Cavalier King Charles Dogs Are Heart Disease Magnets
I learned that almost all Cavalier King Charles dogs develop heart problems. It's genetic.
Rosie's cardiologist said 95% of Cavaliers have heart disease by age 10. Some start as young as 2.
Mitral Valve Disease Showed Up Early
Rosie needed an echocardiogram immediately. $650 to see how bad her heart disease was.
Moderate mitral valve disease. The valve wasn't closing properly, causing blood to leak backward.
The cardiologist said this is the most common heart problem in Cavaliers. It's progressive and gets worse over time.
No symptoms yet, but Rosie would need monitoring and eventually medication.
Quarterly cardiac check-ups cost $280 each. X-rays, bloodwork, physical exam.
Six months later, Rosie's murmur got worse. Grade 4 now. Time to start heart medication.
ACE inhibitors to reduce strain on her heart. $65 per month for tiny pills.
Plus low-sodium prescription diet to reduce fluid retention. $85 for bags that last two weeks.
The cardiologist warned that Rosie would eventually need multiple heart medications. Her condition would keep progressing.
Most Cavaliers need heart surgery eventually. Mitral valve repair costs $15,000-20,000.
Even with surgery, it's not a cure. Just buying time before the heart fails completely.
Congestive Heart Failure at Age 6
Two years after diagnosis, Rosie started coughing at night. Especially when lying down.
The cardiologist said this was early congestive heart failure. Fluid backing up into her lungs.
Emergency chest X-rays showed fluid in her lungs. $380 for emergency diagnostics.
Rosie needed immediate treatment with diuretics. Furosemide to pull fluid out of her lungs.
Now Rosie takes three different heart medications daily. $185 per month for all the pills.
Plus monthly monitoring visits instead of quarterly. $280 every month.
Her exercise tolerance decreased dramatically. No more long walks or playing fetch.
Rosie gets tired walking to the mailbox. Heart failure limits everything she can do.
The cardiologist said most Cavaliers live 1-3 years after heart failure starts.
Quality of life becomes the main concern. Medication helps, but it's not a cure.
Curly Coat Syndrome Added Complications
As if heart disease wasn't enough, Rosie developed weird skin problems around age 5.
Her beautiful silky coat became curly and coarse. Patches of hair fell out.
Curly Coat Syndrome. Another genetic problem in Cavaliers.
Dermatology workup cost $380. Skin biopsies, allergy testing, culture samples.
No cure for Curly Coat. Just managing symptoms with special shampoos and supplements.
Medicated baths twice weekly. $45 for prescription shampoo.
Plus omega fatty acid supplements for skin health. $35 per month.
The dermatologist said many Cavaliers develop skin problems as they age. Another breed predisposition.
Managing heart disease and skin disease together is challenging. Some treatments interact.
What Cavalier King Charles Insurance Must Cover
Rosie's health problems taught me that Cavalier insurance needs to focus on heart disease and other genetic conditions.
Cardiac Coverage is Non-Negotiable
Heart disease treatment is expensive and lifelong. Rosie's initial workup cost $650.
Then there's ongoing monitoring, medications, emergency treatments.
We spend about $4,500 per year on Rosie's heart disease management.
Some insurance policies exclude hereditary conditions. But heart disease in Cavaliers is genetic.
Find a policy that covers hereditary heart conditions. Otherwise you'll pay everything out of pocket.
Rosie's insurance covers 80% of her cardiac expenses. Without it, we couldn't afford her care.
Specialist Care Coverage
Cavaliers need board-certified cardiologists, not just regular vets.
Rosie's cardiologist charges $280 for check-ups. Regular vets charge $80.
But heart disease is too complex for general practitioners.
Make sure your policy covers specialist consultations without referral requirements.
Emergency cardiac care often requires specialty hospitals with 24-hour cardiology.
Prescription Diet Coverage
Cardiac diets aren't optional for dogs with heart failure.
Rosie's prescription food costs $2,200 per year. Low sodium, specific nutrients for heart health.
Many policies don't cover prescription diets. But these foods are medical treatment.
Look for policies that cover prescription foods when medically necessary.
Even partial coverage helps with the ongoing costs.