Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

[FELIX, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel]

O&H's Mum: I didn't realize I needed to check the box to be notified of a reply, and completely missed your post!

Food has been an issue with Felix... we found a dry food he seems to like, but strict mealtimes have been a struggle.

Any suggestions for encouraging him to eat? As I mentioned, he exhibited a variety of behaviors with past strategies. Remaining in the room is most likely a must. Should I put his food down and ignore him? Praise him as he eats? 10 -15 minutes seems like a reasonable amount of time to give him to eat, and it has been suggested by both people here and the vet. The problem has been he will just not bother to eat, even after missing several meals. Nothing physically wrong with him, according to the vet.

Perhaps you are right and he has been sneaky, tricking us into giving too many treats and filling up his tummy!!! No wonder he doesn't eat his dinner!

Sometime us silly humans need someone to point out the obvious!

I plan on trying a new schedule... with no dry food left out ... and see what happens!!

P.S. Felix is slowly starting to fill out in the chest...

Teeny83 Felix is around the same size!

O&H's Mum I will be on the look out for treat / age/ med induced weight gain in the future! Thank you!

[Phyrie]

Hi there, Felix,
I can commiserate with the "will he EVER grow up" worry. Kiba was long, lanky and skinny for SOOO long. Also, his coat STILL isn't full, and he'll be three years old on Saturday! I honestly think that the early neutering affected his coat growth, but I have absolutely no evidence to back that up...

The famous Cavalier stomach... Weird, isn't it, how they will eat ANYthing, if they think it's a treat, but refuse, sometimes for DAYS, to eat their dinner?!

Kiba is indifferent to his evening meal. Mornings, well, that's something else all together. He and Paul have a ritual. Paul mixes 1/4 cup of tinned tripe with the contents of a salmon/fish oil capsule and throws in a tiny halibut liver capsule whole. He then lays down the place mat ( a little square of non-skid cabinet liner, so the glass dish won't slide on the floor) with a grand flourish. This is accompanied by Paul, in his very bestest, fake-French accent saying, "Yer placemaat, messewer!!" Kiba is required to sit during this exercise. He is then made to continue to sit for as long as Paul can stand it (usually about 15 seconds, but I do it for much longer!) and then Paul "releases" him to eat his breakfast. All is right in the world for yet another day...

Dinner is whole 'nother issue. I have hand fed Kiba, because I was worried about him. And because it's a nice bonding experience. And because I like my dog. But if I really, really want him to eat, I make it a game. In better weather, I will throw his kibbles out on the grass. In the house, just tossing them on the carpet to make him search for them is fun. Hide them under an ottoman and watch the fun as puppy tries his best to snag those nuggets out from underneath...
His feeding ball is always good for excitement. We add a few treats to his ration and he rolls that sucker around like a maniac till it's dry!! Add another dog (in my case, my daughter's Shih Tzu) and see how fast they eat!!

Seriously, though, if you NEED him to eat, try either a feeding ball, or simply hand feeding him. There are some times when you NEED him to eat, like if you're in a motel while travelling, and you must know when he will poop next.

Always take into account the amount of treats Felix gets in a day when deciding how much to feed him. What you can do is measure out his daily ration, add treats, and just give him that. He won't care if he doesn't get bits off your plates. It's better for him if he doesn't, anyway. I can't convince Paul that Kiba does NOT need him to save two bits of chicken every time he eats, but the boys have their "special" bonding moments, and I would be a witch if I stopped them.

I am very aware of Kiba's weight. I have my hands on him every day, and know if he's gained a pound or two. Since he's been laid up so much in the last four months, he gained almost three pounds! But we cut his portions back, and strictly regulated treats, and now that he's active again, we can loosen up the rules a bit. I like to keep Kiba at between 17 and 18 pounds. As he ages, that number may change, but he looks his best at that weight.

I don't know if this has helped. I kinda rambled off there for a bit!! Sorry about that. If I can help anymore, let me know.

