Category: health

Gus, the cavapoo from Vienna, VA

Why does my cavapoo smell: skin issues

Allergy can easily cause a dog to lose hair simply because they will itch and scratch their skin more than necessary. How do you know if your cavapoo has an allergy? They might sneeze, cough and itch just like humans. If you notice your cavapoo displaying these symptoms, they are likely allergic to either their food, or something in their environment.

Time for you to do some sleuthing! Switch their food to something different and see if that helps. If it’s not food, try to see if your dog is chewing on something that may make them allergic, or is maybe regularly in contact with some chemicals in your house.

If your cavapoo has mites or fleas, it can scratch itself to the point of losing patches of hair regularly. Mites in particular cause patchy hair loss, and may be hard to see if you are not paying attention. If your cavapoo scratches itself obsessively and you notice their hair falling out in patches, take them to the vet to see what type of parasite they have and what you can do about it.

The problem could also be inside, not outside. This probably isn’t something you want to hear, but your dog may very well have worms or other intestinal parasitic infections. Worms in particular can release so many toxins in the dog’s body that the dog’s overall health may greatly suffer, including their coat.

If worms are your problem, your vet will do some tests on your dog to see what type of worms they have and prescribe a powerful dewormer to hopefully help you pup.

To move to a more pleasant topic, one simple reason your cavapoo is losing hair may be that you make them wear their dog clothes too often. Are you one of those owners that loves seeing their cavapoo wear a cute sweater in winter? That cute sweater may irritate your pup’s skin and cause increased hair loss as well.

It’s good to keep you cavapoo warm, but they are still a dog and most of the times can really regulate their body temperature without the help of clothes. While some cavapoos happily wear their sweaters or t-shirts without an issue, some more sensitive ones may develop skin and coat problems from constant friction and potentially sweating that happens when they are too warm in the clothes you put on them.

They can also be allergic to something in the clothes! If you have a habit of dressing your cavapoo, try to let them go “naked” for a while and see if that will improve their skin and coat condition.

I hope this article was helpful to you in your quest of figuring out why your cavapoo losing hair. Things like this always involve a bit (or a lot!) of sleuthing work. It’s not always easy, but I hope you will find your reason and help your cavapoo keep their beautiful coat!

health most popular sidebar

Why does my cavapoo smell?

Post author By admin
Post date November 9, 2018
No Comments on Why does my cavapoo smell?

Contents

Introduction

Ear issues

Mouth hygiene and your cavapoo smell

Anal glands

Flatulence in your cavapoo

Every dog smells sometimes. If you have just come inside from the heavy rainfall and your dog is wet, or you just haven’t dried their coat enough after a shower, you will smell a bit of a wet dog scent in your house. But what if your dog smells all the time, and what if the smell, let’s put it nicely, isn’t that pleasant?

Some cavapoo owners, unfortunately,encounter this very issue with their dogs. They usually try to fix the smelly issue by hiding the smell. They may try to wash their dog often and use special scented shampoos to cover their dog’s odour. Or they may use various sprays and other solutions to get rid of the smell in their house.

However, all those solutions simply mask the symptoms, without addressing the main problem. And the problem is: if your dog has a nasty smell all the time (not just when they roll in something smelly in the backyard) – that means there is something wrong with their health.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo price - how much do cavapoo cost?

Cavapoo Owner Reviews: Thelma and Louise the cavapoos from Sydney

Cavapoo pros and cons

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

While every dog gets dirty or wet sometimes, which can definitely can cause it to smell, constant smell from your dog is a reason to worry. Almost always it means there is something going on with your dog’s health, and that’s what you need to pay attention to.

Here are the five main areas to look at when you smell something “fishy” about your dog.

One of the reasons your cavapoo may smell is potential skin issues. This may include over-production of skin oils due to a wrong diet. It may also be a yeast infection or candida, especially if the dog’s odour has sweet undertones in it.

Both of these issues are due to a wrong diet. If you are feeding your dog wrong dog food (such as brands full of carbohydrates, grains and additives), your cavapoo may very well develop digestive issues, which immediately reflect in the state of its skin (along with other body systems). In this case, try changing the dog’s diet to eliminate the odour problem.

Dogs are carnivores and thrive on meat. Try to choose kibble with meat as a main ingredient, and no or minimal other ingredients and additives. Many people say they have been able to get rid of bad odour from their dog by feeding them raw diet. I would definitely recommend that, as raw meat-based diet is very natural for dogs. Read more about the best food for your cavapoo in this article.

If your dog has a yeast infection, it can sometimes be seen on the surface of its body, for example, inside their ears, or on their belly and under the arms and legs. Take your dog to the vet immediately if you notice something wrong with its skin.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Why do you need to clean your cavapoo’s ears?

Yet another issue that can cause bad odour in dogs is parasites, such as mites, fleas or ticks. Give your dog a thorough inspection, especially if you notice it scratching itself often or expressing any other signs of discomfort. Of course, the best thing you can do is take your cavapoo to the vet and run a panel of tests.

Another sensitive area that can develop a nasty smell is your cavapoo’s ears. In a healthy dog, there is constant production of sebum and earwax in the ears both of which serve certain functions in your dog’s health. However, if the secretion of these substances is increased for any reason, a build-up may occur, which in time can lead to some unpleasant smell.

Your dog may also have a yeast infection on the inner surface of their ears. To avoid ear issues, clean your cavapoo’s ears regularly, and take them to the vet if you see anything unusual in their ears.

Your cavapoo’s mouth can be yet another “smelly zone”, both due to digestive issues and teeth issues (which really is the same issue). If you never let your cavapoo “kiss” you because you can’t stand the smell of their breath – this may be your problem. Your cavapoo may develop multiple digestive issues where the food isn’t digested properly and sits in your cavapoo stomach longer than it should, in which case your pup may develop bad breath.

