HOW TO GROOM YOUR CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

Why is it Important to Groom Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

Despite their long, silky coat, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels don’t need excessive grooming. Nonetheless, this is an important step in keeping your pooch healthy. As well as maintaining its glorious shine, brushing your dog’s coat each day lets you check for any parasites that might be burrowed there or any skin infections which may have arisen. It also constitutes a special bonding moment for you and your Cav, helping you to strengthen your relationship. These intimate moments are precious. Finally, taking good care of your dog’s coat also prevents the build-up of dead hair, dirt, and debris.

What are the Main Steps for Grooming a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

Brushing

Brushing is essential. But contrary to what you might think, brushing your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog is not particularly time-consuming. Outside of moulting periods, brushing their coat once a day will suffice. On the other hand, during moulting periods in spring and autumn, you will need to brush your dog more often and be very careful to avoid the formation of knots. Always use a suitable brush, like a boar bristle brush, and avoid rougher tools like the carding brush. Be careful not to brush too violently, at the risk of damaging your dog's skin and coat. A wide-tooth comb is also useful for detangling but, again, proceed carefully so as not to hurt your dog. If a knot is really putting up a fight, cut it out, being careful not to injure your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. 

Please note: You should never shave your dog’s fur. If their coat is particularly matted, call your vet or a professional dog groomer to help you. Your dog’s fur protects them from the cold, but also the sun.

Bathing

Baths are also an important feature in the maintenance of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. However, be careful not to bathe your dog too often, at the risk of damaging their skin. Unless your dog is a show dog, one to two baths per year is normally enough to keep them clean and healthy. Of course, if your pooch gets their coat particularly dirty or smells bad, don't wait to bathe them. If the smell persists, this may also be because they're suffering from skin problems. Always check with your vet if you suspect a health issue.

The choice of shampoo is very important when bathing your dog. A good dog shampoo respects your dog's hair, but also their skin type (dry, oily, etc.), as well as any potential problems, such as parasites, for example. Never use human shampoo on your dog. Dogs have a different pH from humans, so human products are not suitable for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's skin. Given the size of your Cavalier, you won’t have any trouble washing them yourself in a bathtub, shower, or even a small basin. Make sure that the water is neither too hot nor too cold; it should ideally be around 35 or 36°C. Rinse your pup well to get rid of any shampoo residue, then pat them dry.

Complementary Health Care for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

In addition to grooming your dog's coat, you also need to take care of their eyes, ears, teeth, and nails. Eyecare is very important for your little Cavalier, who is susceptible to eye problems. Use cotton pads and saline solution to clean their eyes daily. Avoid using cotton wool or Q-tips which may leave cotton fibres behind. Proceed gently so as not to injure your dog. Take a pad soaked in the saline solution and run it over your dog's eyes to sweep away any impurities. Start from the inside of the eye and move outwards, so as not to allow other dirt to get in. 

Clean your Cavalier’s ears often with a suitable ear cleaning solution. To do this, place the product inside your dog's ear canal, then massage gently to allow it to penetrate the ear. Wipe the remaining product off with a cotton pad, until no trace remains. 

The teeth are an all-too-often overlooked part of the dog’s anatomy. However, oral hygiene is very important to your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s health. Teach your pooch to accept a toothbrush from an early age and brush their teeth at least once a week to get rid of dental plaque and maintain healthy gums. Cavs have a pretty obedient temperament: take advantage of it. You can also give your dog chew bones to help fight plaque and tartar. 

Remember to also trim your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's nails to prevent them from getting in the way when your dog moves. You can use a nail clipper, being careful to locate the quick of the nail before cutting to avoid injuring your pooch. The quick is the live part of the nail which contains blood vessels and nerve endings - it is recognisable by its pink colour. You only want to cut the white part of the nail. If your dog has black claws, it's best not to cut them too short, as a precaution.

Finally, don't forget about preventive medical care for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Make sure to take your dog for regular deworming treatments and anti-parasitics against ticks and fleas, and to keep all their vaccines up to date. Choose a high-quality diet for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to help preserve their life expectancy. It's a good idea to schedule at least one veterinary check-up a year, especially as your dog gets older.