First Aid & Emergency Care

Having a first aid kit and a little basic knowledge about your dog health goes a long way should something unexpected happen to your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Begin by learning to recognize your Cavalier King Charles Spaniels normal temperature, pulse and respiratory rate.

• Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniels normal temperature should range from 100 to 102.5ºF or 37.7 to 39.2ºC. Use a digital rectal thermometer. Rub it with a little petroleum jelly and insert it about 2 inches into your pet’s rectum. Keep one hand under your pet’s belly so that your Cavalier King Charles doesn’t sit down on the thermometer!

• A normal pulse should range from 80 to 140 beats per minute. The easiest place to check your Cavalier King Charles Spaniels pulse is along the femoral artery inside the rear leg, just where the thigh meets the abdomen.

• Normal respiration is approximately 15-20 breaths per minute.

Set up a basic first aid kit for your Cavalier Spaniel puppy.  Include these items:

• Dog health record with your pet’s medical and vaccination history
• Phone numbers for your veterinarian and emergency pet clinic
• Rectal thermometer (preferably digital)
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Gauze bandages and sterile non-adhesive pads
• Antiseptic ointment
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Petroleum jelly
• Syringe
• Small pen light and perhaps a magnifying glass

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, like most other dogs, will happily put almost anything in their mouths! Unfortunately, a number of household as well as outdoor materials can be poisonous to your pet. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your Cavalier may be poisoned. Though dog health problems symptoms can vary, common signs of poisoning include vomiting, convulsions, stumbling and collapse.  At a minimum, keep your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel away from these common plants and materials:

• Chocolate (theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs)
  
• Apple seeds, cherry pits, and similar items
• Grapes and raisins
• Anti-freeze and pesticides
• House plants including aloe vera, dieffenbachia, draecena, asparagus fern, rubber plant, schefflera, and poinsettia
• Outdoor plants including azalea, rhododendron, hibiscus, and lily of the valley

Do not give your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel over-the-counter drugs without consulting your veterinarian!  Common medications such as Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil and Nuprin, among others, can be dangerous and even poisonous to your dog!

The National Animal Poison Control Center, a division of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is available to answer dog health questions 24 hours a day by phone at 888-4ANIHELP (866-426-4435). (A charge may apply.)

If you’re interested in getting more information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog health, see the AVMA Pet Poison Guide on the American Veterinary Medical Association website.