Hair: Cavachon needs to be brushed daily with the help of a firm bristle brush to keep hair detangled. Then daily you must clean them with a damp towel to make them feel fresh. They are suitable for all types of weather as they do not shed too much.
Nails: Cutting the toenails from an early age to prevent mishandling. Nails should be trimmed once or twice each month.
Teeth: Ensure that you establish the habit of brushing your dog's teeth. Teeth must be cleaned every day.
Ears: Ears of Cavachons that need to be checked frequently. Clean out any debris to prevent any infections.
Eyes: Regular cleaning will do the trick of keeping your dog healthy.
Recommended daily amount: 1 cup
What food to choose: Select a formula food meant for moderate energy dogs.
How to keep in good shape: Half an hour of physical exercise or playing is sufficient to keep your dog healthy.
How many times to feed your dog: Twice daily
Do not overfeed them. They tend to gain weight and become overweight due to less activity. Though the amount of food will change with age and weight, consult a veterinarian.
Cavachons have inherited heart issues from their parent breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Atopic Dermatitis
They tend to have allergic skin diseases. It can be seen as itching and redness of the skin. The ears, paws, lips, and bottom are most often affected. The problems can arise in puppies of 4 months as well.
Treatment: Medication works well in this case.
Cataracts
A few puppies of Cavachon are born with cataract which affects their vision. There are age-related issues also for the sight that can be seen in Cavachon. Crystal-like structures are developed in the dark part of the lens.
Treatment: These need to be removed surgically in most cases.
Cushing’s Disease
The presence of excess cortisol or the stress hormone that is found circulating in the blood causes a disease called Cushing. The problem is more common in aged dogs which may be caused because of a tumor. This tumor occurs in the pituitary gland of the brain or in the adrenal gland in the abdomen.
Treatment: This disease is generally treatable with medication only.
Mitral Endocardiosis
The degeneration of the mitral valve causes Mitral Endocardiosis in dogs. The valve on the left side of the heart separates the two chambers. This can lead to the backflow of blood through this valve which causes excess pressure in the left side atrium. Hence the heart is enlarged. The symptoms of this disease are intolerance towards exercise, enlargement of the abdomen, breathlessness, or repeated coughing.
Treatment: The treatment is generally by the means of surgery.
Patellar Luxation
The deformation in the hind limb bone can make the kneecap or patella slip out of place. This will lead to lameness or called skipping gait.
Treatment: The discomfort in the joint can be corrected by the means of surgery.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
This is a rare disease seen in dogs. The embryonic blood vessel is still intact after birth leading to problems in the circulation of blood.
Treatment: This disease can be detected only by a veterinary surgeon when they listen to the heart of the puppy closely.
Portosystemic Shunt
Failure of liver functioning that is generally caused due to the excess presence of accessory blood vessels needed to bypass the circulatory route.
Treatment: Medication or at times surgery is needed.
Syringomyelia
In the neck region of the spinal cord when there is a cystic deformity, it is called syringomyelia. Due to this disease, severe pain is felt by the dog or compulsive itching occurs in puppies.
Treatment: It is difficult to be identified, done by professionals only. Treated by medication in the initial stage or surgery.
Cavachon is very intelligent and fun to train. They always respond well to positive reinforcement, as they are very obedient and like to follow the owner or trainer. They are charmers and like to please everyone around so tend to easily learn tricks and also do as told.
They like to socialize; having a trainer for them is a good idea so that they can learn techniques to be good around guests at home.
Cavachon is a very active dog breed and can live inside small spaces and apartments. They also don't require much place to live in. You need to play at least 30 minutes with physical activity with the dog and he/ she will stay fit.
