carries a heavy genetic load: mitral valve disease (nearly all seniors) and syringomyelia are the two must-know inherited issues.
Temperament: Extremely gentle, clingy, wonderful with children
🩺 Common diseases & risks
High
Degenerative mitral valve disease (MMVD)
The breed's #1 issue — annual auscultation + echo from mid-life
High
Syringomyelia (SM) / Chiari malformation
Air-scratching at the neck is the signal — MRI confirms
Common
Dry eye (KCS)
Tear testing + lifelong artificial tears
Common
Otitis externa
Drop ears trap moisture — check weekly
📋 Recommended screening & frequency
- #1Heart auscultation (annual) + echo if abnormal
- #2Neurologic assessment for scratch behavior
- #3Tear testing (annual)
🍚 Nutrition
Quality small-breed food; sodium control for heart patients (vet-guided).
🛁 Daily care
Brush ear furnishings; gentle exercise; handle softly — SM dogs are pain-sensitive.
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