Phyrie

[CavalierObsession]

hi! I'm new to the forum and looking for some assistance from the more experience cavalier owners regardling SM and pet insurance.

I did a considerable amount of research before picking out a breeder for my new cavalier. I insisted on seeing heart, eye, and patella checks for parents and grandparents. I met both the sire and dame. I got references. I also wanted to find someone serious about breeding, and in particular I was interested in someone active in the AKC show dog circuit that produced very few litters every year, etc. In any case, I'm still paranoid about my new puppy!

My puppy is young (too young some might say at 9 weeks old). We moved her from California to Vegas. I'm so paranoid she has SM already! She scratches her head maybe 5 times a day. She doesn't seem to be doing it "aggressively" and certainly doesn't seem in pain, but is scratching their head indicative that she has SM? She also chews her tail and after she goes to the bathroom she likes to scoot on the grass. My sister is a vet but isn't well versed in SM. She says these are all "puppy behaviors" and sometimes they scratch becaues their skin itches, particularly in our climate. Am I being paranoid?! I'm so in love with her already and I'm so paranoid her scratching every now and again means she has SM. Anything else I can check for?

Also I'd like to take out insurance on her immediately. I was researching VPI, but it seems no hereditary diseases are covered. I'm also looking at PetCare. Does anyone have experience with what is covered with Petcare? Would MRI at a later date be covered? Surgery? etc? Any other insurances I should look at?

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Cavalier Obsession...There is a thread I have started in the Health Section called Syringomyelia/Chiari Malformation. Here is the link:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1867

If you still have questions after reading through that thread, please post them in there and I'd be happy to answer them. From what you've described, your puppy is exhibiting puppy behaviour. Normally, SM does not make a noticeable appearance until at least a year of age. I hope this helps.

Phyrie, thank you for giving Felix all of that information. You have more experience with a picky eater than I do. I also enjoy reading about Kiba's rituals with his Daddy (and his Mummy )

Best of luck Felix, and let us know how it goes

[Deerie me]

CavOb, welcome to the forum. I'd recommend checking out O&Hs' mum's thread on SM. It charts her entire journey with Oliver and his SM. It might put your mind at rest.

felix, you need a Pete. My mum's cav is a picky eater, but the minute she is here and has Pete the kitten hovering around her shoulder she very quickly eats up.

[CavalierObsession]

Thanks all ! I read the entire SM thread and if anything it made me feel better knowing there are some options if she does develop it. My sister advised to wait until 6 months to start panicking about scratching, etc, but it's hard not to be a little paranoid. I absolutely love my cavalier but it's such a scary breed with all the health issues.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

CavOb...just enjoy your puppy. The more time you spend with her, the better you will know her, and recognize when something needs attention.

Thank you for reading the entire SM thread. I realize it is long. When I started that thread, I was unable to find anywhere on the internet where I could have such a discussion. I've since found specific Cavalier sites, but I've made some terrific friends here on the DP, so here is where I stay.

Enjoy your lovely little girl.

[FELIX, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel]

The famous Cavalier stomach... Weird, isn't it, how they will eat ANYthing, if they think it's a treat, but refuse, sometimes for DAYS, to eat their dinner?!

EXACTLY. Thank you so much for the feedback! Felix LOVES treats of all kinds and he will eat his food.... Usually just once a day!! IF he was allowed, he would eat all the "people food" in sight, too. Yeesh! It makes me worry but Felix is 15 lbs. now at 8 months and so he is healthy.

I like the idea of making meals into a game... I will try this with Felix! Also, rationing treats seems like a great idea, until we get a better idea of how much food and treats Felix will eat for one day.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Also, rationing treats seems like a great idea, until we get a better idea of how much food and treats Felix will eat for one day.

You need to determine how much food, including treats he should have each day. That decision is not up to Felix. Cavaliers are notorious for weight gain as they mature.