Another reason for bad breath is your dog’s teeth. Your cavapoo teeth may develop a large amount of build-up and tartar, especially if your dog’s diet is full of carbohydrates and additives that aren’t natural for dogs. Excess tartar may cause bacterial infestations which in turn will produce a powerful odour from your pup’s mouth.

Yet another reason, just like with humans, could be tooth decay in your cavapoo, which is also directly connected to the dog’s diet and lack of minerals in it to maintain your cavapoo’s teeth in optimal healthy state. You can brush their teeth every day, but if their diet is wrong, it won’t help against tooth decay. Cleaning your puppy’s teeth professionally to get rid of tartar and build-up may help temporarily, but not in the long term. Unless you change your cavapoo’s diet, they will continue having stomach and teeth issues.

Now that’s a stinky subject! Yet another reason for bad odour coming from your cavapoo can be anal glands that need squeezing. Every dog has anal glands located – you guessed it – right near your dog’s bum. Anal glands secrete various smelly substances that serve several functions in the dog’s body. In a healthy dog, anal glands get squeezed every time the dog defecates so there is never an issue. However dogs often experience issues with plugged anal glands, when the act of defecation does not empty the glands.

If you have ever seen your dog dragging its bottom on the carpet – they are trying to empty their anal glands. Overfilled anal glands can cause a dog discomfort and pain. It can also make your pup stink! To help the matter, you can empty your dog’s anal glands yourself (there are plenty of videos on youtube on how to do it), or take them to the groomer or vet.

If you often found yourself in a cloud of bad odour every time you are near your cavapoo – perhaps they are just flatulent? Flatulence occurs in dogs just like it does in people. And, as with people, a little bit of it is normal and healthy. But too much gas is indicative of digestive issues. This takes us back to your cavapoo diet. If you are feeding them high-carbohydrate foods, that can cause proliferation of bacteria in their intestines (bacteria feed on sugar!). That bacteria, in their turn, produce a lot of gas as one of the products of their life cycle.

If your pup is constantly farting, it may be funny, but it’s also a sign that you should look at your cavapoo’s diet and come up with a healthier, more natural alternative to the kibble you may be using now. Your dog will thank you by becoming healthier, stronger, happier and less smelly!

Although changing their diet may help your cavapoo health and the odour in your home, you should still take them to a vet if you notice unpleasant smells or other health-related issues. A dog’s health is complex and nipping issues in the bud is often easier than trying to fix a full-blown disease. Since smells are often a sign of disease, don’t wait to ask for professional help.

health most popular sidebar

How to clean cavapoo ears

Post author By admin
Post date November 8, 2018
No Comments on How to clean cavapoo ears

Contents

Cleaning your cavapoo ears: how-to

Professional ear cleaning for your cavapoo

Cleaning your cavapoo’s ears should be a regular part of its grooming routine. All dogs need to have their ears cleaned on a regular basis. Cavapoo can have long, floppy ears which makes them more prone to infections and parasites due to the build-up of wax, other ear secretions and dirt.

This is why you should clean your cavapoo ears once or twice a week. While cleaning, not only can you help your cavapoo get rid of extra debri and secretions that have built-up in their ears – you can also regularly inspect their ears and notice any changes/issues early enough to be able to quickly help your cavapoo.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo health

Cavapoo puppies: the ultimate guide to choosing your cavapoo puppy, bringing them home and raising t...

Why is my cavapoo losing hair?

Such issues may include redness, inflammation of the ear, or an unpleasant odour, which may mean that your dog already has an ear infection and needs professional help of a vet. Most often though you will just find some wax build-up and will be able to deal with it yourself.

The younger your cavapoo is, the less build-up you will see in their ears. However, it is still important to do regular ear inspections in your cavapoo from the time they are very young, simply to get them used to the sensation of their ears being handled. As they get older, you will have to start to actually clean their ears after inspecting them.

Don’t overdo it

However, you shouldn’t clean your cavapoo’s ears too often either. Build-up of wax is natural for the dog’s ears, and serves its own functions. If you see a moderate amount of dark brown build-up in your dog’s ears – it’s normally not dirt but earwax which actually helps to protect your dog’s ears from dirt and microbes.

You don’t have to get rid of it if there isn’t too much of it. If you inspect your dog’s ears and notice red or inflamed surface and bad odour, don’t attempt to clean ears in such condition either. Your dog likely has an ear infection and needs to be treated by the vet.

Prior to cleaning your cavapoo’s ears, gently swab the inner surface of the ear with a cotton ball. If it leaves a yellow trace on the ball, you can leave your cavapoo alone for a while – their ears don’t necessarily need cleaning just yet. If you see a lot of earwax on the cotton ball, then gentle cleaning might be a good idea.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo shedding during puppy-hood

One thing that complicates ear cleaning in cavapoo is that dogs normally don’t like the procedure very much. An ear is a very sensitive organ, and if your cavapoo isn’t used to having their ears cleaned, they will not cooperate. This is why it is important to train them to let you clean their ears from the time they are still young.

If your cavapoo is still a puppy, you might have an easier time getting them used to grooming their ears. The important thing is to make them feel comfortable and get them to associate the procedure with something nice. How do you do that? You use treats, of course. Treats are the best way to get the animal to relax and accept what is being done to them, and even enjoy it.

Supplies

Have all your supplies nearby. You will need something to clean your cavapoo ears with such as a soft tissue or cotton ball, or gauze (but choose the type that doesn’t leave threads). Do not use cotton swabs or anything hard. It is very easy to damage the dog’s ear using any hard objects while cleaning. Be very careful! You really don’t need anything hard, as wax or other secretions in the dog’s ear can be removed just using soft material like gauze.

You will also need to use a special rinse or a lotion that you can purchase in any pet store or at your vet. Don’t use soap in your dog’s ears! Do not use vinegar either, it can irritate your dog’s ears.

