Veterinary Check-ups
Regular veterinary check-ups are one of the most important ways you can help your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel enjoy a long, healthy and comfortable life.
A veterinary visit is about much more than vaccinations. A routine health examination gives your veterinarian an opportunity to assess your dog's overall health, monitor changes over time, identify potential problems early and discuss preventative care tailored to your dog's age, lifestyle, environment and individual needs.
This is particularly important for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, as the breed can be predisposed to several inherited and age-related health conditions. Regular examinations provide an opportunity to monitor your Cavalier for early changes and establish a health record that can be invaluable throughout their life.
How often should your Cavalier see the veterinarian?
There is no single schedule that is appropriate for every dog. The frequency of veterinary examinations should be determined by your veterinarian according to your dog's age, breed, health, lifestyle and individual risk factors.
As a general guide:
Puppy
Approximately every 3–4 weeks during the early puppy vaccination and development period
Young adult
At least every 6–12 months
Adult
At least every 6–12 months, depending on individual needs
Senior
At least every 6 months, and more frequently if recommended by your veterinarian
The Australian Veterinary Association recommends an annual health check even when a dog is not due for vaccination. International canine life-stage guidelines recommend examinations every 6–12 months for young and mature adult dogs and at least every six months for senior dogs.
For Cavaliers with an existing health condition, your veterinarian may recommend examinations considerably more frequently.
Puppy veterinary visits
Puppyhood is a period of rapid growth and development, so veterinary visits are more frequent than they are for a healthy adult dog.
A puppy's first veterinary examination will generally occur at around 6–8 weeks of age, although the timing may vary depending on when the puppy comes into its new home and the vaccination history provided by the breeder.
Further examinations are generally scheduled at approximately 3–4 week intervals during the initial vaccination and development period. The exact vaccination protocol should be determined by your veterinarian.
The Australian Veterinary Association recommends that core puppy vaccinations commence from 6–8 weeks of age and continue at intervals determined by the veterinarian, with the final puppy core vaccination given no earlier than 16 weeks of age.
Your puppy's check-up checklist
Your veterinarian may assess:
General physical health
Body weight and growth
Body condition
Heart and respiratory system
Eyes and ears
Mouth, teeth and bite
Skin and coat
Abdomen
Musculoskeletal development
Gait and movement
Knees and joints
Genitalia
Umbilical area
Presence of congenital abnormalities
Parasite prevention
Intestinal worms
Flea and tick prevention
Vaccination requirements
Nutrition
Exercise requirements
Behaviour and socialisation
Toilet training
Identification and microchipping
Desexing considerations
Dental care
Appropriate puppy training
Puppies also provide an excellent opportunity to establish positive associations with veterinary care.
Your veterinarian may recommend returning regularly during the early months so that your puppy becomes accustomed to being examined and handled.
Young adult Cavaliers
Once your Cavalier has completed puppyhood, regular veterinary examinations remain important even if they appear completely healthy.
A young adult dog may appear fit and energetic while subtle changes are developing that are not obvious to an owner.
A wellness examination may include:
Complete physical examination
Weight and body condition assessment
Heart and respiratory assessment
Dental and oral examination
Eye and ear examination
Skin and coat assessment
Joint and mobility assessment
Parasite prevention review
Vaccination review
Nutrition assessment
Exercise assessment
Behavioural assessment
Reproductive health assessment where relevant
Review of any medications or supplements
Discussion of lifestyle and environmental risks
Young adulthood is also an important time to establish your dog's normal baseline.
Knowing your Cavalier's usual weight, resting respiratory pattern, exercise tolerance, heart sounds and general behaviour can help you and your veterinarian recognise meaningful changes later in life.
Adult Cavaliers
For a healthy adult Cavalier, a veterinary health examination should generally occur at least once a year, although six-monthly examinations may be appropriate depending on the individual dog.
Your veterinarian will consider your Cavalier's age, breed, medical history, lifestyle and risk factors when determining the most appropriate schedule.
At this stage, preventative healthcare becomes particularly important.
Your veterinarian may discuss:
Vaccinations
Parasite prevention
Dental health
Weight management
Nutrition
Exercise
Behaviour
Skin and coat
Eye and ear health
Joint and mobility health
Heart health
Reproductive health
Any emerging changes in behaviour or activity
Breed-specific health concerns
Routine examinations can also provide an opportunity to establish baseline blood and urine results where your veterinarian considers them appropriate.
Senior Cavaliers
As your Cavalier enters their senior years, veterinary examinations should generally become more frequent.
Senior dogs can develop chronic health problems gradually, and early changes may be subtle. A dog may continue eating, walking and behaving relatively normally despite an emerging health problem.
For this reason, examinations at least every six months are generally recommended for senior dogs, with the frequency adjusted according to the individual dog.
Your veterinarian may pay particular attention to:
Heart health
Breathing
Blood pressure where appropriate
Weight and muscle condition
Arthritis and mobility
Pain
Dental disease
Kidney function
Liver function
Endocrine health
Cognitive changes
Vision and hearing
Skin and coat
Urination and bowel habits
Appetite and thirst
Exercise tolerance
Quality of life
Your veterinarian may also recommend blood tests, urine testing or other diagnostic investigations based on your dog's age, breed, medical history and examination findings.
