The most common Cavalier King Charles Spaniel signs of dying are lack of appetite, lethargy, lack of thirst, seizures, weight loss, discoloration of gums, and more.
If your Cavalier is sick and you have no idea why, don’t think of the worst-case scenario. Most Cavalier health issues are mild.
It is essential to be able to recognize the symptoms of some severe health issues:
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
This article explores the symptoms of the most prevalent deadly diseases in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
You will also learn everything you need to know about the symptoms of organ failure among Cavaliers.
What Is The Life Expectancy of a Cavalier?
The life span of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is between 9 and 14 years.
Cavaliers who live the longest:
- Experience fewer health issues due to their genetic inheritance.
- Have a well-balanced diet.
- Get at least 60 minutes of physical exercise per day.
- Are spayed or neutered.
What Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Die From?
The leading cause of death among Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is heart failure. They can also die of kidney or liver failure. These severe health issues are caused by various health conditions which can be, in themselves, deadly.
To prevent deadly health conditions, it is necesary to take your Cavalier to the vet for regular checkups.
The recommended tests for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels include:
- MRI scans for Syringomyelia
- X-rays and ultrasound for Mitral Valve Disease
- Hip evaluation
- Ophthalmologist evaluation
- Patella evaluation
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Health Problems Symptoms
Compared to other health problems, heart, liver, and kidney failure are the most important to recognize early.
Remember that if your dog experiences only one of the symptoms, they are not dying. Symptoms have to occur together to indicate a deadly health issue.
Heart Failure Symptoms
The symptoms of heart failure[1] in Cavaliers are:
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent cough
- Fainting
- Lack of appetite
- Fatigue
- Fluid buildup in the belly
- Restlessness
- Weight loss
- Change in gum color
Kidney Failure Symptoms
The symptoms of kidney failure[2] in Cavaliers are:
- Vomiting and panting
- Nausea
- Chemical scent of breath
- Loss of appetite
- Poor coordination
- Discolorated gums
Liver Failure Symptoms
Symptoms of Life-threatening Diseases Affecting Cavaliers
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a predisposition for Mitral Valve Disease, Chiari-like Malformation, Syringomyelia, Cushing’s Disease, Liver Shunt.
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Heart Problems Symptoms
A specific heart condition called Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) is the leading cause of death among Cavalier Spaniels.
This heart condition consists of the progressive deterioration of a Cavalier Spaniel’s heart valve.
Mitral Valve Disease is also called:
- Chronic valvular disease
- Chronic degenerative valvular disease
- Chronic valvular fibrosis
- Cardiac valve disease
- Cardiac valve disease
- Mitral valve defect
- Myxomatous atrioventricular degeneration
Research indicates that as many as 90% of Cavaliers are affected by MVD when they reach 10 years old.[4]
MVD in Cavaliers between 4 to 5 years old is highly heritable[5]. As a result, the Cavalier breeding protocol doesn’t allow breeders to mate Cavaliers who have been diagnosed with MVD under the age of five.[6]
MVD has 4 evolution stages, ranging from A to C. The most severe symptoms appear during stage C, which is the one that precedes death.
This table illustrates the four main stages of Mitral Valve Disease.
| MVD Stage | Description |
| Stage A | This stage indicates a predisposition for MVD. All Cavaliers go through this stage. They are prone to the disease but don’t display any symptoms. |
| Stage B1 | Cavaliers have a heart murmur but no changes in X-rays or ultrasound scans. They don’t display other symptoms. |
| Stage B2 | The x-rays or ultrasound scans indicate changes in the shape of the heart. |
| Stage C | Cavaliers display symptoms of heart failure. |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with Mitral Valve Disease display various symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Low energy
- Slow walking pace
- Fainting
- Heart murmur
- Quick breath
- Panting and loss of appetite
- Breathlessness
- Coughing after laying down
- Coughing during sleep
- Excessive coughing during the night
2. Symptoms of Neurologic Disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
The two most common neurologic diseases of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are Chiari-like Malformation (CM) and Syringomyelia (SM).
CM and SM are not deadly in themselves. Cavaliers who suffer from it have a low quality of life which, in time, transforms into a lack of movement.
This leads to obesity and other issues that increase the chances of premature death.
Chiari-like Malformation
CM consists of a malformation of the skull and craniocervical vertebrae. This malformation leads to overcrowding of the brain and partial herniation of the cerebellum.