The procedure itself

To clean your cavapoo’s ears safely, first stabilise the dog to make sure it won’t bolt away from you or make any abrupt movements. A good time to clean your dog’s ears is right after a warm shower, when they are still relaxed. If the dog is visibly disturbed and anxious, you might want to pick another time for the procedure.

It is important that your dog is relaxed and calm. You don’t want to traumatise them, either emotionally or physically. Pet them and offer them treats while touching and playing with their ears to let them get used to the sensation of their ears being touched. You can also offer them a chew toy or a kong filled with treats for the time of the procedure. Use anything that will get them happy and occupied for a few minutes.

While getting ready for the procedure, make sure you have all the tools and supplies ready and close to you. You don’t want to have to go fetch a pack of cotton balls or lotion and risk your dog getting too excited or anxious again.

When your dog is ready for the procedure, inspect your cavapoo’s ears. See if there are any signs of infection or inflammation. Use a cotton ball or gauze with lotion to carefully clean the inner surface of the dog’s ear. Try not to get too close to the ear drum. All you are doing is removing the surface dirt and build-up. Do not let water get in the dog’s ear canal. You only need a slightly wet tissue/cotton ball to get most of the dirt and wax out.

To help get rid of the wax, you can gently massage your dogs ears, which helps the build-up to soften and separate from the surface of the ear. A massage will also help further relax your cavapoo.

When you are done with cleaning your cavapoo’s ears, praise them once again, offer a treat, and let them shake – which they will! Dogs like their ears nice and dry and will try to get rid of any wetness/moisture in them.

If you are intimidated by the procedure, worried about hurting your cavapoo’s ears or if you have a cavapoo that is particularly stubborn and won’t let you clean their ears, you can always take them to the groomer and ask to include ear cleaning in the scope of the grooming procedures. Professional groomers know how to approach a dog and how to clean their ears safely and with minimum discomfort.

If your dog’s ears get excessively dirty, have too much build-up or unpleasant odour, that might mean some ear issues such as infection or parasites, which is always best to discuss with your veterinarian. Don’t let your cavapoo’s ear issues go unattended. Ears can be extremely sensitive, and, in some dogs, really prone to infections and other issues. It is best to pay attention to this area of your cavapoo grooming to avoid potential complications.

cavapoo health most popular sidebar

Do cavapoo shed and what to do about it

Post author By admin
Post date November 5, 2018
No Comments on Do cavapoo shed and what to do about it

Contents

Do cavapoo shed?

Do cavapoo shed as adults?

Cavapoo shedding at different life stages

Cavapoo shedding caused by bathing/ wrong bathing products

Cavapoo is often marketed as a cross breed that doesn’t shed (and is hypoallergenic). But is that really so? How much do cavapoo shed?

To begin with, each and every dog sheds. To put it even better, every animal sheds, including humans (you know all that hair in your bathtub?) Cavapoo is a mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle. As is always the case with mixed breeds, it’s hard to predict how many genes a particular puppy will inherit from the spaniel, and how many (and which) from poodle.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed fur in moderate amounts, like most dogs. Poodles are considered a fairly low-shedding breed with their wiry and curly coat.

Whether your cavapoo puppy will be more on the high or low shedding side, really depends on how much of his or her coat genes are inherited from the poodle as opposed to the spaniel. If the poodle genes dominate in this particular puppy, you can expect your new love to be fairly low-shedding. Their coat will look and feel much more like a poodle’s sleek and curly coat than a spaniel’s soft one.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo vs cockapoo: which dog is better for YOU?

Gus, the cavapoo from Vienna, VA

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Cavapoo price - how much do cavapoo cost?

If your puppy has inherited more of a spaniel’s goat genes, you will be able to see it too. It will have longer and smoother fur and will likely shed about as much as a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel would.

Now, even if your puppy has more of proud poodle genes in them and their coat is totally coily and curled, it doesn’t mean they won’t shed. You will likely still notice minimal shedding – on your clothes, carpet or a new couch. As it will be minimal, it probably won’t bother you too much (and cavapoo are so worth it anyway!)

One thing you need to know when you have a new cavapoo puppy is that puppies have their own puppy coat that is different from the coat the adult cavapoo will have. Cavapoo puppy coat is a softer, fluffier coat which your cavapoo puppy will have until they are around six months old.

The puppy coat protects your little cavapoo from cold and also serves as a soft padding for the clumsy puppy exploring the world. As your cavapoopuppy matures, it will gradually lose its puppy coat which will slowly be replaced by a harder, denser adult coat. In the process of maturing and changing coats, your cavapoo will shed.

How much will depend on the genes and some other individual factors, however this period of shedding may be quite noticeable. It shouldn’t worry you though: this is a very natural process for a puppy and you likely won’t notice so much shedding at any other stage of your cavapoo’s life again, especially if they inherited more of the poodle genes.

As your puppy loses its puppy coat, it is important to regularly groom them. Brush your cavapoo out every day if you can, for as long as 10 – 20 minutes.

This is a really great habit both short-term and long-term. Short term it will allow you to help your cavapoo puppy get rid of the fur that can otherwise get trapped in the still growing hair and cause matting. Matting can be hard to deal with and painful for the dog: it’s not very easy to get those tangled hair clumps out of their fur!

Brushing your puppy will also help you trap all that loose hair before it gets spread all over the house, your carpet, your sofa and your clothes. If there is anyone in the house with dog hair allergies, preventing hairs from spreading will help curb those.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo grooming

Cavapoo pros and cons

Cavapoo vs maltipoo

The other bonus is that, by brushing your cavapoo, you cause more shedding to happen more quickly thus reducing the length of this shading stage of your puppy’s life. Shorter shedding = happier owners = clean house!

