Congratulations Grand Champions Bliss and Newton on your puppies!

Home
Puppies!
Health
  • Our Health Protocol
  • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
  • Puppy Health
  • Training
  • Hips, Patellas, & SM
Products We Love
OUR GIRLS
  • Our Girls Overview Page
  • GCH "Miss Kitty"
  • Brigitte
  • Gigi
  • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
Champions
Service Dog Information
Cavalier Blog
FAQ
Cavalier Club Links
Puppy Owner Group
Fun for Kids of All Ages!
What is a Good Breeder?
Blank
Gallery
Winners Blog
Puppies
Aranel Hamilton
Home
Puppies!
Health
  • Our Health Protocol
  • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
  • Puppy Health
  • Training
  • Hips, Patellas, & SM
Products We Love
OUR GIRLS
  • Our Girls Overview Page
  • GCH "Miss Kitty"
  • Brigitte
  • Gigi
  • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
Champions
Service Dog Information
Cavalier Blog
FAQ
Cavalier Club Links
Puppy Owner Group
Fun for Kids of All Ages!
What is a Good Breeder?
Blank
Gallery
Winners Blog
Puppies
Aranel Hamilton
More
  • Home
  • Puppies!
  • Health
    • Our Health Protocol
    • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
    • Puppy Health
    • Training
    • Hips, Patellas, & SM
  • Products We Love
  • OUR GIRLS
    • Our Girls Overview Page
    • GCH "Miss Kitty"
    • Brigitte
    • Gigi
    • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
  • Champions
  • Service Dog Information
  • Cavalier Blog
  • FAQ
  • Cavalier Club Links
  • Puppy Owner Group
  • Fun for Kids of All Ages!
  • What is a Good Breeder?
  • Blank
  • Gallery
  • Winners Blog
  • Puppies
  • Aranel Hamilton
  • Sign In

  • My Account
  • Signed in as:

  • filler@godaddy.com


  • My Account
  • Sign out

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • Puppies!
  • Health
    • Our Health Protocol
    • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
    • Puppy Health
    • Training
    • Hips, Patellas, & SM
  • Products We Love
  • OUR GIRLS
    • Our Girls Overview Page
    • GCH "Miss Kitty"
    • Brigitte
    • Gigi
    • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
  • Champions
  • Service Dog Information
  • Cavalier Blog
  • FAQ
  • Cavalier Club Links
  • Puppy Owner Group
  • Fun for Kids of All Ages!
  • What is a Good Breeder?
  • Blank
  • Gallery
  • Winners Blog
  • Puppies
  • Aranel Hamilton

Account


  • My Account
  • Sign out


  • Sign In
  • My Account

HEALTH CLINIC INFORMATION

What’s A Health Clinic? Are They For Pet Owners?

Did you know that pet owners can have hearts, eyes, hips and patellas checked, cleared, and certified (if you want a certificate) for a fraction of the cost you’d pay a specialist?   The veterinarians at these clinics are Opthamologists, Cardiologists, and experienced in x-raying hips and patellas in the correct position.

Here’s a feed of clinics near you!

Learn more

Genetic Testing Certification

We conduct a number of genetic tests to make the best possible breeder choices to promote the health and longevity of our beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Continue to Detailed Information

Imaging Health Certification (Hips/Patella/Syringomyelia)

Everything you want to know and more about our testing protocol for issues that require MRIs or X-Ray imaging.

Continue to Detailed Information

Heart Health

We test every dog at least once a year for heart health and certify through OFA. We conduct ascoltation (use of stethascope) until the age of five, when we have conduct an EKG.

Continue to Detailed Information

Immunizing A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Vaccine Controversy

 

Sourced from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club-USA

After decades of giving, combined vaccinations on a yearly basis, the majority of veterinarians concur that annual vaccinations may not be needed,and are likely harmful to your pet.  This opinion is  supported by Dr Ronald Schultz Ph.D. who is recognized as a pioneer in  clinical immunology and vaccinology and his work is well known in both the allopathic and holistic veterinarian communities.


Dr Schultz and his colleague, Dr. Tom R.  Phillips, PhD, wrote the following which is taken from Kirk’s current  Veterinary Therapy XI (Small Animal Practice), page 205.  Kirk’s manual  is the reference “bible” used by most veterinarians.


