We all know that having a dog doesn’t mean just feeding it and taking it out for a walk or two during the day. They need to be taken care of — both physically and mentally.
And, one of the ways to take care of a dog is regular grooming. No matter the dog breed, they all need to be groomed. Some require daily brushing and monthly baths, while other dogs need an occasional bath and weekly brushing.
This is because all dogs shed. Some might not shed a lot, but it is impossible to have a dog that won’t leave at least one dog hair behind itself. It’s a truth we all know.
But, what about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s shedding? What amount of shedding can we expect from this beautiful toy spaniel?
We all know that this small dog has a lovely, medium-length, silky coat. But, how much of this pretty lap dog’s fur will stay behind it on our sofas?
Don’t worry too much! Even though these dogs have a wavy coat type of medium length, they are still single-coated dogs. That means they don’t need special, ultra-complicated grooming.
And, they certainly won’t leave a pile of fur on your bed or your favorite chair. But, they are dogs that shed, so how bad is it? Or, is it bad at all?
Is this dog’s shedding a nightmare?
How Much Do They Actually Shed?
First of all, these dogs are small dogs. With their height of up to 13 inches, and their weight of around 15 pounds, they perfectly fit into the toy group of dogs.
So, there won’t be that much hair flying around the house. It’s certainly not as if you have a Siberian Husky! Another good fact is that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog with a single coat — that is the breed standard according to the American Kennel Club.
There are some breeders who breed double-coated Cavalier dogs, so you might end up having a dog that has a top coat and an undercoat.
But, the question is: Is Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shedding that bad? The straightforward answer is — no, it is not.
Cavaliers shed moderately, which means you will have the most “problems” or work to do during their shedding seasons. Now that that’s said, we can also point out that they are most certainly not hypoallergenic dogs.
They can be hypoallergenic to some degree if you crossbreed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Poodle because Poodles are indeed a hypoallergenic dog breed.
What Does Moderate Shedding Mean?
If a dog sheds moderately, that means it sheds throughout the year, but not excessively. A moderately shedding dog will shed more during its shedding seasons.
The shedding seasons happen in fall and in spring. It is connected with the natural cycle of preparing the animal for the upcoming weather change.
In fall, they shed more in order to get rid of the old, thinner fur, and make room for the thicker and warmer winter fur.
In spring, they shed more for the opposite reason — to get rid of the thick winter fur, and make room for thinner, summer fur.
For example, another dog breed that sheds moderately is another Spaniel — this time, it is a Cocker. On the other hand, a dog that is considered a low-shedding dog is a Bichon Frise.
When you crossbreed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise, you get another toy breed with a low-shedding trait — you get a Cavachon. But, this is a mixed dog, which means that traits can vary from puppy to puppy, even in the same litter.
The bottom line is that you will have to deal with Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shedding. The good thing is that we know how, and we know it’s not that bad at all.
Let’s see what you can do about the shedding.
How Do You Deal With Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Shedding?
Let me tell you right away that grooming and taking care of your CKCS is the perfect bonding time between you and your pooch.
There is nothing better than calling your dog silly nicknames, telling him what a good boy he is, and how you are going to make him into the loveliest, prettiest doggo in the world!
The dogs love it, too — especially the Cavalier, which is a small-sized dog that is all about cuddles and affection and being close to their owner.
But, let’s get serious now. What to do? Besides brushing your dog, are there any other ways to keep its fur more on the dog and less on the floor? Well, let’s take a look…
Regular Brushing
The number one thing to do when dealing with shedding is to regularly brush your dog.
The medium-length fur with the gorgeous-looking feathering on the ears, legs, lower part of the abdomen, chest, and on the tail requires more than just a quick brushing from time to time.
This is not because of the amount of hair you need to remove, but to keep the fur silky and tangle-free. These dogs do have Pugs somewhere in their ancestry, but they are not short-coated. They will need:
- a Pin brush
- and a Bristle brush
Remember that regularly brushing your dog helps you notice any possible changes in your dog’s body not only on its skin, but also its ears, paws, nose — its whole body.
That way, you can notice on time if your dog has flea problems or if it has something stuck in its ear or fur, which can easily happen with dogs that are long or medium-haired. You can also notice the first signs of possible dog paw pads peeling, a cut, skin issues, etc.
As you can see, brushing your dog deals with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shedding issue, and it also has preventive measures against possible health problems that your dog can have.
Deshedding Tools
There are many deshedding tools available on the market. They are no longer only used by professional groomers — you can learn how to properly use one of these products quickly and easily.
One of the most famous tools on the market is the Furminator. But, you don’t have to use this one. They all function the same way — they are essentially combs with special blades that can remove hair from the top and the bottom of the coat.
Their blades are densely put together, which enables them to pull the smallest and the longest hairs at the same time. This shortens the time of grooming, and it helps with matting and tangling of the fur.
As for a grooming solution for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, you will need a small, dog-sized deshedding tool, but for their medium-length coat.
There is also a de-shedding tool with a small vacuum cleaner connected to it. Needless to say, it sucks in loose hair and helps you get rid of it more easily.
Although, as someone who already has a de-shedding tool and has already used it, cleaning the fur from this tool is not a problem. You just press the button that removes the fur from the comb blades.
So, there you go. You don’t have to wait for a Dog Show to hire a professional groomer in order to make a pretty hairstyle for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and get rid of the hair with the Furmnator or something similar.
You can do it on your own in the comfort of your home — and for less money.
