Are you about to get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy? Maybe you’re wondering what the best dog food is to feed them? Here’s everything you need to know about what Cavalier King Charles Spaniels eat.
What Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Eat? Cavalier King Charles Spaniels eat wet, dry, raw (which comes frozen), home-cooked, fresh or natural dog food. There are pros and cons to each but whatever dog food you choose, it must be a ‘complete’ meal so they’re getting all the nutrients they need.
Read on to find out more about the different dog food options Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can have, what kinds of ingredients they should avoid, and what the best dog treats are.
Never use the advice in this article as a substitute for professional veterinary advice or treatment. I am NOT a Vet, qualified dog trainer or dog behaviourist. This article is based on research, personal opinion and experience of owning dogs over the last 12+ years.
What Dog Food Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Eat?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are typically very greedy dogs! So, they’ll be happy to eat whatever food you choose for them.
However, they can quickly gain weight if they’re fed too much or if they’re eating the wrong kind of food.
They’re also prone to numerous health issues, so it’s vital they’re being fed a nutritious diet to help keep them as healthy as possible.
These are the different types of food available for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to eat:
Dry Dog Food
Dry dog food’s a convenient option for many owners. It’s nutritionally complete and doesn’t need anything adding to it.
Most dry foods are baked biscuits, but there are also freeze-dried kibbles available on the market too. Freeze-dried options are more expensive but do tend to be more nutrient-rich.
There are good and bad quality dry foods, so it’s important you check the ingredients carefully. Avoid any that contain meat meal or don’t have meat listed as the first ingredient.
Dog food brands like Scrumbles or Orijen offer great quality dry kibble dog food where the main ingredient, like chicken or salmon, is the first to be listed on the packet.
Wet Dog Food
Many wet dog foods are nutritionally complete, meaning you can feed just this dog food on it’s own.
However, this can be bad news for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s teeth. Because they’re not crunching anything, plaque and tartar can form quickly, leading to tooth decay.
Wet food tends to be sold in tins, trays and pouches. All of which last a long time before they’ve been opened, which is convenient for owners.
However, if you’re going to feed wet dog food, it may be good to mix it up and feed dry food for one of the other meals. That way you help to prevent any unnecessary dental issues!
Raw Dog Food
Raw dog food usually comes in frozen mince or chunks. Most brands offer a nutritionally complete or a DIY option.
The complete options are best if you’ve never fed raw rood before, because they’re nutritionally balanced.
Brands like Wolf Tucker and Natures Menu have a high nutritional rating for raw food.
If you prefer going down the DIY route, it’s important you research exactly what you need to feed your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to keep them healthy.
If you can get this wrong, it could lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Home-Cooked Dog Food
Cooking meals at home for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be tasty for them, but you need to make sure the food you’re feeding contains all the right nutrients.
You need correct levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to keep your dog healthy.
This can be difficult to achieve yourself at home without careful consideration. So only go this route if you’re willing to learn how to make dog food properly.
Natural Dog Food
Brands like Scrumbles and Lily’s Kitchen offer natural dry and wet foods.
They’re made from organic or natural high-quality ingredients making them more nutritious than cheaper dry or wet foods.
Although they can be more expensive, it’s likely you’ll need to feed less of them because they’ve got a higher nutritional value.
Interestingly, if you swap your Spaniel over to a high quality dog food brand and they seem hungrier that usual, it’s actually because they’re being fed good food.
Quality dog food contains less fillers so your dog may feel less full than they would have done on a lower-quality dog food with all its fillers and other nasties!
Fresh Dog Food
Fresh dog food is the newest option in the dog food world. It’s similar to home-cooked food, but produced commercially.
This means it’s guaranteed to contain everything your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs to stay healthy.
It’s made from human-grade ingredients, gently cooked, then frozen for freshness.
Brands such as Butternut Box and Different Dog offer nutritious fresh dog food options but there are plenty of other similar options.
What Food Ingredients Should My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Avoid?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can be prone to having food allergies and intolerances. Most commonly, these are caused by animal proteins such as chicken or beef.