Annual Vaccinations:
A practice that was started many years  ago and that LACKS scientific validity or verification is annual  re-vaccinations.  Almost without exception there is no immunologic  requirement for annual re-vaccination.  Immunity to viruses persists for  years or for the life of the animal.    The practice of annual  vaccination in our opinion should be considered of questionable efficacy  ……………… unless required by law (ie Rabies vaccinations in some States).
 

Whilst the established veterinary community  has differing opinions as to how often and how many vaccines to give a  puppy, as well as what types of vaccines and which manufacturers are  best for puppies and adult dogs,  it is a known fact that more vaccines do not necessarily translate into better protection for your puppy or  adult Cavalier.  The more vaccines continually and simultaneously  injected into your dog, the more his immune system will be compromised.   In the long run, your Cavalier's immune system could give up working  just at a time when your dog needs it the most -- in old age.
 

There is no question that your puppy  requires his basic puppy vaccinations (distemper, parvo and rabies) up  until he is 18 – 24 months old however the question is how valuable are  annual vaccinations thereafter.  According to Dr. Schultz, puppy  vaccinations last for the duration of a dog’s life and re-vaccination  can be detrimental to the long term health of a dog.  In order to  further protect your Cavalier's long term health and immune system,   rather than automatically vaccinating your adult Cavalier annually,   blood test him  every three years for Parvo & Distemper Titers and  Rabies Titers.  If your dog's Titers are high, there is no need to  vaccinate.
 

What is a Titer?  Vaccine titers consist of a blood test which measures specific concentration of  antibodies to different diseases (i.e. canine distemper, parvovirus,  herpes etc).  The only way we can quantitate any kind of measurement on  how the immune system responded to the vaccines is by checking the  concentration of antibodies in the blood.  However, it is important to  understand that just because the patient has developed titers in their  blood, it doesn’t mean that he/she will be protected 100%.  The same  holds true for vaccines; just because the animals have been vaccinated,  it doesn’t mean that they will be protected at all.  In fact, the  USDA-Biologics department requires for the vaccine to be only 52%  effective (not protecting the animal but increasing the serum antibody  titers)!
 

It is up to the immune system to react to  the invading organism and hence maintain the system in the best shape as  possible.  There have been studies done in which pets that have no  measurable humoral antibody titers, have been exposed experimentally to  viruses and they have not developed the disease.  In these cases, cell  mediated and secretory immune functions have presumably conveyed  protection.  Remember, memory cells are the ones that will carry the  “floor plan” on “how to” build up the antibodies needed to fight the  infection.
 

Current Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs
 

Distemper & Parvo:  According to Dr. Schultz, (AVMA 8/15/95) when a vaccination series  given at 2, 3, and 4 months and again at 12 – 24 months with modified  live virus vaccine, puppies program memory cells survive for life,  providing lifelong immunity.  Dr. Carmichael at Cornell and Dr. Schultz  have studies showing immunity against a challenge at 2 – 10 years for  canine distemper and 4 years for parvo.  Studies for longer duration are  pending.   There are no new strains of parvo as one manufacturer would  like to suggest.  Parvo vaccination provides cross immunity for all  types.  
 

Rabies:   It should be a killed vaccine and there are State Laws governing how often a Rabies vaccine should be given.    
 

Book:
Turning the world on its head, Catherine  O’Driscoll gives ordinary dog owners and lovers the information that  vets won’t or can’t tell you.  Her aim is to share the truth so that dog  lovers everywhere can make informed choices about the well-being of the  pets they treasure.  There is solid scientific research to demonstrate  that vaccines can be harmful.  The “tiny minority” of dogs being harmed  by vaccination is a significant, significant number.
 

What Vets don’t tell you about Vaccines.  Catherine O’Driscoll ISBN#095230483 X
Available from Our Pets, P O Box 2094, Fort Macleod, Alberta, T0L 0Z0, Canada
 

Vaccinations NOT Recommended
 

Multiple components in vaccines compete with  each other for the immune system and result in lesser immunity for each  individual disease as well as increasing the risk of a reaction.  
 

