Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Feeding Guide – Australia

There’s no better word to describe Cavalier King Charles Spaniel than regal. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a beautiful and popular small breed that have captured the hearts of many Aussie families. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are incredibly loyal, playful, and happy little dogs who are often more content to curl up on the lounge than to run for hours in the park. Plus, there are few breeds who love children as much as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. 

It’s no wonder that they are one of the most popular dog breeds in Australia. If you’ve just brought home an adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, or an older spaniel, one of the most important aspects of pet care is to sort out its feeding. You may have a lot of questions about how to properly care for your Cavalier – how much food should you feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? What’s the best food to give them, and how much? 

In this Cavalier King Charles Spaniel feeding guide, we’ll cover the basics of nutrition when it comes to your pup. We’ll explain what foods are best, how to set up a feeding schedule for your dog for every stage of life, and what health issues to look out for. 

How Much Should You Feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy?

The best food for a newborn puppy of any breed is milk from their mother. Most puppies should not be eating solid foods until they are at least 2 months old, but the delicate stomach of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel means they should not be eating any solids until 2 months old. Once your pup is eating solids, you should feed them between 3-4 times per day. The exact amount will depend on the caloric value of the food as well as other factors. This amount can be different depending on your dog – weight and reproductive status can have an impact on how much to feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. 

4 Months – 10 Months

Your adorable Cavalier King Charles puppy will do a lot of growing during their first year of life. For most Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies, their bodies will be fully developed by the time they are 12 months old. Female Cavalier puppies tend to be around 2.5kgs by the time they are usually adopted out at three months, with males usually weighing 3.5kgs. At six months, Cavaliers weigh between 4.5 – 6.5kgs, and by 10 months they can weigh up to 8 kgs.

10 Months – 12 Months

By their first birthday, your Cavalier will need to move from puppy food to an adult dog food that will better suit their adjusted dietary needs. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will have reached their full adult weight between 12 -18 months old, which is between 6 – 8 kg. There isn’t typically a big difference in size between male and female Cavalier. However males tend to weigh more than females. 

Remember that Cavalier dogs are prone to obesity, often because their owners overestimate how much food these little dogs actually need. Make sure to avoid overindulging your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and consult your vet if you are concerned about their weight. 

What Should You Feed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies?

Puppy food is tailored to meet the distinct nutritional needs of growing dogs, differing from adult dog food formulations. Puppies, with their rapid growth and metabolism, generally require higher levels of fat, protein, and calories compared to their adult counterparts.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, being a smaller breed, have specific dietary requirements. It’s advisable to opt for small breed puppy food during their formative year. Such foods feature kibble of a more petite size, catering to the smaller mouth and digestive tract of these puppies.

How Much Should You Feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Adult Dog?

Your adult Cavalier needs to be fed at least twice a day, morning and night. Their daily amount of food should be split across the two meals. You can establish a feeding schedule that includes toileting and exercise, to make feeding easier for both your and your dog. 

You might be wondering how much to feed your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – the amount of food you give your dog is determined by a few factors, including weight and size and density of the food. Your adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can weigh between 4.5 – 8 kgs. Females tend to be smaller than males, around 4.5 – 5 kg, while males can be as much as  8.5 kg. On a maintenance level, your Cavalier will need between 375 and 560 calories per day. 

Special Considerations

Changes in activity level can change over their lifetime due to illness, age, exercise, etc. may result in the need for a change in diet. Unfortunately, Cavaliers are prone to a few hereditary diseases. While vet treatment is the best way to address these issues, dietary management can help reduce their progression or likelihood of occuring. 

Of the hereditary diseases, heart disease is the most common, specifically, mitral valve disease which is caused by the breakdown of one of the valves of the heart. Cavaliers are twenty times more likely to develop it than other breeds. Nutritionally, it is best to choose foods that contain omega 3 fatty acids and lower sodium content. 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, while charming and affectionate, can be prone to obesity and compromised immune systems. For optimal health, it’s crucial that Cavaliers receive an appropriate amount of carbohydrates, such as those present in whole grains and vegetables. These nutrients play a pivotal role in promoting gut health and enhancing immunity.

Cavaliers also have a predisposition to certain musculoskeletal conditions like patellar luxation and hip dysplasia. To mitigate the risk of these painful ailments, regular exercise is essential. Moreover, a diet rich in high-quality proteins and beneficial fats is vital, as these components support muscle strength, tissue repair, and overall joint health.

