My Cavalier is quiet, tired, and whimpers when picked up. Why?

I'm concerned that Charlie is very unwell, and I highly recommend taking him in to a vet immediately, or getting a housecall vet to your home. Do not let your children be rough with him, as it may worsen his condition, and also is not safe for the children, as Charlie may feel forced to defend himself and accidentally injure them. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can be prone to heart disease and also a condition called syringomyelia that can lead to neurological symptoms. He may also be dealing with infectious disease or trauma leading to his symptoms, but it is not possible to tell without having him examined by a vet, so I recommend having him seen by one right away. See the link below for more information: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952547

The swollen glands are quite common with dental disease so it could be just a normal reaction to plaque and inflammation of the gums. The pain to the side of the neck, could be related to an ear problem or neck muscular sprain. I must tell you though that Cavaliers often suffer with a congenital condition called syringomyelia that can cause acute sudden pain of the neck, or more generalised symptoms, vague symptoms such as compulsive scratching of the neck. Treatment consists most commonly of rest and various forms of analgesia. I would try not to worry , unless Sadie is in a lot of pain in which case I would have checked asap if possible. Try to keep her quiet and confined to a small area and have her checked over first thing in the morning. Try not to google this condition or you might get very worried for nothing as she might not have this disease and if she does there are lots of options to keep her comfy.

The increased appetite and lethargy is a concern and may indicate a hormonal condition such as cushings which can often create skin signs also. A full health check plus blood or urine screen would be recommended to determine exactly what is going on and what treatment is required

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would recommend a vet visit to assess Honey’s health. CKCS can be prone to severe cardiac disease so I recommend having her assessed to be sure she doesn’t have any heart issues causing her to tire easily. The vet may also discuss doing some diagnostic if all appears normal on her exam to rule out any metabolic disease.

This breed is prone to luxating patellas which can cause knee joint laxity, pain and arthritis. I recommend X-rays of her back, hips and knees to see if there is a disc problem in her back, check her hip conformation and check her knees for patella luxation and arthritis. Then your veterinarian can prescribe pain medication if needed. You can also get a second opinion with a rehabilitation veterinarian who can give you rear leg strengthening exercises for her. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Daisy.

Poor Belle! It sounds like she is experiencing some pain and she could have a problem with her back or possibly abdominal pain. In order to diagnose, she needs to be examined by a vet to localize the source if the pain. She may need an anti-inflammatory and pain medications to help treat the problem. You should restrict her activity until she is seen by a vet; no running, jumping, etc. Hope she feels better soon!

Best to have her checked over as falling over could be due to her heart condition. In the meantime try to keep her calm and confined to an aerea, just in case it is something related to her heart condition, we don' t want her to overdo it by following you around the house.