Corona:  Corona  virus is only a disease of puppies.  It is rare and self limiting (dogs  get well in 3 days without treatment).  Cornell and Texas A&M have  only diagnosed one case each in the last 7 years.  Corona virus does not  cause disease in adult dogs.   
 

Leptospirosis:   Leptospirosis  vaccine is a common cause of adverse reactions in dogs.   Cross  protection is not provided and protection is short lived.  Lepto vaccine  is immuno-supressive to puppies less than 16 weeks.
 

Lymes:   Lymes  disease is a tick borne disease which can cause lameness, kidney  failure and heart disease in dogs.  Lyme disease prevention should  emphasize early removal of ticks.  Amitraz collars are more effective  than Top Spot (do NOT use both at the same time) as amitraz paralyses  the tick’s mouth parts preventing transmission of disease.  Top Spot (Frontline)  kills the tick within hours of the bite and an infected tick must be  attached for over 8 hours before the disease can be transmitted.   Efficacy of the Lymes vaccine is questionable however Cornell supports  the one made by Rhone Merieaux/ Merielle.  Unless your dog keeps getting  re-infected with Lymes disease (even after the aforementioned Frontline  is administered), then I would avoid this vaccine and use Frontline as a protection against ticks.  Frontline has been known to be very safe and effective.
 

Bordatella:  If  you need to board your dog at a commercial boarding establishment, they  often require a Bordatella vaccine.  In this case, it is recommended  that the internasal vaccine, Inter Trac II, be given.  If you do not  board your dog, then this vaccine is unnecessary.  We have found this  vaccine to be only effective against a small handful of kennel cough  viruses of which there are thousands of these types of viruses floating  around.  We have also found that healthy, adult dogs just do not  contract the virus and if they do, it is extremely mild.
 

IMPORTANT:  Only ONE vaccination per vet  visit should be administered to your dog throughout his/her life.   Multiple vaccinations compete with each other and can be harmful.
 

Vaccine Information from W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Use only killed 3 year rabies vaccine for  adults and give it separated from other vaccines by 3-4 weeks. In some  states, they may be able to give titer test result in lieu of booster.
 

Do NOT use Bordetella, corona virus, leptospirosis or Lyme vaccines unless these diseases are endemic in the local area or specific kennel.  Futhermore, the currently licensed leptospira bacterins do not contain  the serovars causing the majority of clinical leptospirosis today.
 

Do NOT recommend vaccinating bitches during estrus, pregnancy or lactation
 

Vaccination Newsflash [CIMDA support] RE; J DODDS VACCINE PROTOCOL
Please be aware that all 27 veterinary  schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols  for vaccinating dogs and cats. This is welcome news and you should print  this out and take it with you to your Vet should you need reinforcement  against over-vaccination.
 

Some of this information will present an  ethical & economic challenge to Vets, and there will be skeptics.  Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting  vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs.  those concerned about potential side effects. Politics, traditions, or  the doctors economic well-being should not be a factor in a medical  decision.
 

New Principles Of Immunology
Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at  6 months. If a modified live  virus vaccine is given after 6 months of  age, it produces immunity, which is  good for the life of the pet (i.e.:  canine distemper, parvo, feline  distemper). If another MLV vaccine is  given a year later, the antibodies  from the first vaccine neutralize  the antigens of the second vaccine and  there is little or no effect.  The titer is not "boosted" nor are more memory  cells induced. Not only  are annual boosters for parvo and distemper  unnecessary, they subject  the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions  and immune-mediated  haemolytic anemia. There is no scientific documentation  
to back up label claims for annual  administration of MLV vaccines. Puppies receive antibodies through their   mothers milk. This natural protection can last 8 - 14 weeks. Puppies  &  kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal  immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will  be produced.  Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of  the first highly  effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart  SUPPRESS rather than  stimulate the immune system. A series of  vaccinations is given starting at 8  
weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16  weeks of age. Another vaccination  given sometime after 6 months of age  (usually at l year 4 mo) will provide  LIFETIME IMMUNITY.
 