In addition to that, if you groom your cavapoo regularly for prolonged periods of time since puppy-hood, your dog will get used to it and grow to enjoy it. This will ensure better bonding between you and your puppy and also will make it easier for you to groom them in the future.

And if you have lots of other types of bonding time with your puppy and would like to delegate the brushing responsibility to someone else, you can always contact a groomer and take your puppy for a professional grooming! A lot of cavapoo owners provide regular professional grooming sessions to their dogs, and it can be beneficial to start your puppy young!

Yes, even after the puppy shedding stage is over, your adult cavapoo will still shed. The amount of shedding in an adult dog will depend on several factors.

Spaniel/ poodle genes

As we already mentioned, you may get yourself a very low-shedding cavapoo if it has inherited more of the poodle hair genes than that of a spaniel. That pesky spaniel fur will require more care/grooming to minimise shedding effects.

Temperature/season/day light

You may have noticed that your dog (or cat!) sheds more in the spring/summer season than in any other season of the year. That is because the amount of shedding in all animals is influenced by the length of day light time. As the day light time begins to increase in spring, so does the amount of shedding for almost all animals. That happens whether the animal lives outside or in the house, although it is more pronounced in outdoor animals.

But even indoor dogs and cats start shedding more in the spring time. Temperature may also be a factor, although less important than day time. This type of seasonality is simply to be expected. You will notice that your cavapoo sheds much less during winter and fall!

Nutrition

Nutrition plays a huge role in the overall health of your cavapoo, and particularly in the health of their coat. Unbalanced nutrition can cause nutrient deficiencies in your pet. For example, protein deficiency will exacerbate shedding, as hair follicles and hair growth in general depends on the amount of protein your cavapoo gets in their diet.

Too little protein will lead to weakened hair follicles and thus more shedding. (It can also cause faded, matted look of your cavapoo coat.) Dry kibble is often to blame for lack of protein in your cavapoo’s diet (and overabundance of carbohydrate which can cause your dog to gain weight!) We talk more about best food for cavapoo in this article, but here it’s enough to say that it’s always a good idea to do thorough research on the food type (kibble / wet food / natural food / raw food) that you want to feed your cavapoo, and the brand.

Whatever type / brand of food your choose, make sure it has at least 20 – 25% protein content which is necessary for the health of an adult dog.

The other important minerals and nutrients for your dog’s coat health and low shedding are zinc, chrome and B vitamins.

Just like puppies, older dogs can experience more shedding. If your cavapoo is middle-aged and older, it may have age-related shedding, as dogs will shed more when they get into their older age. Some age-related diseases can also cause excessive shedding.

Hormones

Hormonal changes can cause shedding, as it is highly effected by the hormonal status of the animal. Female cavapoo will experience higher periods of shedding after being in heat or if she has just had puppies and is lactating. Unbalanced thyroid hormones can also cause extra shedding if your dog suffers from hypothyroidism.

Stress

Have you ever heard of people losing their hair during difficult and stressful life situations? Dogs can experience the same! If your cavapoo has to deal with a lot of stress (such as a high conflict home, lots of noise, abuse, or even boredom and lack of stimulation!) it may cause some additional shedding! It is just as important to help your pet maintain their psychological health as it is with their physical health.

Washing/ bathing your dog is a great habit that ensures proper hygiene and often can be an enjoyable activity for both the dog and their human. However, if you bathe your cavapoo too often, it can dry out their skin which will cause excessive shedding. The other reason behind your cavapoo losing too much hair can be using the wrong bathing products such as soap or shampoo.

Never use human shampoos on dogs! Dogs and humans have different skin pH levels and it is necessary to choose the shampoo that will work well with that pH balance. Use only specialised dog shampoos, and try to pick the brand that won’t dry out your cavapoo’s skin. If you notice any changes in your dog’s skin or coat after bathing them (such as dry skin, red patches, any type of inflammation or sore spots), discontinue the shampoo.

You can also get professional advise from a groomer or even a vet as they always know the best products and best approaches to keeping your cavapoo’s coat healthy, shiny and minimally shedding.

If you are just getting (or thinking about getting) your first cavapoo, don’t buy into the promises of a 100% non-shedding dog. That is never the case, and in fact should be a red flag in terms of how much you can trust a breeder, if they promise such thing as a non-shedding dog. There is just no such thing 🙂 Even poodles shed, and they are considered one of the most minimally shedding dogs on the planet.

Expect your new cavapoo puppy to shed a moderate amount. However, don’t be intimidated by that. You will not be finding huge clumps of hair all over your house, even if your puppy sheds more than minimally. They are still a very small dog and the amount of shedding is really quite tolerable for most of cavapoo owners.

health

Cavapoo health

When thinking of getting a cavapoo puppy, you need to consider quite a few things. Do you have enough space in your home? Do you have enough time to devote to your puppy? Can you afford good food and vet visits and treatment in case anything goes wrong?

The last question is very important. We all want our pets to be healthy and happy from the moment they are born to the their last days. But dogs are people too. They can get sick, just like we do, and you the owner will need to deal with the consequences.

This is why it is important to understand what potential health issues you may encounter with your cavapoo.

In this guide I talk about the most common health concerns that cavapoo are prone to and what you should do if you suspect any of them in your cavapoo. Of course, please remember that no guide online can be better than qualified help of your vet.

Contents

Cavapoo health: introduction

Mitral Valve Disease in Cavapoo

Cavapoo health: syringomyelia in cavapoo

Epilepsy

Hip Dysplasia

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Addison’s Disease in cavapoo

Cavapoo are cross bred from poodle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The diseases that cavapoo can potentially have can be inherited from either of the parents. While poodles are known to be generally a very healthy breed, it’s not always so with the Cavaliers.

In fact, they are known to have a few very serious conditions that the Cavalier community is very aware of, such as Mitral Valve Disease, Syringomyelia, Epilepsy, Canine Hip Dysplasia and a few others.

Below I will provide an outline of each with possible symptoms and a plan of action for you and your pup if you think your cavapoo has inherited one of these conditions from their Cavalier parent.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Why is my cavapoo losing hair?

One note here again is how important it is to choose a reputable cavapoo breeder when it comes to finding a healthy cavapoo puppy. A good breeder will do their best to only allow healthy parents into breeding, so your chances of getting a cavapoo with a potential health issue go significantly down. In the case of cavapoo (and other cross breeds) this is particularly important.

Purebred dogs like poodles normally don’t present their owners with health issues, but a lot of Cavalier crosses can and do. Do your research before getting your puppy and be very careful! Having a dog that’s sick is not easy, and it’s also not good to support bad breeders by buying their puppies.

Cavapoo health: Mitral Valve Disease

Mitral Valve Disease is a real plague in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel world. About half of all Cavalier deaths happen to be because of this disease (whereas only a small fraction of other breeds die from it.) It is twenty percent more prevalent in Cavaliers than in other breeds.

It is not as common in cavapoo but it can definitely be passed along from the Cavalier parent. Mitral Valve Disease is a degenerative disease of the mitral valve of the heart. It usually leads to heart failure in Cavaliers, or congestive heart failure, where the still-functioning heart cannot pump enough blood for the normal functioning of the dog’s body.

The main signs of heart failure in your cavapoo are easy to see. You may suspect it if your normally active and happy cavapoo is suddenly avoiding running or jumping and it seems as if they are short on air. Shortness of breath, difficult breathing and fainting spells are also signs. A certain percentage of dogs of any breed will have mitral valve disease and heart failure at some point in their lives.

The problem with Cavaliers, and consequently cavapoo, is that the disease prevalence is so much higher, and it also starts much earlier in the dog’s life. Sometimes dogs as young as 2 or 3 years old can get it. Cavaliers are recommended to be screened for MVD annually. There is normally no such recommendation for cavapoo as the disease is still less prevalent in the cross breed.

But if you notice any signs of heart issues in your dog, take it to the vet immediately and make sure to do all necessary tests. Although MVD in dogs cannot be treated and cured, the vet will help you manage your dog’s condition with various treatments and possibly a surgery if it is required.

Syringomyelia is another serious conditions that Cavaliers are prone to and that they can pass on to cavapoo. Syringomyelia occurs when fluid-filled cavities develop in the dog’s spinal cord, in the area close to the brain.

Almost half of all Cavaliers may develop Syringomyelia at some point in their life. The susceptibility to it can also be passed to a cavapoo from their Cavalier parent. This disease is highly pathological and may cause severe pain and discomfort in the dog. One of the signs of it is when you see your dog becoming more and more sensitive in their neck area.

They may also scratch their neck and head area a lot. Syringomyelia is usually diagnosed by MRI or computed tomography (CT). While Syringomyelia cannot be cured, the vet can medicate your dog for pain caused by it, which can greatly improve the quality of the dog’s life.

According to the site https://www.cavalierhealth.org, Syringomyelia often does not progress beyond a certain stage, which makes it a little more manageable.

Epilepsy is quite common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, particularly in certain lines. This disease is characterised by repeated seizures not caused by any trauma or skull malformation. Epilepsy is heavily genetic and is often passed from Cavalier parents to cavapoo puppies.

Some of the symptoms of epilepsy include repeated erratic motions such as paddling of the limbs in your dog. During these episodes the dog may experience a level of discomfort and whine, cry or bark. Defecation or urination, or both, can also occur.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Why is my cavapoo losing hair?

Grooming your cavapoo’s coat

Some dogs have silent epilepsy episodes where they simply stare into space (not to confuse with all the “regular” times your dog just seem to stare into space). Diagnosing epilepsy in your pup may be a little complicated, as seizures and motor issues may stem from other conditions besides epilepsy. However, if you ever notice anything unusual about your dog, take them to the vet immediately.

With regards to epilepsy, you will be recommended various drugs for medication which may improve your dog’s life.

About fifteen percent of all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are estimated to suffer from hip dysplasia. This is a highly heritable disease that your cavapoo can have as well if it’s passed on to him or her from their cavalier parent. Hip dysplasia expresses itself in the malformation and abnormal development of the hips that results in arthritis and joint pain in dogs.

The symptoms, according to https://www.cavalierhealth.org, include bunny hopping and swiveling of the hips when running and difficulties with certain movements such as getting up off the floor or climbing the stairs. Although hip dysplasia is mostly hereditary, certain environmental conditions and dog’s individual characteristics may contribute to the development of this disease.

For example, overweight puppies suffer a higher risk of hip dysplasia development. Running on hard surfaces poses unnatural stress on joints and hips and may also contribute to hip dysplasia. Many breeders argue that too much exercise in young puppies is also a risk factor.

Hip dysplasia is diagnosed by X-Rays. If your dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, they will require medication for pain and in some cases a surgery.

Both hip dysplasia and epilepsy are common not only in cavaliers but in poodles as well. Here are some other dysfunctions that your cavapoo can inherit from their poodle parent.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a serious condition in which the retina of the dog’s eyes degenerates causing progressive loss of vision. The symptoms of this disease include such issues as night vision issues, dilated pupils, bumping into objects and furniture and glassy eyes. There is no known cure from Progressive Retinal Atrophy in dogs.

Addison’s Disease is when the dog’s adrenal glands are unable to produce enough of certain hormones that are crucial for the dog’s health and well-being. It expresses itself through such symptoms as vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, heart arrhythmia and some others.

With the progression of this disease the dog may be more and more vulnerable to stress which can lead to shock in your dog or even death. If your dog has Addison’s disease, it is very important to discover it on time and treat it with hormonal supplementation and some other medications.

Since it often occurs in poodles, this disease can be potentially passed to your cavapoo.

I don’t want to intimidate you out of your decision to get a cavapoo, or infuse fear if you already have a cavapoo. Not all cavapoos will develop any of these diseases. Most cavapoo are healthy and happy till a very old age.

The likelihood of your particular cavapoo developing any of the conditions I briefly outlined above is not that big. However, it’s good to know what issues you may potentially encounter, so you can react quickly and not let the disease develop further.

grooming health sidebar

Cavapoo grooming

Every new cavapoo owner will have this question: how often, if at all, should you groom your cavapoo?

The answer is, you definitely should groom them, both with a professional and at home by yourself. How often really depends on several factors, including the type of coat that your cavapoo has inherited from its parents.

Contents

Trimming your cavapoo’s hair

Trimming your cavapoo’s nails

Bathing your cavapoo

Anal glands in your cavapoo

Professional grooming for your cavapoo

If your cavapoo has inherited its coat from the Cavalier king Charles spaniel, its hair will be softer and wavy, as opposed to curly. If they inherited poodle coat, the hair will be curly rather than wavy, and more prone to tangling and matting. With this type of coat, it is recommended that you brush your cavapoo daily or 3-4 times a week if your schedule is tight, to prevent matting and tangling.

It is best to start your cavapoo on grooming when they are still young. That way, your puppy will get used to grooming procedures and will learn that they are completely normal. When you begin brushing you cavapoo puppy, give them a small treat to show them that grooming is a pleasant event.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo Owner Reviews: Thelma and Louise the cavapoos from Sydney

Best food for cavapoo

Cavapoo vs Cavachon

Once your cavapoo associate grooming with treats, they will start looking forward to it and behave better while you are doing it which will make your job easier. Your every day grooming sessions should include gentle brushing of the cavapoo hair until it’s soft and all matting and tangling is gone.

Your cavapoo will eventually start to enjoy it – brushing and scratching can be very pleasant on their skin. It’s a great way to bond with your cavapoo.

Besides brushing, you can (and should) also trim certain areas of your cavapoo coat, such as on the ears and around their mouth , where the hair often gets too long and gets in the way. Pay attention to your cavapoo’s “other end” as well – trimming hair around its bum is a good idea if you notice that that area sometimes gets dirty. If you are too squeamish, you can leave this part for the professional groomer, but it’s really easy to learn to do it yourself and canbe really handy too. You probably really like seeing your cavapoo clean, don’t you? 🙂

Trimming nails is also an important part of grooming your cavapoo. You don’t want them to grow too long as they can affect your cavapoo walking and can break and hurt your cavapoo. Nail trimming won’t always be met enthusiastically by your cavapoo and might even scare them if it’s their first time. As with the rest of grooming, it is a good idea to start them young.

Try trimming their nails when your cavapoo is still a puppy. Some cavapoo really don’t like their feet and paws being touched, so you may need to start slowly. Begin with just touching their paws while also encouraging your cavapoo with voice and/or treats. Let them get used to it. Show them the nail clipper and let the smell it so they are less afraid of it.

Then try trimming their nails while still talking to your cavapoo in a soft voice.

Cavapoo nails have to be trimmed pretty short, but you also have to be careful not to cut into the quick of the nail. The quick is the thicker base of the nail with blood vessels and nerves. If you cut into that, it will hurt your cavapoo! Only trim the sharp ends of the nails! Do it slowly. If your cavapoo expresses fear or tries to escape, try encouraging them with small treats when you manage to clip their nail.

Eventually, your cavapoo will get used to having their nails trimmed as it’s normally completely painless. They may also start looking at nail trimming time as bonding time with you, and if you add treats in the mix, grooming might just become your cavapoo’s favorite thing.

Should you bathe your cavapoo? Well of course! Our dogs spend lots of time outside and can bring a lot of bacteria and dirt on their coats and feet, which isn’t good for you or your pet. Bathing is an excellent way to maintain hygiene and also can be a pleasant time you and your pup have together.

Besides, most dogs love water, and cavapoo is no different. Of course, some dogs may be a bit comprehensive of water, especially if they haven’t encountered it before. As with the rest of grooming procedures, it is wise to start bathing your cavapoo when they are still young. Fill your bathtub with water (not too much, only a few inches), and put your cavapoo in the water.

Let them get used to the sensation, and again, encourage them with your voice and pets. If your cavapoo seems just fine in the bathtub, start washing its coat with warm water. Don’t let the water get into their face or eyes. When bathing your cavapoo, use specialised dog shampoo (never use human shampoo on dogs! Same goes for soap.) Wash their coat thoroughly and then wash the shampoo of.

You can repeat the process a few times. After bathing your pup, help them get dry again with a towel, and praise them, or give them a treat. It is very likely that your dog will really love bathing time!

One of the less pleasant aspects of grooming your cavapoo is taking care of their anal glands. Anal glands in dogs produce certain smelly liquid which is used for marking (yes, dogs mark their territory with poop just like they do with pee).

This is a normal, natural function, even though it may seem a bit gross to us humans. Anal glands normally get emptied automatically when your dog poops, but sometimes that doesn’t happen and your dog may need help squeezing the stuff out. You will notice it when your dog starts scooting it’s other end on the floor or carpet or starts to excessively lick under its tail.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Cavapoo pros and cons

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic?

Cavapoo vs Cavachon

If you see that behaviour, your cavapoo may have an issue with emptying their anal glands and you may need to help them. You can squeeze out their anal glands yourself (I will not go into details here, just search for a video on youtube!) or you can leave this “dirty” job for a groomer. (Just kidding, there is nothing dirty about your cavapoo’s natural anatomy!)

Whatever you do, don’t let this issue go unattended. If your dog’s anal glands aren’t squeezed properly, it can cause great discomfort to the dog, or even infection! (Which will be hard, painful and expensive to treat!)

You can do some or all of the grooming yourself, or you can go for professional grooming services. You will easily be able to find a groomer in your town/city. Pet stores often have a groomer’s office affiliated with them, or you can go to a private groomer. Although it can be costly, I would recommend taking your cavapoo to a groomer at least once.

That way, you can watch what the groomer is doing – and learn! Apart from learning some tricks, you can also buy some of the tools for better and easier grooming from the professional groomer. Who knows, maybe you’ll get so inspired you could open your own grooming salon 🙂 In any case, doing a lot of grooming for your cavapoo at home will help you save money and get more bonding time with your pup.

But if you struggle with any aspect of grooming, such as trimming your cavapoo’s nails – the groomer is a great answer to that.

Whether you choose to do it yourself or use professional help, I recommend maintaining regular grooming sessions for your pup to keep their hair, skin and nails in great condition.

cavapoo health most popular sidebar

Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Post author By admin
Post date June 17, 2018
No Comments on Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Short answer: no. No dogs are absolutely, 100% hypoallergenic. However, cavapoo (cavoodles) are bread from poodle, which is one of the most hypoallergenic breeds of dogs out there. While nothing is guaranteed, a Cavapoo may cause far fewer or even no allergy symptoms in allergy sufferers.

Contents

Introduction

Managing/mitigating cavapoo allergy

What to know when living with allergy

Other hypoallergenic dog breeds

Allergies are a widespread condition in the 21 century, and pet allergies are definitely something that thousands of people all over the world can relate to. Almost as much as 11 percent of all humans are allergic to their pets! That is no small number. For a lot of people, even a strong allergy isn’t a hindrance if they really want to have a pet. But it is always good to be well-informed about your allergy, whether getting a pet is a good idea for you or not and how to mitigate your allergy symptoms if you have them.

When it comes to pet allergy, there isn’t actually just one type of allergy. You can be allergic to many things about your pet (like their habit of waking you up at 5 am asking for food! 🙂 . Allergies to pet hair, pet dander, pet urine and other substances are just to name a few. Before getting any pet, it is very important to know if you have an allergy to them and if so, how you are going to manage it. Having said that, what about cavapoo? Are cavapoo hypoallergenic?

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo vs goldendoodle

Cavapoo (cavoodles) are often touted as hypoallergenic breed of dogs. Many websites (even breeder websites) promise no allergy symptoms whatsoever if you get their cavapoo puppy. But is that really so? Here is what we will talk about in this article:

To be honest, the question should be: Are cavapoo hypoallergenic for you? The answer to this question will actually depend on what exactly you are allergic to. You aren’t just allergic to a dog. You can be allergic to a dog’s hair, saliva, dander, urine, faecal matter (gross, I know). If you are allergic to saliva, dander or urine, you will likely be allergic to any type of dog, including hypoallergenic ones like poodles and cavapoos.

If you are allergic to dog hair, cavapoo might be hypoallergenic enough for you to not experience any symptoms. F1 cavapoo are bred from poodle and King Cavalier spaniel, and often inherit the curly, smooth poodle hair. This dog will not shed much and be close to hypoallergenic just like a poodle would be. F1B cavapoo (when a cavapoo is bred to a Poodle) are even more hypoallergenic for people allergic to dog hair.

The same may be true to various degrees if you are allergic to dog dander. A lot of people allergic to dander can tolerate poodles without much trouble. If your cavapoo has inherited a lot of poodle genes, you might be able to tolerate them just fine as well.

Saliva of a cavapoo, just like poodle saliva, may also contain less allergenic proteins than other breeds of dogs. A lot of allergy sufferers notice that they don’t display as many (if any) symptoms when they are around cavapoo, even around a whole litter! 🙂 If you have always been sneezing and coughing around dogs, you may find that that is not the case at all with the cavapoos.

However, you may still experience symptoms to some degree, depending on the severity of your allergy. Remember, no dog breed is truly hypoallergenic (even though it’s a great marketing ploy used by so many breeders! In fact, you can weed out bad breeders by looking at their stance on allergy. If they promote their cavapoo as completely hypoallergenic, they are not a breeder you want to deal with. A good breeder will always warn you that no dog, including theirs, is really hypoallergenic.)

Even if you have a slight allergy to cavapoo, don’t despair. This doesn’t mean you can never have a pet, especially if you really want one. Dog allergies can be managed if they are not severe. If you have a severe allergy, you really need to think hard about owning a pet, as long term allergen exposure may end up harming your health (did you know that living with a pet that you are severely allergic to may cause asthma over the long term?). If your allergies are light, they can usually be successfully managed.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo grooming

Cavapoo vs Cavachon

Cavapoo puppies: the ultimate guide to choosing your cavapoo puppy, bringing them home and raising t...

The other good thing is that a lot of slight allergy sufferers notice a significant improvement in their symptoms over the years of living with their cavapoo. Your body adapts and your immune system stops treating your pet proteins as foreign invaders! (how foreign can it be if your cavapoo sleeps under your blanket with you!) A lot of people notice their allergy completely disappears over time, even though they may still be allergic to other dogs!

Puppies produce fewer allergens than adult cavapoo. If you are trying to estimate how allergic you will be to a cavapoo, try to spend time around an adult dog, not just puppies. While you may not display any symptoms to puppies whatsoever, your reaction to an adult cavapoo will be a much stronger indicator!

Unless you are rescuing your cavapoo from cavapoo rescue, always adopt a cavapoo from a good breeder. We have an article on how to find a good cavapoo breeder here and lists of breeders here. A good breeder will always discuss your allergy issues with you and suggest the most hypoallergenic puppy they have (F1B cavapoo are often the most hypoallergenic type.)

