Charleen
Well-known member
I am so bummed out about Pippin. Secondly Merry. I was going to get Pet Care Insurance, because it covered the hereditary conditions. However, to get coverage the conditions cannot be already diagnosed by a vet and you must present vet notes to the insurance company. My vet is so thorough that he listed Pippin's possible patella problems (grade 2) and heart murmur (grade 1) this past March at his last annual visit. Then Merry's possible eye cataract problems are notated.
Here is the thing. With my first and second cavaliers I had read about the health concerns, but I didn't think it could happen to me. Not until at 16 months, Pippin's vet noticed that he had the start of cataracts. Merry is his half-sister and 10 months younger. The vet noticed something odd about her eyes when she was 17 months old.
I took Pippin to a great eye vet and Pippin's eyes got worse this year. She recommended surgery on both eyes this past June when Pippin was 2 yrs 10 mo. old. He is doing great now. The surgery and follow up visits cost $3000. I had Merry looked at too and she may or may not develop the same cataracts. I am supposed to bring her back next year for a follow up. I have told their breeder about both of their eye problems and asked her to stop breeding the dog that is spreading the condition. My eye vet says that it is definitely hereditary.
Merry has always scratched her ears and hind quarters. She has done so since she was 3 months old. I took her to a dermatology vet last May when she was almost 2 yrs old. She was put on a strict diet of only rabbit & potato (IVD) vet dog food and the scratching stopped totally. It was definitely a food allergy. However, in the back of my head is always the idea that she could have SM. I hope not.
In July, I was thinking that the worst was over. I can deal with juvenille cataracts. Merry's problem is solved. I can afford another cataract surgery, if Merry needs it. But now Pippin is limping more often. He just turned 3 years old last month. He doesn't limp all the time, but I think his patella is getting worse. Now that I have read his vet chart, I see that he has a grade 1 heart murmur too.
I know I screwed up and bought two cavaliers from a back yard breeder. That breeder didn't know what she was doing. She was only looking at the family trees of the dogs and how they looked. The parent dogs were too young to show most of the hereditary conditions that only show up older. Her vet told her her dogs were healthly, so she didn't pay for the extra tests she should have.
I learned my lesson. I did my research and found a very good breeder the next time around with Luke & Jolly. But how could one dog have so much wrong with him (Pippin)?
Pippin and Merry are both wonder dogs. Pippin especially is extremely obedient. You can leave him off leash. He always comes when he is called. He is a perfect gentleman. But I am looking at thousands of dollars in vet bills over his lifetime. Merry may have to have the same cataract surgery in her future. But she is so loving and brings so much joy. I wouldn't trade them for anything, but man am I sad about their situation.
I read on one of the webboards that their dog with patella problems was on Cosequin. I used that on my elderly basset hound before and it worked great. So I'll try that and see if it helps Pippin. I am hoping to extend his mobility and stave off surgery for as long as I can. I am also going to get Pippin's weight down. He is not fat, but I think I should see a more defined waist one him. He is a tall cavalier and currently weighs 28 pounds. I am going to see if I can get him a few pounds lighter and see if this helps.
I don't know where the conditions will take them & me. I just have to enjoy them today. But this sucks!
Here is the thing. With my first and second cavaliers I had read about the health concerns, but I didn't think it could happen to me. Not until at 16 months, Pippin's vet noticed that he had the start of cataracts. Merry is his half-sister and 10 months younger. The vet noticed something odd about her eyes when she was 17 months old.
I took Pippin to a great eye vet and Pippin's eyes got worse this year. She recommended surgery on both eyes this past June when Pippin was 2 yrs 10 mo. old. He is doing great now. The surgery and follow up visits cost $3000. I had Merry looked at too and she may or may not develop the same cataracts. I am supposed to bring her back next year for a follow up. I have told their breeder about both of their eye problems and asked her to stop breeding the dog that is spreading the condition. My eye vet says that it is definitely hereditary.
Merry has always scratched her ears and hind quarters. She has done so since she was 3 months old. I took her to a dermatology vet last May when she was almost 2 yrs old. She was put on a strict diet of only rabbit & potato (IVD) vet dog food and the scratching stopped totally. It was definitely a food allergy. However, in the back of my head is always the idea that she could have SM. I hope not.
In July, I was thinking that the worst was over. I can deal with juvenille cataracts. Merry's problem is solved. I can afford another cataract surgery, if Merry needs it. But now Pippin is limping more often. He just turned 3 years old last month. He doesn't limp all the time, but I think his patella is getting worse. Now that I have read his vet chart, I see that he has a grade 1 heart murmur too.
I know I screwed up and bought two cavaliers from a back yard breeder. That breeder didn't know what she was doing. She was only looking at the family trees of the dogs and how they looked. The parent dogs were too young to show most of the hereditary conditions that only show up older. Her vet told her her dogs were healthly, so she didn't pay for the extra tests she should have.
I learned my lesson. I did my research and found a very good breeder the next time around with Luke & Jolly. But how could one dog have so much wrong with him (Pippin)?
Pippin and Merry are both wonder dogs. Pippin especially is extremely obedient. You can leave him off leash. He always comes when he is called. He is a perfect gentleman. But I am looking at thousands of dollars in vet bills over his lifetime. Merry may have to have the same cataract surgery in her future. But she is so loving and brings so much joy. I wouldn't trade them for anything, but man am I sad about their situation.
I read on one of the webboards that their dog with patella problems was on Cosequin. I used that on my elderly basset hound before and it worked great. So I'll try that and see if it helps Pippin. I am hoping to extend his mobility and stave off surgery for as long as I can. I am also going to get Pippin's weight down. He is not fat, but I think I should see a more defined waist one him. He is a tall cavalier and currently weighs 28 pounds. I am going to see if I can get him a few pounds lighter and see if this helps.
I don't know where the conditions will take them & me. I just have to enjoy them today. But this sucks!