Best Food to Feed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

So what should you feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to keep them healthy? Whatever option you choose, make sure it is of high quality. Read on to learn the pros and cons of wet, dry, and raw food diets for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Wet foods are a popular option for most dogs, as it is the most palatable and tasty for our furry friends! Many premium brands offer wet food options that are rich in quality protein. However, it’s essential to choose products with a substantial meat content, as some variants might have reduced meat and increased water content, which can compromise their nutritional value. While wet food can provide essential fats beneficial for younger Cavaliers with higher energy needs, it can be messier than dry food and has a shorter shelf life once opened. It’s also generally a more costly option than dry kibble.

A raw food diet is sometimes appealing to pet owners for the reason that it’s more aligned with what dogs would naturally eat. Unfortunately, the risk of food-borne illness and unbalanced nutrients is high with a raw food diet. If this is something you’re interested in, please consult with your veterinarian or a dog nutritionist to ensure your Cavalier is getting the right amount of nutrients and you are storing the foods properly. 

Dry food can be a great option for Cavaliers, with crunchy kibble pieces keeping their teeth nice and clean. It’s easy to prep and clean, and you can choose foods specifically formulated and sized for small breed dogs. 

How To Make Sure Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Stays Healthy and Fit

You Cavalier needs the right balance of exercise and diet to stay fit and healthy during every stage of their lives. This starts with making sure your dog is getting the right amount and type of food and nutrition for each life stage. Older, less active dogs will have different nutritional needs to playful puppies. You should also monitor their feeding in case there are changes in their feeding activity and behaviour such as a loss of appetite or aggressive food guarding behaviours as it may be a sign of illness.

You should also never feed your food to your Cavalier, as it could harm them. Such foods include artificial sweeteners, nuts, cooked bones, onions, grapes, raisins and chocolate.

Even though it might seem like your Cavie enjoys a snooze on the lounge more than a run in the park, make sure your dog is getting at least 45 mins of exercise a day. This will keep their bodies active and healthy, and aid in psychological development and socialisation.

How Often Should I Feed My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

Establishing a consistent feeding schedule is a great way to stay on top of your dog’s changing dietary needs as their stomachs become more able to handle larger amounts of food. Dogs thrive when they are given a routine that makes house training, exercising, and eating consistent and predictable. You will also be able to work their needs into your busy life more easily. Also, a schedule means you can better keep track of any changes in behaviour when you are feeding.. You will be better able to spot a change such as  loss in appetite, which can be a symptom of psychological or physical illness. 

Here is a guideline of how your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s meals should change as they move from puppyhood to adulthood.

For most adult dogs, two meals a day in the morning and at night is the perfect feeding schedule. If you walk your dog before their evening meal, make sure you give them enough time to burn off that extra energy before bedtime.

How Many Treats Should I Feed My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

Dogs love getting treats, and owners love giving them – treating is a lovely way for us to show our affection for our furry friends. Treats can also be an excellent way to support your positive reinforcement training. No matter how friendly your Cavalier is, it is important that they are well socialised and receive obedience training from a young age. You can use high quality pet food, like chicken pieces, cut up veggies, or freeze-dried liver to get your pup excited about learning tricks and other useful behaviours. 

However, Cavaliers are prone to obesity, so treats should be given in moderation. Make sure you are not giving your dog more than 10% of their daily caloric intake through treats, no matter how convincing those big Cavalier eyes are! 

Hypro Premium for Adult Dogs

Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel deserves high quality dog food that will nourish their body and help them stay healthy and happy for many years to come. Hypro Premium’s Wholesome Grains range of dry dog foods has all the nutrients yourCavalier needs, plus an amazing taste your dog will love. Wholegrain rice and oats are healthy, easy-to-digest sources of carbohydrate that will help boost your dog’s energy.  Plus, these foods contain real chicory root, which further supports your dog’s immune system by encouraging the growth of good bacteria in your dog’s gut. 
For a delicious source of protein and carbohydrates, try Wholesome Grains Chicken & Brown Rice. By combining real lean chicken with fruits and veggies including peas, carrot, spinach, alfalfa, tomato, blueberry, cranberry, & apple, you can provide your dog with a naturally sourced food designed to support muscle, joint, and digestive health. Cavaliers with eye or skin issues can benefit from lots of healthy fats and amino acids in their diets- Wholesome Grains Fish and Potato is packed full of these nutrients, naturally derived from emu, sunflower, and flaxseed oils. It also contains real fish, another great source of nutrients for dogs who need extra support when it comes to skin, eye, and brain health.