Within 1-1/2 years I lost my Cavalier boys...Rudy was 9 when the Vet discovered he had collasping trachea...without opening old wounds, I will just say, it took 4 Vets to diagnose his condition. After 3 days in intensive care and a tracheotomy, I had to let him go.
Thankfully, I still had King....until last week. He was 13 years, 3 months..he'd been on heart medication for the dreaded murmur that plaques our Cavaliers, for 4 years. He just stopped eating, blood tests showed extremely high liver levels, I opted to treat him at home with i.v. fluids, after 3 days he began eating. However, that was short lived and I had to let him go. I consented to having his liver biopsied in the hope it might help another's loving critter. It appears the heart medication took its toll on his precious body. There are no words to describe the overwhelming feeling of loss, they were my "love sponges" and unique in so many ways. I can't be without a "Cav" in my life, things are meant to be, last June, Charlie entered my life...he wasn't abused, but, perhaps neglected. He was with a family that had 4 other dogs, all living outside and a houseful of small children...it was not a life for a Cavalier! A dear friend found a small ad in the local paper saying "good home needed for a Cavalier."
The best we can do is make oursleves aware of the health issues, have regular check-ups and always request blood work after the age of 7. My boys will live on in my heart. When I get King home, I can kiss him goodnight and good morning, just like I do with Rudy....
Thankfully, I still had King....until last week. He was 13 years, 3 months..he'd been on heart medication for the dreaded murmur that plaques our Cavaliers, for 4 years. He just stopped eating, blood tests showed extremely high liver levels, I opted to treat him at home with i.v. fluids, after 3 days he began eating. However, that was short lived and I had to let him go. I consented to having his liver biopsied in the hope it might help another's loving critter. It appears the heart medication took its toll on his precious body. There are no words to describe the overwhelming feeling of loss, they were my "love sponges" and unique in so many ways. I can't be without a "Cav" in my life, things are meant to be, last June, Charlie entered my life...he wasn't abused, but, perhaps neglected. He was with a family that had 4 other dogs, all living outside and a houseful of small children...it was not a life for a Cavalier! A dear friend found a small ad in the local paper saying "good home needed for a Cavalier."
The best we can do is make oursleves aware of the health issues, have regular check-ups and always request blood work after the age of 7. My boys will live on in my heart. When I get King home, I can kiss him goodnight and good morning, just like I do with Rudy....