Hi All
Just thought I would give you an up to dated version of Rio's health now.
He has finished his course of antibiotics now, he was prescribed Surolax. I believe this is for viral infections. Anyway the mad one is back and boy is he raring to go. His rescue pal terrier cross Charlie who looks like a terrier but built like a whippet or greyhound also got the all clear from the vets for his kennel cough too.
Rio's really making up for lost time he is so much more snuggly now wanting to just cuddle in when we get in from work/shopping. I think he realised he gave us all quite a scare. My dad has been looking into Rio's background since we got him. Unfortunately we didn't know much about Cavaliers at the time when we got him, such as illnesses etc and we got him from an advert in the yellow papers here in Scotland. Dad now believes he may have came from a backyard breeder, as he has been on and off ill ever since we got him.
Dad called the breeder and asked if any of the other pups in the litter had ever been unwell and she said she only bred "healthy" pups. Dad ended up explaining all of Rio's illnesses and constant trips to the vet, she didnt have much to say and didnt really want to speak to him about Rio and his siblings. We had originally planned on a female but we were told that she had a heart murmur. Now my Dad wishes he could have asked for some type of paperwork to prove this for his sister as from reading info from Cavalier Talk he believes we could have saved her for being used as breeding material and that the breeder could have been lying to us. I really wish we had taken both of them.
We wouldn't change Rio for the world, we have been so lucky with him, we have no torn up carpets or wood etc, he is the perfect pooch to us. I just wish we had saved his sister from whatever life this breeder is giving her.
When I move out of home and consider having my own cavalier I will know to make sure what to look for in a reputable breeder.
Just makes me so angry, he is perfect in every way apart from his ill health from time to time.
Sorry just had to vent.
Thank you all again for your support.