However, they can also be intolerant to artificial colours, flavours, additives and fillers.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to avoid any foods containing artificial ingredients. Not only are they unhealthy for your Spaniel, but they can also potentially cause behavioural issues too.
If your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has loose stools, vomiting, itchy skin or ears, then this could be a sign they’re intolerant or allergic to the food they’re eating.
It’s best to speak to your vet for advice on finding out the cause of their food allergies.
How Much Should My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Eat?
It’s not possible to say exactly how much to feed your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. There are many factors to consider for this, including:
Age
Puppies need more food than adult Spaniels. And, seniors may need less food than they did when they were adults.
Weight
Most dog food packet feeding instructions go by age and weight of dog. Spaniels range in size from 13-18 pounds. If yours is at the bigger end of the scale, they might need more food than a smaller dog.
Weight can vary, even within the same dog breed. So it’s important to consider their overall build too, not just their weight.
Size
If your Spaniel is overweight, they’ll need less food, and if they’re underweight, they’ll need more food. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to gain weight very quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on their waistline!
Activity Level
If your Spaniel is particularly active, they may need more food to keep their energy levels up. If they’re more of a coach potato, then they won’t need to eat as much!
Health
If your Spaniel has health issues, it may mean they don’t want to eat as much. Medications such as steroids can cause them to feel really hungry and overeat, whereas other meds may stop them wanting to eat altogether.
Food Quality
Each dog food brand will have instructions on the packet or tin of how much you need to feed at the different stages of your Spaniel’s life.
However, you also need to consider the quality of the food your Spaniel is eating. Higher quality foods tend to require smaller portions because they’re more nutritious.
Take a look at www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk to find out the nutritional information and ratings for your chosen food.
How Often Should I Feed My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies should be fed four times per day. Their tummies are only small when they’re young, so they do better eating several smaller meals than one large one.
They also can’t control their blood glucose levels as reliably as when they’re older. Feeding four small meals per day helps them maintain a steady blood sugar and energy level throughout the day.
As your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy grows, you can reduce their meals down to 3 per day when they’re around 4 months old.
Adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should be fed twice daily. Once in the morning and once at tea time.
Be sure not to feed them too late in the evening, so they’ve got time to digest their food and go potty before bed.
Splitting their meals into two portions helps them digest their food better and keeps their energy levels stable.
When your Spaniel becomes a senior, it’s natural for them to lose their appetite slightly. They may need smaller portions, or perhaps just one meal per day.
It’s good to move them onto senior dog food at the right age as most include supplements like fish oils and glucosamine to help their joints and mobility.
If your Spaniel ever goes off their food completely, or suddenly starts losing weight, then you should get them checked by your vet.
What Treats Can I Give My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
These are the dog treats you can feed your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
Fruit and Vegetables
Many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels enjoy fruit and vegetables as treats. They’re mostly low in fat and calories too, which is helpful if your Spaniel is trying to lose weight!
Try bananas, green beans, blueberries, carrots and broccoli. Green beans are high in fibre and can help keep your Spaniel fuller for longer!
Natural Treats
Natural treats are usually made from dried meat and fish. They’ve rarely got any extra ingredients so that’s good news for your Spaniel’s sensitive digestive system.
Dried fish skins, salmon oil and dried sprats are all popular choices for Spaniels.
Not only are these healthy and tasty, but they also contain Omega 3 and 6 oils.
These can help to provide relief for the itchy skin condition, Ichthyosis, which Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are prone to.
Home Made
There are lots of recipes available for you to make treats for your Spaniel at home.
Tuna cake and peanut butter (xylitol free) and banana bones are easy to make and tasty for them to eat!
Pre-Packaged
Pre-packaged dog treats can conveniently be picked up from most supermarkets and pet food stores.
However, many contain low-quality ingredients and can be unhealthy for your Spaniel to eat.
So be sure to check exactly what’s in them first. Always avoid anything that contains rawhide, sugar or any artificial ingredients.
You want to limit the nasties as much as you can!
So there you have it! Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to be a greedy breed that’ll eat pretty much anything you give them! Always feed the best quality dog food your budget allows for and steer clear of any added nasties!
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