Decide how much Felix should be eating daily. Whichever way you choose, give him that. How you give that amount to him is up to you, but don't worry that he will starve himself. Obviously he has been receiving ample so far.

[Mini Anderson Cooper]

Hi to all The Cavie Lovers, Me Included,

I love the little Girl Cav.. What is her name? She is a sweet one, too.

I was worried a little about MASTER COOPER when he was gaining too much and my vet told me to feed him according to his weight. At the time he required 1 cup per day, so we doled it out in 1/3 cup portions three times per day. We were also told that he did not need any treats or any other food at all, but that little guy looks up at us with those pleading little eyes and what is his Mom to do. I do give in every now and then, but it is always something that is very good for him, for example a couple of peas from my plate, or a green bean; something small and really good. I gave him sweet potatoe peels last evening, and very few, cut up in little pieces. He would eat everything in sight. Cooper is a little Food Hound. He truly enjoys food. He closes his eyes and chews on it and it is so cute to see.

Cooper goes to the Town and Country Vet Hospital tomorrow before 6PM and then his neutering will be done the following day and we pick him up between 4-7PM Tues, Jan.26. My baby just turned 1 year old on Jan 14th, so I am hoping all will be well with him.

PHhyrie, I love to hear about Kiba, Paul and You also. I always have Master Cooper sit before each meal, just as Miss Katie has for the past 8 years. Now there is another one who loves to eat everything that isn't nailed down. Miss Katie, a Great Dane, just loves to eat and eat, but now we have her on Senior Food, and she can't have very much because she is not very active.

Have fun, kids.

Hope the little Cavies eat and do well. Deborah's Thread on the disease SM is amazing. hugs to all.

Love, Elizabeth

[FELIX, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel]

Obviously he has been receiving ample so far.

So true!! He is good at looking at mommy with big puppy eyes and getting a treat in response!

Also, it is really good to know about the weight issue with Cavs. In all my reading, I don't remember seeing much about that.... exactly why joining DP is so helpful!!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Elizabeth, I do enjoy your posts! I know you have a love for Cavaliers, and are always supportive.

I must say though that I would love to see more pictures of Miss Katie and Master Cooper. You really need to start a thread for them. I know so many of us who are dying to see more pictures of your lovely ones.

As for feeding, if I didn't have Oliver, I would be terribly worried that Henry was far too skinny and not fed nearly well enough, especially after his start this summer with a common intestinal parasite. However, now that Oliver is 6, and I am seeing how Cavaliers develop, I know not to worry.

I am enjoying Henry's stages on an entirely different level than Oliver's. Being my second Cavalier, there are things I take more for granted, and things I cherish far more deeply as I know how fleeting they will be.

[Sail017]

I am new to the thread. I have an almost 4 year old Blenheim Cavalier who is Canadian (from a breeder in Nova Scotia) but lives in Massachusetts. I have to say I looked at various breeders and then found one that was one in which a few people in our small town we summer in on the South Shore of Nova Scotia recommended. Although Maggie Mae does not have her show papers, we had her tested for heart problems and many of the other problems that are common with Cavaliers right after we got her. They said she was as healthy as could be and was for sure a pure bread. I unfortunately was so busy playing with her that summer that we didn't take puppy pictures (she was already 14 weeks when we picked her up). She loves to eat leaves and chase leaves, I dont know if any of your cavaliers have this fascination? I haven't had too many health problems with her, although she does have an allergy to wheat and any kind of gluten but I then placed her on Canidae and she seemed to be doing well for the past three years. Now it seems she eating fur again, though I wonder if she is not used to alot of fur (I gave her a puppy cut for the past year and thought it would be nice to see if we could grow out her fur). Is this normal to lick the paws and other body fur alot?

[Sail017]

I also have to say Felix in that picture looks alot like Maggie when she wants a treat! Gotta love Cavaliers and the sad face!

[Deerie me]

My mum's cav Libby is an avid leaf chaser.