• This condition is the most common cause of heart disease in a dog. The heart valves become deformed leading to abnormal heart function and heart failure.

• Frequent physical examinations allow the doctor to listen for a heart murmur, which may indicate this condition.
• If a heart murmur is detected, an ultrasound, a type of non-invasive imaging, may be recommended.  An ECG may also help to detect heart problems.

Oral Health Problems
Periodontal Disease

About the condition:

• Inflammation and/or infection of the gums and bone around the tooth
• Bacteria accumulate in the mouth forming plaque and harden into tartar, which becomes a constant source for infection.
• Crowding can occur in short-faced breeds as there is not enough room for all 42 teeth to reside.
• Progressive stages can lead to tooth loss.

How to detect this condition:

• Halitosis or bad breath
• Yellowish/brown deposits on teeth
• Red or swollen gums
• Discomfort when mouth or gums are touched
• Decreased appetite with difficulty chewing

• This breed may be predisposed to having extra or misdirected eyelashes. Usually these additional eyelashes are very fine and cause no problem. But occasionally, they may cause irritation and/or scratching of the cornea.

• If your pet's eye seems irritated and painful, an exam is recommended.

• This is a common disease characterized by reduced tear production resulting in drying and inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea.

• Checking the tear production of your pet's eyes will help diagnose this condition.

• This disease causes an abnormal accumulation of pigment within the retina resulting in progressive retinal degeneration and visual deficiencies.

• Frequent eye exams can help detect this condition.

• There are several breeds of dogs, including the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, that can be classified as brachycephalic. The characteristics of this syndrome are narrowed nostrils, an elongated soft palate (this is a section of tissue that separates the nasal passage from the oral cavity, which, in brachycephalic dogs, flaps within the throat causing snorting sounds), a narrowed trachea (windpipe) and inefficient panting (this may lead to problems if your dog overheats).

• Your dog may have difficulty breathing due to their respiratory system composition. To prevent any additional problems, owners should take care not to let their dog get overweight (as this will strain their respiratory system further) as well as ensure that they do not overheat during the summer months.
• Monitor what is normal for your dog - know how much snorting and sputtering they do when they are healthy, so you will be able to quickly detect when something may be wrong.