julesluvscavs

Probably just a cyst or blocked meibomian gland. Don't panic. :)

Miah had one of those gland ones and it unblocked by itself.

I remember Joey had 2 little cysts one had to be removed, not because it was nasty just that if it got bigger it could have affected his vision . The other didn't need removing as it was in a spot that wouldn't have affected him. They said if we wanted it removed, down the track, they would of. There is a past post about it in here.

Thanks Jules that's excellent advice. We are very experienced in the "dog health lottery" - our most expensive dog (in terms of vet bills etc) was actually a cross breed. It looks like there are great breeders out there doing all the tests etc so I don't have major concerns. Such a shame the public perception has been affected by bad breeders and media.

I believe in being honest about my fav breed's known genetic health issues but yes bad breeders and media are a lot to blame for giving them bad publicity :)

Gorgeous !!

I have a 6 month old ruby cavalier and so far no shedding although I have been warned that may happen as she gets older :laugh: Cavs are very much family dogs, loving to be with their people but many people who owns cavs do work and their cavs cope well. My girl split her time from being inside with me to sitting outside during the day. 30 min walk would satisfy a cav :) Cavs are extremely cuddly

My second choice would be a cocker spaniel. I think they would be happy with a 30 min walk but I think you would need to walk them every day (unlike cavs who can miss a day if needed). I think a cocker spaniel would require more grooming than a cav though.

Thanks for this. I love cavs but seems my husband had some very fixed views on the health issues - I blame that terrible doco on pedigree dogs from a few years ago. Unfortunately his male brain doesn't respond to logic!!

When I first started researching breeds I was also very concerned. But I have to say that since joining numerous cavalier online groups I am very pleasantly surprised to find out how many cavs live to a ripe an old. I also think that the cav personality far outweighs any potential health concerns

Hi Maybel :)

If you are reluctant about getting a Cav and for whatever reasons you and your husband have about them thats fine . However I'm a passionate Cavalier owner and just want to say even tho do have known genetic health issues, it doesn't mean they all going get sickly and die. There's no guarantees with life long perfect health with any breed of dog or us humans. I've owned hardy type x's and they have had their own health issues in the years I owned them.

I was fully aware about Cavaliers and their known genetic issues when we started looking into them. We did our best to find breeders that were trying to do the right thing by their breed.

One of Cavs 'Renae' has just turned 12 and she only now has the mildest form of a heart murmur (which the vet can only just hear) She's on no meds for it. She has had some health issues last couple years as she's gotten older as can happen with everything that gets older.

Her son Joey did pass away unexpectedly last year at the age of 9 but it was from a brain tumour. He had been healthy up to the that point and was still heart clear and showing no signs of having any heart problems. When he was younger we thought he had done his patellas, but it wasn't .. It was just from him running around quickly and straining his muscle. Patella problems don't just happen in Cavaliers anyway. (BTW Joey's brothers and sisters from his litter are still going along healthily)

I have a facebook group for cavalier owners, and i also know lots of people that own them and we also go along to the fun days at the Cavalier club of SA (have for many years) Many are healthy and live to good ages (altho Cavalier don't have a long life unfortunately) having said that I have known Cavs to get to about 16 or 17. Most i have known personally have passed away between 10 and 14.

I also have a almost 2 year old, so far so good (she's come from a reliable registered breeder) and 4 year old (unknown background) but he's super healthy atm with no known heart issues. Sometimes heart issues don't come out till they are about 6 or 7 onwards. Altho badly bred ones that can heart problems right from when they were puppies Not all heart murmurs are sinister, some can live with them for years and not get any worse or need any meds

The biggest thing they advice you (proper breeders of them) is to keep them lean, exercise them regularly and feed them healthy diets. Not allowing them to get overweight is hard but its very important!

They can be as energetic or lazy as you want them to be. I have friends who compete successfully in agility with theirs.

Most of them do shed to some degree and they will need regular grooming. Our house and clothes are full of hairs. We are not into clipping them (just general tidying up of their paws etc), some people do go the whole way tho (but they don't need to be)

Ours prefer being indoors with us, and I am home most of the time with them. However if my husband is home and working down the back , they love going down there with him and playing ( well the 2 younger ones do )

The love they put out is exceptional and the majority of them have fantastic temperaments for being around kids, other people, other dogs and other pets. We have a bunny and 2 cats.

Sure the health problems are a valid concern but they certainly haven't put me off owning them or people i know who own them :)

Like any breed of dog make sure you do plenty of research, go visit some at shows, see if the breed you are interested in has a club and fun days for pet owners. That way you can see for yourself and ask owners what they are like, their health etc .

Whatever breed you end up getting, I wish you all the best :)

Awww thanks Hazywal !!

A fb friend put a small birthday party on for her Cav on Tues as well (it was Renae's sister.. she turned 12 as well) and she did a vintage theme, it was so pretty!

The one i did for Miah's 1st birthday was a bit too full on.. took all my energy out of me

Ps I think yours would be just as happy with a meat pie or 2 or 3

They all look so cute with their sparkly collars and clips!