Contact:
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
HOMOPET
938 Stanford Street, Santa Monica, CA. 90403
310-828-4804; Fax 310-828-8251
 

View:
CKCSC Health Registry, 5+ Year Clear Heart
CKCSC Open Health Registry
 

American Veterinary Medical Association Vaccination Guidelines:
http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/About_Guidelines_Canine06.html
 

Important reading:
http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/scienceVaccineDamage.html
 

List of links about vaccines:
http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/vaccinosis.html
http://www.unc.edu/~aphillip/www/vaccine/vacpages.html
http://www.europa.com/~dshecklr/Vaccinations2a.html
http://www.altvetmed.com/vaccine/html
http://www.golden-retriever.com/dodds/html
 

Look up any Kind of Health Problem:
http://www.vetinfo.com/dogindex.html 



Health Studies and Articles

Flea &Tick Medicine Warning (pdf)Download

Heart Health and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Published by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club USA

A brief discussion of the structure and function of the heart and a classification of cardiac murmurs facilitates understanding the difference between normal and abnormal cardiac conditions in CKCS. 

Each side of the heart has three chambers separated by two valves. On the right side of the heart, the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and transmits it to the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps the blood into the pulmonary artery and then the lungs. The tricupsid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle and the pulmonary valve separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery. After blood is oxygenated in the lungs, returns to the left atrium and is pumped to the body by the left ventricle by way of the aorta. The mitral valve separates the left atrium from the left ventricle and the aortic valve separates the left ventricle from the aorta.

Heart murmurs are vibrations caused by turbulent blood flow across structures inside the heart. Murmurs are classified in three ways: first, according the valve causing the vibration; second, by the timing of the vibration in relation to the pumping function of the heart, and, lastly by the intensity (or grade) of the murmur. There are six grades of cardiac murmurs:

  1. The faintest murmur, heard only in an extremely quiet room with a good stethoscope with a still and quiet patient with complete concentration by the listener.
  2. A faint murmur, but can be easily heard with additional concentration by the listener.
  3. A moderately loud murmur, easily heard.
  4. A very loud murmur.
  5. An extremely loud murmur, which can be heard with the stethoscope lightly touching the skin.
  6. The loudest murmur, which can be heard with the stethoscope not touching the chest wall. This murmur can also be felt (palpated).

Common Heart Murmurs Heard in CKCS

There are several types of heart murmurs heard frequently in CKCS. They may be innocent, flow murmurs not suggestive of disease, or pathologic, indicative of genetic, inhereditable valvular heart disease.

Innocent, flow murmurs. These murmurs are caused by normal turbulent blood flowing across heart valves of young dogs. These low-grade murmurs (less than a grade 2) decrease with age as the heart matures and are not associated with congenital heart disease.

Murmurs associated with heart disease. CKCS are susceptible to abnormalities of heart valves on both the right and left side of the heart. These abnormalities may be present and evident at birth and therefore are considered congenital. Examples of these include aortic and pulmonary stenosis and the patent ductus abnormality. Mitral valvular disease is considered separately and is felt to represent an adult (mature dog) onset, representing genetic heart disease. The valve itself is normal at birth, but in some dogs degenerates prematurely and sometimes rapidly, leading to disease.

Careful physical examination and additional testing facilitates the diagnosis in a young, asymptomatic dog. Over time, progressive deterioration of the congenitally abnormal valve produces symptoms. Narrowing of the pulmonary valve (stenosis) is the most common valve affected on the right side of the heart. On the left side of the heart, both the mitral valve (leaking or regurgitation) and aortic valve (narrow or stenosis) may be affected. 

Pulmonary Stenosis. Stenosis of the pulmonary valve produces a systolic murmur heard on the right side of the sternum. The intensity of the murmur is proportional to the severity of the narrowing of the valve and enlargement of the right ventricle. In mild cases, one may only hear a grade 1 or 2 murmur. In more pronounced stages, the dog may develop right-sided heart failure with peripheral edema. In its most severe form, the pulmonary valve is severely deformed and narrowed and the right ventricle enlarged and weak. The right ventricle then fails and cannot pump blood to the lungs, a fatal condition.

Mitral Value Disease. Malformation of the mitral valve is characterized by valvular thickening and redundancy and/or degeneration of the muscles which support the valve. These structural changes allow the blood to leak backward from the left ventricle into left atrium during the pumping action of the left ventricle. This systolic murmur is best heard on the left side of the sternum. Progressive leaking leads to enlargement of the left atrium and ventricle. As blood floods the lungs, the animal develops exertional shortness of breath, and has decreased exercise tolerance. Eventually heart failure results.