Senior dogs can benefit enormously from early identification of health problems because treatment, management and lifestyle adjustments may help maintain comfort and quality of life.
What happens during a veterinary check-up?
A comprehensive wellness examination involves considerably more than giving a vaccination.
Your veterinarian will normally begin by asking questions about your dog's health and behaviour before conducting a physical examination.
A routine examination may include assessment of:
Weight and body condition
Your veterinarian will weigh your dog and assess their body condition.
Maintaining an appropriate body weight is particularly important because excess weight can increase the strain placed on joints and may contribute to a range of health problems.
Heart and circulation
Your veterinarian will listen to your Cavalier's heart and assess heart rate and rhythm.
Heart health deserves particular attention in Cavaliers because mitral valve disease is an important breed health concern.
Tell your veterinarian if you have noticed:
coughing
reduced exercise tolerance
unusual tiredness
faster breathing while resting or sleeping
difficulty exercising
collapse or fainting
changes in breathing
Respiratory system
Your veterinarian will assess your dog's breathing and listen to the lungs.
If you have noticed a change in your dog's normal breathing pattern, mention it to your veterinarian.
Eyes and ears
The eyes and ears should be examined for abnormalities, inflammation, infection or other changes.
Your veterinarian may recommend further investigation if anything unusual is identified.
Mouth and teeth
Your dog's teeth, gums and oral cavity should be assessed regularly.
Read: Dental care, Dental disease, teething, teeth cleaning
Dental disease is extremely common in dogs and can cause pain and affect overall wellbeing.
Ask your veterinarian to show you what your dog's teeth and gums should look like so that you can monitor them at home.
Skin and coat
Your veterinarian will assess the skin and coat for abnormalities such as inflammation, parasites, lumps, infections or other changes.
Regular grooming at home can make it easier to notice new lumps, skin changes or areas of discomfort.
Musculoskeletal system
Your veterinarian may assess your Cavalier's joints, limbs, gait and mobility.
Tell your veterinarian if your dog:
hesitates before jumping
struggles with stairs
takes longer to stand up
is reluctant to exercise
limps
walks differently
appears stiff
avoids particular movements
has become less active
Changes in mobility can be gradual and may be easier for an owner to notice at home than during a short consultation.
Neurological and behavioural health
Your veterinarian may also assess neurological function and discuss your dog's behaviour.
For Cavaliers, report any changes that concern you, including unusual sensitivity, changes in movement, changes in sleep, altered behaviour or signs that your dog appears uncomfortable.
What should you take to the veterinary appointment?
Being prepared can make the consultation more productive.
Consider taking:
Your dog's vaccination record
Current medication information
Details of parasite prevention products
A list of supplements
Recent veterinary records, if changing clinics
Insurance information, if applicable
A list of questions or concerns
A record of recent changes in behaviour
A record of changes in appetite or thirst
Information about changes in toileting
Videos of unusual behaviour, movement, coughing, breathing or episodes of concern
Videos can be particularly useful because some behaviours may not occur during a short veterinary consultation.
If your dog has experienced an unusual episode, write down when it happened, how long it lasted and what your dog was doing immediately beforehand.
Keep a health diary
A simple health diary can be extremely useful.
Record your Cavalier's:
Weight
Vaccinations
Parasite treatments
Medications
Veterinary appointments
Dental care
Appetite
Exercise tolerance
Sleeping habits
Coughing or breathing changes
Mobility
Behavioural changes
Any unusual symptoms
This information can help you identify trends and gives your veterinarian a more complete picture of your dog's health.
What can you do at home to make veterinary visits easier?
A little preparation at home can make a significant difference, particularly for dogs that find veterinary visits stressful.
Practise gentle handling
Regularly and gently handle your dog's:
Ears
Paws
Nails
Mouth
Lips
Tail
Legs
Chest
Abdomen
Keep sessions brief and positive.
Never force your dog through handling if they are frightened or distressed. Instead, use gradual desensitisation and positive reinforcement.
This can help your Cavalier become more comfortable with the types of handling they may experience during a veterinary examination.
Teach your dog to stand calmly
Practise asking your Cavalier to stand on a non-slip surface for a few seconds.
Reward calm behaviour.
Your veterinarian may need your dog to stand while their gait, posture, limbs or body condition are assessed.
Practise looking at their teeth
Gently lift your dog's lips and briefly look at the teeth and gums.
Reward your Cavalier for remaining calm.
This is particularly valuable because regular dental examinations are an important part of preventative healthcare.
Get your dog comfortable with being weighed
If possible, teach your dog to calmly stand on a scale or a stable surface.
You can practise this at home using a bathroom scale where appropriate, although your veterinarian's scales should be used for the official measurement.
Make the carrier or car trip positive
If your Cavalier becomes anxious travelling to the veterinarian, practise short car trips that do not always end at the veterinary clinic.
For example, take your dog for a short drive, visit somewhere enjoyable and return home.
This can help prevent your dog from learning that every car journey means a veterinary visit.