As a result, compression of the brainstem and spinal cord leads to an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. This is called Syringomyelia.
CM can occur without SM. Dogs who experience SM due to CM are statistically older than those with CM only.[7]
Cavaliers are the most affected breed by this disease.
The Chiari-like Malformation symptoms in Cavaliers include the following:
- Pain
- Scratching of the painful area
- Seizures
- Vestibular syndrome
- Ataxia
- Menace deficit
- Facial nerve deficits
- Temporal muscle atrophy
- Proprioceptive deficits
- Head tremor
Syringomyelia
SM is a disease that consists of the formation of a fluid-filled cyst within the spinal cord.[9]
Cavaliers start showing symptoms of SM between the age of 3 months and 2 years old. Some Cavaliers who experience Syringomyelia don’t display any symptoms.
SM in Cavaliers is diagnosed by an MRI scan or specific X-rays.
Even though SM is treated with surgery, there is a 50% chance the cysts will form again.
Here are the symptoms of Syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
- Loss of bowel control
- Progressive weakness in the legs
- Loss of bladder control
- Intermittent neck pain
- Back pain
Cavaliers who experience Syringomyelia experience several behavioral side effects:
- Reluctancy to climb or jump.
- Frequent scratching on the neck and shoulders without touching the area (‘phantom scratching’).
- Wobbly or weak.
3. Symptoms of Cushing’s Disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Cushing’s Disease, also known as spontaneous hypercortisolism, is a genetic disorder that determines the adrenal and pituitary glands to produce more hormones.
Female Cavaliers have a higher chance of developing Cushing’s than males. All neutered Cavaliers have a higher risk for Cushing’s disease than intact Cavaliers.[10]
Cushing is caused by adrenal cortical tumors or by pituitary tumors. These tumors are usually cancerous. Other causes of Cushing’s disease include steroid medications.
Cavaliers have a predisposition for Cushing’s disease. This diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean your dog will die. There are medications that can alleviate symptoms.
If left untreated, Cushing’s disease leads to more severe deadly conditions:
- Congestive heart failure
- Liver failure
- Kidney failure
Symptoms of Cushing’s disease in Cavaliers:
- Muscle weakness
- Panting
- Excessive urination
- Increased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Symmetrical alopecia
- Lethargy and limping
- Skin discoloration
- Calcified lumps on the skin
4. Symptoms of Liver Disease in Cavalier King Charles
Liver shunt consists of blood vessels that pass the liver and transport the blood from the digestive system directly into the systemic circulation of a dog.
As a result, the liver doesn’t develop normally, and the fat and protein metabolism is affected.
Liver shunt, if left untreated, leads to death. Dogs who undergo treatment have a 63% higher chance of survival. Those who undergo surgery have a 90% chance of survival.[11]
The main symptoms of liver shunt in Cavalier Spaniels are as follows:
- Excessive drooling
- Lack of coordination
- Pacing and circling after eating
- Vomiting
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Seizures
5. Symptoms of Other Deadly Diseases in Cavaliers
Cavaliers can suffer from various non-breed-specific health issues that lead to death. Some of them can be prevented and others are treatable if discovered in time.
Other deadly diseases that affect Cavaliers are:
- Rabies
- Heartworm
- Lyme disease
- Kennel cough
- Leptospirosis
- Canine parvovirus
This table lists the symptoms of non-breed specific health issues that can be deadly to Cavalier Spaniels.
| Disease | Symptoms |
| Rabies | Staggering excessive drooling, fever, aggression, seizures, difficulty swallowing, paralysis |
| Heartworm | Lack of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, exercise avoidance, persistent cough |
| Lyme disease | Fatigue, lack of appetite, lameness, swollen lymph nodes, swollen joints, kidney failure symptoms |
| Kennel cough | Persistent non-productive dry cough |
| Leptospirosis | Muscle pain, lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, weakness, depression |
| Canine parvovirus | Dehydration, lethargy, extreme weight loss, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, depression |
Conclusion
The most common Cavalier King Charles Spaniel signs of dying are due to heart, kidney and liver failure. Various diseases lead to these severe health conditions. Cavaliers have a predisposition for four health issues that can be fatal: mitral valve disease, liver shunts, neurological disorders, and Cushing’s disease. If left untreated, other diseases can also cause the death of Cavalier Spaniels.