Aortic Stenosis. Narrowing of the aortic valve produces a systolic murmur best heard on the left side of the sternum. Similar to pulmonary stenosis, the intensity of the murmur correlates with the degree of severity of the narrowing of the valve. With progressive narrowing, the left ventricle enlarges and thickens in an effort to generate sufficient pressure to propel the blood forward into the aorta. Eventually the left ventricle fails and is unable to eject blood to the body. The murmur is then is barely audible. 

Patent Ductus Arterious. Before birth, blood bypasses the deflated lungs through the ductus arteriosus, a hollow blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta. At birth, the lungs inflate and the ductus arteriosus closes, thereby separating the pulmonary and systemic blood flow circuits. In rare situations, the ductus arteriosus fails to close (a patent ductus arterious) and blood flows from the aorta to the pulmonary artery when the left ventricle contracts (systole) and from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when the left ventricle relaxes (diastole). The murmur is continuous, heard in both systole and diastole, on both sides of the sternum. The loudest component is the systolic murmur. A patent ductus arteriosus results in excessive pressure and volume of blood in the lungs. Eventually, both sides of the heart fail.

Guidelines To Reduce The Incidence Of Mitral Valve Disease

At the 1998 symposium, the panel reported that mitral valve disease is the leading cause of death of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Cavaliers are 20 times more prone to have MVD than other breeds. It is hereditary, passed on from generation to generation by the parents, grandparents, and earlier ancestors of our dogs.

The panelists concluded that, ideally, Cavaliers should be 5 years of age or older and heart-clear when they are first bred. However, recognizing the problems associated with breeding females for the first time at 5 years of age, the following was recommended as a secondary approach to reducing the incidence of MVD:

The Brood Bitch should be a minimum of two and a half years old with a clear heart and with both parents with clear heart certificates issued at five years of age or older.

The Stud Dog should be a minimum of two and a half years old with a clear heart and with both parents with clear heart certificates issued at five years of age or older.

All clear heart certificates must be signed by Board Certified Veterinary Cardiologists.

To use an older stud dog with a clear heart certificate issued as late in life as possible is highly desirable. However, an older dog with a slight murmur should not be ignored. It is strongly advised that breeding stock under 5 years old be limited to those with clear heart certificates.

The extent of MVD can be decreased, and the age of onset can be delayed, by breeding only Cavaliers which have been examined by Board Certified Veterinary Cardiologists at age 2 1/2 years or older and found free of MVD murmurs, AND whose parents were similarly examined at age 5 years or older and found to be murmur-free. We refer to these dogs as being “Heart-Clear”.

Raising the age of onset of MVD should be every breeder's immediate aim. The best way to approach this is to select breeding stock with good heart records behind them. It is strongly recommended that ALL Cavaliers be auscultated (examined with a stethoscope) by a Board Certified Veterinary Cardiologist at 2 1/2 years of age or older and annually thereafter, especially within a year of being bred, and the results submitted to the Health Registry.

These guidelines are based on the current recommendations of geneticists and cardiologists and may be updated and reissued by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, USA when further research becomes available.

Links:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): http://www.ofa.org
Canine Health Information Center (CHIC): http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/

Links

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): http://www.ofa.org
Canine Health Information Center (CHIC): http://www.caninehealthinfo.org

Find out more

Copyright © 2025 Evera True Cavalier King Charles Spaniels - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Puppies!
  • Products We Love
  • Boys Overview
  • FAQ
  • Puppy Owner Group
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • What is a Good Breeder?
  • Trupanion Health Ins

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

DeclineAccept

Carrot Snuffle Mat

I had the new carrot snuffle mat delivered this week to test its appeal and durability.  I could be happier with this purchase.  For less than $30, this toy is providing hours of fun for our dogs—young and old.  I put one treat below each carrot, but varied the flavors to provide extra stimulation.   I definitely recommend this interactive toy from Fookens. A link is included here.  Disclaime:  We make a few pennies if you purchase through this Amazon Associate link.

Get Yours