Supplements
Once again, let’s get something straight — there is no supplement that can completely stop your dog from shedding. But, there are certain supplements that can make your dog’s coat and skin healthier, which can eventually lead to less shedding.
But, again… this is not a complete solution for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shedding situation. They will continue to shed – you’ll just notice that their skin and fur look healthier and shinier.
1. Omega-3 Fatty Acid
One supplement you can use is omega-3 fatty acid.
This supplement can naturally be found in fish oil. You can purchase it in the form of capsules or dry dog food (kibbles). You can also put the fish oil directly on your dog’s fur or skin.
There are almost no side-effects, and you can improve your dog’s health, especially when it comes to dry skin and itchiness. Even if your dog doesn’t have a shedding problem or you don’t mind the hair, if you notice that your dog is rubbing its face on the floor or carpet — consult your vet about using fish oil.
The problem could be itchiness for numerous reasons, but if it happens to be dry skin — omega 3 is a safe and natural solution for your dog’s problem.
2. Coconut Oil
Another supplement that is safe to use, and that can help with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shedding matter is coconut oil!
Once again, this is just a supplement. It will not make the shedding stop! It can reduce it, and help with your dog’s skin issues.
You can give coconut oil to your dog through its food, but it can upset its digestive system, so a better choice is to apply it topically. All you need to do is add a spoonful of coconut oil to a 25oz water bottle.
Shake the bottle to mix the two ingredients, and then spray the mixed liquid on your dog’s fur. You can massage the fur and skin for five to ten minutes, then rinse it with lukewarm water. Repeating this process once a week should show results after a few months.
Before adding any kind of supplement to your dog’s diet or before applying it directly on your dog’s fur and skin, you should consult your veterinarian. Every dog is unique, and no matter how safe a substance or supplement is, it is better to be on the safe side and ask a vet first.
Regular Baths
Keeping your family dog gorgeous-looking requires regular baths, especially if you have a dog with medium-length fur like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I am sure your doggo will avoid mud puddles when you go on a walk, but their silky fur needs regular baths no matter the weather.
Some dogs love to take a bath while others are fussier about it. But, don’t worry — you can always take your dog to professional dog training sessions for the fastest (and more expensive) solution.
Whatever you choose to do, if you want to keep your dog’s fur looking beautiful, and if you want to reduce the shedding — bathe your dog once a month.
Not only will your dog’s fur look beautiful, but it will also help with dander, which is the main reason behind allergies.
If you can afford it, and if you have the time for the trip, you can take your dog to a professional groomer once a month. They can bathe your dog, cut its hair, clip its nails, and clean its ears.
But, once again… grooming time is a special time between your dog and you. It is the time when you can bond with your dog, and also find out about possible body changes.
Is Excessive Shedding A Health Issue?
As we already mentioned, all dogs have to shed. It is a natural process, and all dogs go through it. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shedding might seem like it is a big problem, but when you think about other double-coated dog breeds… it is alright.
But, when does shedding turn into something suspicious? Can it be a sign of an underlying problem? First, we have to know what the normal coat types and the coat traits of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are.
What Is Normal/Not Normal?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies come in many coat colors, but the most common ones are tricolor, Blenheim, and black and tan markings.
Their fur is royal looking — no wonder King Charles I approved his name to be used for this breed. Their fur is silky, and it has a wavy look.
Normal shedding for a CKCS is one that doesn’t leave you with a handful of fur. Any situation in which a dog’s fur falls out in patches is a sign of a health issue. It can be a very benign issue, but it can also point to something more serious.
You will see dog hair even with regular brushing and grooming, but when you notice that no matter how much you brush and bathe your dog, it still has a great amount of hair falling off of it — take your dog to the vet.
Diseases And Shedding
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog that can have some more serious health issues. The most common issues are:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Syringomyelia
- Mitral valve disease
- Heart disease
- Cataracts
They don’t necessarily have to be connected with loss of hair or excessive shedding, but sometimes these two things can be connected, even with something that has nothing to do with skin, like cataracts or hip dysplasia.
Excessive shedding can be a sign that your dog is under stress. This stress can happen because a dog can’t see properly anymore — cataracts, or because of the constant pain it feels in its joint — hip dysplasia.
When a dog sheds too much, it is usually a symptom of another disease. It is a sign that your dog’s immune system is fighting something serious, and it has depleted the minerals and vitamins necessary to fight it.
The lack of vitamins leads to poor skin and fur health, which can be seen as excessive shedding, itchiness of the skin, secondary infections, etc.
Overall, if your dog is shedding a lot more than usual, it is certainly time to take it to the vet. They can make the proper diagnosis and start treatment. The sooner… the better.
The Conclusion
My final thoughts on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shedding matter is that it is not a nightmare as you might have imagined.
They shed moderately, and they are not hypoallergenic — two facts.
But, there is something much more important than shedding itself when it comes to this lovely toy dog. They require regular grooming, and I mean all of it — brushing, grooming, nail clipping, ear checking, haircuts… everything!
This is because they have silky fur that is medium-length, which needs such care in order to stay beautiful and healthy. If you don’t groom your dog for more than just a couple of weeks, prepare to see a lot of tangles and dirt stuck in its fur.
So, the matter of shedding is settled, but I do hope you understand that it takes much more than brushing to keep a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel good-looking and shiny.
They are little kings, and they require royal care. And… lots of love and cuddles. But, that is something that all dogs need. They are our best friends and family members – not just toys or passing fun.