Use positive reinforcement
Reward calm behaviour with praise, affection or an appropriate treat.
Positive reinforcement can help create more positive associations with veterinary handling.
Avoid punishment for fearful behaviour.
Fear and anxiety can make veterinary examinations more difficult and can potentially make future visits more stressful.
Consider a “happy visit”
Ask your veterinary clinic whether they offer brief social or “happy” visits.
These may involve taking your Cavalier into the clinic simply to receive treats, meet staff or spend a short period in the environment without undergoing an examination.
This can help your dog build positive associations with the veterinary clinic.
The Australian Veterinary Association also recognises the importance of appropriate socialisation and habituation to handling and unfamiliar environments.
Tell your veterinarian what you observe at home
You know your Cavalier better than anyone.
Your veterinarian sees your dog for a relatively short period, while you see them every day.
This makes your observations extremely valuable.
Don't assume something is insignificant simply because your dog is still eating, playing or behaving normally.
Tell your veterinarian about changes such as:
Sleeping more or less than usual
Drinking more water
Urinating more frequently
Changes in appetite
Weight loss or weight gain
Coughing
Changes in breathing
Reduced stamina
Reluctance to exercise
Changes in gait
Difficulty jumping
Difficulty climbing stairs
Changes in behaviour
Increased anxiety
Restlessness at night
New sensitivity to touch
Excessive licking or scratching
Bad breath
Difficulty chewing
Changes in bowel movements
Changes in urination
New lumps or bumps
Small changes can provide important clues when considered alongside the physical examination.
Veterinary check-ups and Cavalier health
Regular veterinary examinations are particularly valuable for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels because the breed has recognised predispositions to several health conditions.
Your veterinarian can help develop an individual monitoring plan based on your Cavalier's age, family history, clinical findings and risk factors.
Depending on the individual dog, this may include monitoring for:
Mitral valve disease
Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia
Eye conditions
Ear problems
Dental disease
Orthopaedic conditions
Patellar luxation
Skin problems
Weight-related health problems
Not every Cavalier will develop these conditions, and the presence of a breed predisposition does not mean that an individual dog will necessarily become affected.
Regular veterinary care simply provides an opportunity to identify changes as early as possible.
When should you see the veterinarian between routine check-ups?
Routine wellness examinations are not a substitute for veterinary care when your dog is unwell.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice a significant or persistent change in your Cavalier's health or behaviour.
Seek urgent veterinary attention if your dog experiences signs such as:
Difficulty breathing
Collapse or fainting
Seizures
Severe or uncontrolled pain
Significant bleeding
Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea with deterioration
Suspected poisoning
Sudden inability to walk
Severe weakness
A rapidly deteriorating condition
If you are unsure whether something is an emergency, contact your veterinary clinic for advice.
Your Cavalier's veterinary checklist
Before each appointment, consider running through this quick checklist.
Before you leave home
☐ Check your dog's vaccination record
☐ Note current medications and supplements
☐ Check when parasite prevention was last given
☐ Record any changes in appetite or drinking
☐ Record any changes in toileting
☐ Note changes in sleep or behaviour
☐ Note changes in exercise tolerance or mobility
☐ Check for new lumps, bumps or skin changes
☐ Write down your questions
☐ Take photographs or videos of anything unusual
During the appointment
☐ Discuss any changes you've noticed
☐ Ask about your dog's weight and body condition
☐ Ask about dental health
☐ Review vaccinations
☐ Review parasite prevention
☐ Discuss nutrition
☐ Discuss exercise
☐ Discuss breed-specific health considerations
☐ Ask whether any screening tests are appropriate
☐ Confirm when the next examination is recommended
After the appointment
☐ Record the date of the visit
☐ Record vaccinations or treatments given
☐ Record any medications prescribed
☐ Follow your veterinarian's instructions
☐ Schedule the next appointment
☐ Monitor your dog for any changes after treatment or vaccination
Prevention is better than waiting for a problem
One of the greatest benefits of regular veterinary care is the opportunity to identify changes before they become obvious problems. Your Cavalier may appear perfectly healthy, yet a routine examination can reveal subtle changes in weight, dental health, heart sounds, mobility or other aspects of their health that warrant further investigation.
Regular check-ups also allow your veterinarian to adapt your dog's preventative healthcare plan as they move through different stages of life. A puppy does not have the same healthcare needs as a young adult, and a senior Cavalier requires different monitoring again.
A lifelong partnership for your Cavalier's health
Your veterinarian is an important part of your Cavalier's healthcare team. By combining regular veterinary examinations with attentive care at home, you can help your veterinarian identify changes early, maintain preventative healthcare and make informed decisions about your dog's wellbeing throughout their life.
Don't wait until your Cavalier appears unwell before visiting the veterinarian. Regular health checks are an investment in your dog's health, comfort and quality of life. And remember: you don't need to wait for the next scheduled appointment if something doesn't seem right. If you notice a change in your Cavalier, contact your veterinarian and ask for advice.
Disclaimer
This article is provided by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club (Queensland) for general educational purposes. It is not a substitute for individual veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment.