If you’re lucky enough to own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, you’ll want to shower your adorable pup with love and all the care they need to keep their affectionate and cheerful disposition. Because of their tendency to pile on the pounds and a predisposition to heart disease, it’s really important that your Cav is kept in good shape and at a normal weight.
The best dog food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should help them to maintain a healthy weight while providing all the nutrients they need to stay active, healthy, and ensure that gorgeous glossy fur stays silky and shiny.
But when it comes to your dog’s dinner, what is it that makes a stand-out, super dog food?
The best dog food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should help:
Maintain a healthy weight
Slow the progression of heart disease
Fresh, healthy food for long lives
Keeping the chunk off your Cavalier
Obesity is a growing problem with all dogs in the UK, and one of the biggest welfare concerns that vets have. Cavaliers are one of several breeds that have been identified as being predisposed to piling on the pounds.
According to the latest PDSA paw report, 78% of vets said there has been a definite increase in obesity in the last 2 years. The latest PFMA report found that 51% of UK dogs were overweight or obese, with an estimated 33% of dogs being obese. PDSA statistics are similar, and their vets estimate that half of the UK’s dogs are overweight.
Worryingly, many owners aren’t even aware their dog is overweight, and aren’t conscious of the severe consequences it has on their beloved pooch. According to the same report, 84% of owners said their pooch was the ideal weight, but that doesn’t add up to the fact that more than half of dogs overweight or obese.
This means there are plenty of owners in the dark about what their dog’s ideal weight should be, how their pup should look, and the impact that being overweight has on dogs. But why is it so crucial for Cavaliers to stay slim?
Why you should kep the chub off your Cav
Research has shown that dogs that eat less live longer and healthier lives. It was found that dogs who ate controlled portions of food were much less likely to develop chronic illness, the development of age-related disease was delayed, and the pooches lived an average of 1.8 years longer.
Overall, it means portion control improves the quality and length of your pup’s life.
Overweight dogs are also more at risk of secondary conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. That is a risk you don’t want to increase since half of all Cavaliers will already develop heart disease by the time that they are 5.
Luckily, it’s super easy to prevent extra weight. Although obesity is one of the most common health conditions for dogs, it’s also one of the easiest to prevent. Just like with humans, it just takes a healthy lifestyle featuring plenty of exercise and a healthy, balanced diet fed in appropriate portions.
Natural, low-processed food is the key to healthy, lean humans and it’s the same for dogs. Too many carbs without enough exercise lead to weight gain.
Your pup needs some carbohydrates for energy and to help maintain certain organs and functions, like their thyroid, but it’s all about moderation and balance.
A healthy balanced diet alongside daily walkies will help your Cavalier to maintain a healthy weight naturally. Tailored food like Pure can help further because you will be recommended the ideal healthy meals for your pup’s personal needs as well as the perfect portion sizes to keep your pooch looking and feeling their best.
Healthy food for healthy hearts
Diet can’t always prevent heart disease, particularly if it is genetic, but it could help to improve your pup’s quality of life.
If your pooch has developed heart disease, or you’re wary that they are likely to, the best course of action is always to talk to your vet about the best dietary choices to suit your individual dog.
What’s best for one dog won’t be ideal for another, because it’s based on individual needs such as lifestyle and other conditions. However, there are a few things that you can expect if your pooch needs to maintain a healthy heart.
What to avoid
Firstly, they will need to have strictly monitored and limited sodium intake. Some pet foods, particularly kibble, add salt to the food in order to make it more palatable and to act as a preservative. Make sure to check the label carefully for the levels of sodium inside.
You will also need to keep an eye on your pup’s phosphorus levels, but only if they have suffered kidney failure or other kidney issues. An otherwise healthy dog usually doesn’t need such supervision.
Heart-healthy nutrients to add
As for good things to find in a dog’s dinner, the best dog food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should have Omega-3 fatty acids.
These acids aren’t just brilliant for shiny fur and healthy skin, it’s been found that they help to stabilise heart muscle cells. You could find supplements but you must check they are bioavailable, meaning their body can absorb them efficiently.
(More natural sources tend to have greater digestibility and bioavailability, meaning your pup absorbs more of the nutrients.)
Pure recipes are full of Omega-3 in a natural, digestible source. You will still need to check it is suitable for your individual pooch and their needs, but we’re happy to discuss your pup’s requirements and help you find the effect dog food for your Cavalier.
Taurine is another superstar nutrient for dogs needing a little help to maintain healthy hearts. Additional taurine has been proven to prevent dilated cardiomyopathy (a heart disease) in cats, and taurine deficiency has been linked with DCM in some breeds of dogs.
Taurine is created from methionine and cysteine, which are amino acids. Whole animal protein and fats are the perfect sources of amino acids, so making sure your Cavalier’s diet is full of meaty goodness can help to keep their heart healthy.
Pure recipes only use whole cuts of human-quality meat and veggies, so your pooch will be getting all those ace amino acids and nutrients naturally.
Finally, your pup’s magnesium and potassium intake should be monitored to make sure they’re eating enough to maintain a healthy heart and prevent some heart diseases.
Grain-free to help stinky ears and sensitive skin
Dogs like a Cavalier with floppy, furry ears are prone to ear infections simply because their ears are warmer and more humid, making them the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Yuck!
Sometimes infections can be caused by an allergy. If your pooch has persistent ear infections or skin problems, it’s likely your vet will recommend you try a hypoallergenic diet. These diets avoid the most common allergens for canines, including wheat, dairy, beef, and soya. These foods also typically avoid artificial colours and preservatives because they have a tendency to upset doggy stomachs and trigger itchy and irritated skin.
If you tell us all about your pooch, breed, age, size, ailments and any possible allergens a plan will be curated perfectly for your pooch so they can enjoy yummy food without the itch. They'll always be getting fresh, natural food that is tailored for their individual needs.
A delicious diet for longer lives
If there’s one thing every dog owner can agree on, it’s that our pups never live long enough. Most of us would all agree that if we could give five years of our own lives up to gain another year with our beloved hounds, we would do it without question.
Obviously, lots of love, a good home environment, and regular veterinary care all help to keep your Cavalier living longer. But regular exercise and a healthy diet are important for keeping your pup happy and healthy well into their twilight years.
As mentioned above, dogs eating controlled portions at dinnertime not only lived longer, but age-related disease was delayed too, keeping them active and themselves even in their senior years.
Many of the things that help humans to live longer also help dogs to live longer. Eating less, getting plenty of nutrients, and eating quality protein all increase longevity in most mammals.
The best dog food for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel looking to live a long and happy life should have all the nutrients they need, whole meat with all it’s amino acids intact, and preferably controlled portions. Processes like extrusion used to make kibble have been proven to damage amino acids, which isn’t ideal for a Cav needing them for a healthy heart.
Pure is full of natural ingredients, including whole meats, formulated by nutritionists and backed by vets to ensure your pooch is getting all the goodness they need to stay happy and healthy. Your pup’s personalised dog food is also carefully tailored to their individual needs, including ideal portion sizes, to keep your Cavalier looking slim and feeling great.