A good breeder will let you visit their kennel to meet the puppies and their parents (or parent) and see whether your allergy flairs up or not. A good breeder will also likely be able to accept your puppy back after adoption if you display allergy symptoms that you can’t live with.

However, keep in mind that taking the puppy for a few weeks is not a good idea. For one, it will be very stressful for both you and the puppy if you have to return them. Also, you will likely not get refunded for a puppy even if you return it to a breeder. You need to really put a lot of thought into whether you are able to keep this little cavapoo or not if you suffer from allergy.

If you are only slightly allergic to your cavapoo, there are things you can do to make it easier in you.

Wash your hands!

Always wash your hands after you touch or pet your puppy. Don’t touch your face or mouth after touching your dog.

Keep your distance

Try not to sleep in the same room as your cavapoo (definitely, don’t take them in bed with you.)

Brush your cavapoo

Brush your cavapoo often outside to get rid of extra hair (cavapoo do shed minimally!) and the dander that collects on that hair.

Wash your cavapoo

Washing your cavapoo regularly will also help get rid of the extra dander on its skin and hair. If you get your cavapoo used to washing and bathing from early puppy-hood, they will most likely love this activity and be enthusiastic about the bath time!

Wash your cavapoo’s toys and bedding

Keeping your dog’s bedding and toys clean will help keeping extra dander and other allergens from spreading all over your house which will result in fewer allergens ending up in your airways and fewer allergy symptoms for you!

Keep your house clean

Ideally, you’d be doing it whether you own a cavapoo or not 🙂 Washing the floors of your house and vacuuming are two good ways of keeping extra allergens at bay. You can even get a HEPA vacuum to be able to more thoroughly clean the surfaces from hair and dander. Bonus point – you get a cleaner house!

While there are no truly hypoallergenic dog breeds, a few breeds are reported to cause fewer allergy symptoms to allergy sufferers than other breeds. Poodles are definitely famous for being hypoallergenic as well as minimally shedding dogs. Tibetan and Maltese terriers are two other breeds. Maltese terriers have smooth silky coats that shed minimally and also reportedly cause fewer allergies to people. Shih Tzu is another small breed that is considered hypoallergenic, as is Bichon Freeze. Labradoodles are a larger cross breed. It’s a mix of Labrador retriever and a poodle (standard or miniature). These dogs normally have longer, bushier hair but they often inherit poodle’s hypoallergenic genes.

Don’t lose hope of having a wonderful, loyal pet and companion because you might be allergic to them. If you have allergy to other types of dogs, definitely consider a cavapoo, and see if you can find a breeder who would let you visit their dogs and puppies. You may find that you don’t have any allergy at all to cavapoo dogs, or that your allergy symptoms are only minor. Cavapoos are a great pet and I really hope you can own one!

health sidebar

Cavapoo and separation anxiety

Post author By admin
Post date June 16, 2018
No Comments on Cavapoo and separation anxiety

Contents

Do cavapoo develop separation anxiety?

Symptoms of separation anxiety in your cavapoo

How to cure separation anxiety in your cavapoo?

Like any dog cavapoo can and often do develop separation anxiety to a certain extent. I am saying to a certain extent because there are really various degrees of separation anxiety and it’s important to understand how strong your cavapoo’s separation anxiety is so you know what you are dealing with.

Oftentimes people say that their dogs have separation anxiety when all their pups display is a slight discomfort when the owner leaves. If your cavapoo whines a little after you leave home and generally prefers following you around the house like a velcro dog – that doesn’t mean they have separation anxiety.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo lifespan

Best food for cavapoo

True separation anxiety expresses itself in far more significant symptoms such as extreme emotions in your dog when you leave. If your cavapoo howls and barks for hours after you leave, marks the territory and literally destroys large pieces of furniture in your absence, this may be the true anxiety. You will see it in your dog – it’s real, desperate panic. All cavapoo will generally prefer their owner nearby at all times, but not all have a real separation anxiety.

However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t work with your puppy’s symptoms of anxiety, even if it’s not a strong anxiety. True anxiety may develop if the small symptoms of discomfort are not addressed. In this article I will provide you with a guide on how to address those symptoms and work with your dog to make them much more comfortable with you leaving the house to go to work or anywhere else and leaving them behind.

No matter how attached you are to your cavapoo and how polite and well-behaved they are outside the house, there will be lots of times when you will have to leave them alone in the house, and it’s best to train them young. If your cavapoo is still young, it should be fairly easy to curb their separation anxiety and teach them to thrive on their own. If your cavapoo is older, this may take some time or require more patience, but don’t give up!

Here I will list a few symptoms of separation anxiety in your cavapoo. They include: obsessive barking, growling or howling after you leave for prolonged periods of time. Digging, pacing, obsessive chewing on things (more than what your pup chews in your presence, because of course all dogs like to chew). Urinating and defecating in non-toilet places. Aggressive or frightened behaviour when you are absent. All of those are signs that your cavapoo isn’t taking your absence very well.

Now how do you deal with it?

There are a few approaches to this.

Give them a safe space.

We all need a safe, protected space to decompress, de-stress and to feel protected from the dangers of the outside world. For you, this place is likely your house. For your dog, this will be their crate. Yes, crate!

If you don’t crate your cavapoo, you should start doing it right now. A crate is not a cage for your pup, although that’s likely how you feel about it. A crate, especially if it’s covered with a blanket on top, is a safe little cave for your pup where he or she will feel protected from the outside world.

Of course, first, you will have to teach your pup to see it that way.

Get your puppy a crate large enough so he’ll be able to stand in it when he becomes an adult dog. The larger the crate – the better. Place it in the quiet area of your house and cover it with a large blanket, so only the entrance to it is not covered. There – you’ve created a cave for your pup. Dogs love holes and little protected nooks. You will, however, have to teach your cavapoo to see their crate as safe space.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo vs goldendoodle

Cavapoo health