Renae

Awww thanks Harley x

Happy 12th Birthday Renae - What a gorgeous girl she is.

Beautiful pics Jules and Toby looks like he's loving life with you guys.

He's getting along just beautifully especially with young Miah. They are in love with each other lol. They have been so good for each other.

His only flaw we have found so far is he's a very good jumper ! we have never owned a jumping cavalier before but he cant get out of our proper backyard fencing. We always supervise them when they go outside anyway.

Everyone x

Sorry to hear this Pers, you gave him a loving good home *hugs* x

RIP Dougal

Thinking of you

Thank you Yvonne :)

They all enjoyed themselves. Toby is yet to get used to our yearly doggy parties lol

Ps.. I put all the left over broken pieces into containers to freeze for special treats another time:)

Renae as a puppy and now ;)

Well our Renae turned 12 on Tues

She's had a rocky couple of years with her health ( she had a serious liver toxin problem which vets thought she wouldn't make it ) and losing her 9 year old son Joey, last August, but she keeps plodding on. She's a tough cookie that one ! :)

Thought we were going lose her a couple weekends ago and that she wouldn't even make it to her 12th birthday! She had some viral thing and it was causing her to choke on and off for a couple days. It was horrific. (wasn't heart related) The vets put her on some AB's and cortisone and she came good ! and has been fine since then phewww

Heres some pics from her birthday with Toby on her left hand side and Miah on her right hand side ;)

I made this cake

More pics to follow as i can't seem to load anymore into this post ;(

Humping can be from excitement or dominance also.. my desexed dogs have on occasions to each other (I wouldn't personally call it out of control behaviour tho in our situation ).

We had one desexed male cav and 2 female cavs (desexed)

we lost our male one last year but recently were rehomed another male Cav (desexed). Our young female flirts with him a lot !;)

We always feed them seperately as our oldest cav (12 years old) gets a bit grumpy these days and likes her space at meal times. (Don't blame her)

The 12 year old keeps them all in place.. Shes always been the matriarch of this family :)

Well done Takoda and Rach, how very exciting !!

She's grown into a very beautiful dog

Theres one in Port Elliot SA now but they are still working on it with putting agility equipment in it. It will look great when its completed. I'm not really a fan of dog parks personally but so far this new one has been a big hit with many dogs and their owners ;)

If you are on fb you should be able to view their page https://www.facebook.com/groups/192628807531391/

A plague scraper sounds like it could be a handy device to ward off infectious disease. I want one!

But I guess you mean plaque scraper, for healthy teeth and gums.

(sorry I just couldn't resist that one...I know it was the keyboard and not you, Jules!!!)

Oh nooooooo i've written that before in another post once in here or facebook , you think I would have learnt after the last time !!

Yes i meant a plaque scraper !! Maybe I've been reading too many of SM's posts on dol ;-)

Anyway i think my husband is wanting a particular flat type for the Cav's teeth, a plaque scraper that is lol

Thank you Trisven :)

Glad your boy has settled in very well now with your family It does take time, i went through it with Renae as well years ago, and even one of our cats. They do eventually settle in nicely from my own experiences also :) Its just a little sad watching them in the beginning when they are still missing their former home;( He's trying so hard to keep impressing us tho, we tell him he doesn't have too, He will have a forever home with us :)

Sorry to hear about your health. Shadrack

I have ongoing chronic health conditions. Luckily for me our Cavs are pretty well behaved and easy to handle. I am also lucky that I have a supportive husband who exercises them on the weekends and sometimes after work at night .

Almost a year and half ago we welcomed a puppy into our lives. It was pretty hectic and full on for a while i will admit, and it was hard work some days. I wouldn't have gone through it if I hadn't had my husband to help with her. I don't think I would go through it again as wonderful as it was. It was something i always wanted to experience, having a dog from the puppy stage. I will never regret it. ;)

On my good days, I try to stimulate them with playing with their toys with them and walking around the house playing little fun games with them. Its good i have them as they force me to make an effort with getting out of bed on my bad days. I've always been able get their tea organised and feed them before my husband comes home from work. He does the morning routine with them before he goes to work.

We were recently rehomed another one and Ive only taken him on because he has a very easy going nature and temperament and is perfect for our lifestyle. If he wasn't I wouldn't taken him on. His owner has had to find him a new home due to her illness, and knows she will have days where she can't do much for him. I think in her situation shes done the best thing for him and for her. Certainly wasn't an easy decision for her and she didn't choose to do lightly.

She's single so doesn't have the support of a partner like me.

So as difficult as it is sometimes owning dogs for me now , I can manage our fur family with help. If they had any serious behavioral problems, then I don't think i would be able to cope.

All the best with your situation. Not an easy one to be in when you own dogs x

Thank you Tassie ;)

This morning i was trying to encourage him to play with some toys with Miah.. Hes not really been used to toys, but it was cute watching him trying to interact. I did get him slightly revved up and happy playing tug of war with him and Miah.