LaurelWind Cavaliers

Cavalier Health

Please visit www. cavalierHealth.org for a full discussion and links for all you need to know about Cavalier Health issues, needs and treatments

Cavalier Grooming Tips - with my thanks to Jody Sutton, WindNSea Cavaliers in California:

• Brush with a soft pin brush every day between baths to keep the shedding down
• Bathe at least once every two weeks
• Put a drop of mineral oil in each eye prior to bathing to prevent irritation
• Use a good ear wash to clean out ears
• Shampoo the body the first time with Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo
• Shampoo the second time with a whitening shampoo like All Systems White Lightening, or from Nature's specialties
• Use a leave-in coat conditioner such as Quicker Slicker, Liquid Silk or Swishy Coat
• Finish with a spray on shine like Nature's Specialties Silk N Finish
• Wash feet, legs and ears with Dawn diswashing liquid to strip out grease and dirt
• Rinse ears with vinegar; do not put conditioner on ears, feet and legs
• Wash out red stains on feet by soaking in diluted vinegar and water for 10 minutes in a plastic pan
• Use a Chamois or "The Absorber" from WalMart to pull out moisture and dry Cavaliers quickly!
• Fluff Out is a good-leave in conditioner for the ears that won't weigh them down
• Use Puffy Dog by Plush Puppy for ear mousse to fluff out ears
• Always use minimal heat in drying dogs - lukewarm at most - especially intact males - too much heat (like half a degree rise in body temp) on their backside can cause sterility! 
• Dry ears against the grain, a section at a time for maximum volume, with a soft pin brush
• Gently use a curling iron to curl under straightened ear hair below the leather - fluff out for a finished look
• Use mousse or hairspray lightly for leg and feet furnishings, combing hair up from feet and out from legs; mousse does not work as well as spray on furnishings
• Use Ducky White to minimuze freckles; apply with a eyebrow brush and let dry, brush out
• Or, use Rembrandt toothpaste for tough eye stains - apply with a stiff eyebrow brush, dry and brush out

Did You Know?

• Cavaliers are not very heat tolerant, and need good hydration- they should not be left outside in the heat, and long walks can dehydrate them
• Pumpkin is a great source of fiber to keep your Cavalier "regular", or to get her back on track
• A mixture of rice, chicken soup and cut up chicken is great for bowel issues, but be careful with how much you give them!
• You can find many home remedies for Cavalier health on-line
• The furnishings on a Cavalier's feet will break off in nylon carpet and concrete/asphalt
• Cavaliers are very social, and get lonely so never leave your Cavalier alone for a long time!   
• Even though Cavaliers are great dogs for small spaces, they love to run and play - give them exercise to keep their muscle tone in great shape
• Cavaliers do shed, so keep them brushed up and clean!
• Give your Cavalier Omega Fatty Acid supplements, and try either Solid Gold or TopFlightCoat Conditioner to keep their coats shiny and healthy
• A nursing dam will blow her coat, and it takes about 9 months for it to completely return
• Cavaliers are very "food driven" so be careful not to overfeed them!
• If your Cavalier pants excessively, coughs or seems to have less energy, it might signal a heart problem....take him to the vet to have them listen to their heart!  Doing this at least once a year is key to your Cavalier's health!