i have a cavalier king Charles spaniel and?

Question

has epilepsy! he is only four years old! ever since i got him he has had problems he has a hernia op and 2 ops on his back legs because his knees pop out! his fits get really bad sometimes and he fits for hours its really upsetting then he starts been sick! i take he to the vets and they gave him medication i keep taking him back to the vets and the just swap and change his tablets and do blood tests! people tell me i am cruel to keep him when he gets so poorly, but apart from the fits now which he has normally 1 a week he is such a lively and fun dog and i dont wanna loose him he is part of the family! as anyone else got this problem with a cavalier or any other dogs! please give some advice

i got him from a breeder she had 26 of her own and lots of litters when i got him

i have pet insurance so if there is a way of making him better he' covered


he does have a good life and he's spoilt rotten

Answer 1

Only you know how much your dog is enjoying life or not. Some people are very quick to make a judgement when an animal becomes sick or need intensive treatment beuase they don't understand how much he means to you.
The degree of epilepsy is very severe- you should discuss your concerns with the vets and possibly ask for a referral to a specialist if you haven't done so- it won't be cheap, but it may help with control of his fits or at least give you a better understanding of his quality of life.

Answer 2

Where did you get him from: additional info, please! I will assume a pet store or backyard breeder, as reputable breeders screen their breeding dogs for problems with luxated patellas (the knees popping out) and other health problems. Unfortunately, you have this poorly bred, unhealthy dog now. Next time, go to www.akc.org & find a breeder in a local Cavalier club that shows, screens & certifies their dogs free of genetic defects. They will help you with any questions or problems that arise for your pet's life, not just take your money & be gone.

As for now: check to see if your vet does surgery to correct the knee problem, or find a veterinary specialist who does. The epilepsy will have to be controlled with medication, most likely phenobarbitol. Make sure you get his blood drawn regularly to check how his body is handling the drug. Yes, this involves a lot of adjusting the amount & trips to the vet, unfortunately. If he still has bad/prolonged seizures and the medication can't sufficiently control them, it may be kindest to euthanize him. I know this is hard, but it would be best to not make him suffer unduly. I had to have a dog of mine put down years ago because of uncontrolled seizures (she got brain cancer late in life), I empathize. Good luck.

p.s. I see your ad-on. This is most definately the type of breeder to avoid in the future - a good breeder would not have that many dogs & that many litters at one time - a sign they are driven by profit only. You should get in contact with her & let her know about your dog's genetic health defects & request she quit breeding that particular female (I doubt she will comply) and contact the registry she uses (on your dog's 'papers') and relay this information to them, also. If a breeder has enough complaints, they can bar her. Try to save someone else (and their dog) from going through this agony. I wish you luck.

Answer 3

sounds to me like a bad breeder. Have you informed the breeder of your dogs condition? dogs with epilepsy can usually lead a fairly normal life, so dont feel like your being cruel. As long as he has a good quality of life thats fine. I didhear the was an occurence of epilepsy in this breed due to bad in breeding etc...might be worth looking into

Answer 4

well i think the best thing is to b put down, i no is bad but is it fair! 4 ur dog 2 suffer