Feeding your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel the right amount of food is crucial for their health and happiness. These charming and affectionate dogs are prone to certain health issues, including obesity, if not fed properly.
Generally, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy needs ¾ to 1 ½ cups of dog food daily. As the pup grows into adulthood, the daily intake should be increased to 1 to 1 ¼ cups to account for the change in size and activeness. Meanwhile, senior dogs should be fed ¾ to 1 cups per day.
This guide will walk you through the tricky parts of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel feeding. Whether you’re a seasoned owner or new to this breed, this guide will provide practical feeding tips to ensure your furry friend stays healthy and well-nourished.
What Factors Impact How Much to Feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
How much to feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel depends on their weight, activity levels, and age.
Calorie intake should be tailored to your dog’s body mass and physical status to avoid obesity. Young and senior dogs have different nutritional needs that you need to consider.
Here are some factors that impact how much you should feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
- Weight: The weight of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dictates how much food it needs. You might need to adjust the amount of food you provide your dog if its weight is below or above the ideal range for its age. This applies to both male and female CKCs.
- Activity Levels: Generally, any pet should exercise regularly. However, if your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel spends most of its time indoors, you may consider feeding it less. On the other hand, if you often take it on hikes and other rigorous physical activities, you may need to provide Cavalier King Charles Spaniel more to sustain its activity level.
- Age: Younger pups often require diets that emphasize growth and development. Meanwhile, mature and senior Cavalier King Charles Spaniels need sustenance to keep their bones, joints, and organs healthy.
Aside from these factors, other things may influence your Cavalier’s feeding. These include health status and the choice of food. You should consult a veterinarian about these factors for a more accurate understanding.
Note: A certain variant of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the teacup CKC, is known to only average about 6 to 10 pounds. Hence, it is best to partner with veterinarians to provide the best nutrition possible for these tiny dogs.
How Much to Feed Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
As a loving companion dog, it may be easy to overfeed your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. As small as it is, remember that this does not mean that they have stunted growth. Thus, giving them excessive food may do more harm than good.
This section will discuss the number of food cups and caloric intake a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs throughout its various life stages. Other crucial feeding tips will also be provided.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies (2 to 12 months)
Until 14 days after its birth, a responsible breeder must allow the pups to solely be fed mother’s milk. Breastmilk contains colostrum packed with antibodies and nutrients essential to the puppy’s development.
Dogs should not be taken away from their mother at least eight weeks after birth. Once it is about two months old, you can start slowly feeding your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy food.
As their teeth and gums are not yet fully grown, you can start with wet or softened dog food.
The table below summarizes the amount of food you should feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy:
Age | Daily Feeding Amount (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) |
2 – 3 months | 1 – 1 ¼ | 430 – 549 |
4 – 6 months | ¾ – 1 ¼ | 351 – 563 |
7 – 12 months | 1 – 1 ½ | 475 – 678 |
Until six months of age, dog food should be spread into three to four meals. Giving food in smaller proportions will help them transition into solid food.
It is suggested that you keep their diet at 22 percent proteins and 8 percent fat. While these are the recommended amounts of food daily, it is also advisable to confirm with your veterinarian.
The feeding amount may also vary according to its gender and special needs.
I used to have two Blenheim CKCs, Prince and Princess, and one of the things I noticed with the breed, which they carried up until their adult years, is how picky they are when it comes to food.
Hence, even before they reached a year old, I was already driven to become creative when it comes to their food choices.
I tried different methods, like switching to a new type of kibble, adding wet food to their diet, and preparing home-cooked meals for them — something you need to consider if you plan on getting this breed.
Note: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are known to have sensitive tummies. As such, it is best to be very selective of the quality of commercial dog food that is given to them. Always ensure that they are high-quality and nutrient-dense.
Adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (1 to 7 years)
As Cavalier King Charles Spaniels grow into adulthood by 12 months, they need to transition into a diet that caters to their physical changes.
By this time, you should train it to become more active to favor its healthy growth later on. With this, it needs a healthy amount of calories for energy.
The table below shows how much to feed an adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
Age | Daily Feeding Amount (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) |
1 – 7 years | 1 – 1 ¼ | 424 – 541 |
Having healthy feeding habits during its adult years is crucial to keeping your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel healthy in its senior years. Keep its nutrition at 18 percent proteins and 5 percent fats.
Vets suggest that a healthy diet should have meat and vegetable content at 75 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Whether homemade or store-bought, dog food may only sometimes provide everything your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs. You can add supplements and vitamins to your dog’s diet to compensate.
Senior Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (8 years and above)
Old age comes with lesser physical activity and decreased metabolic rate. This means that senior Cavaliers may have difficulty processing excess calories. Thus, you can expect the feeding amount to be less than that of adults.
Check the table below for the ideal feeding amount for a senior Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
Age | Daily Feeding Amount (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) |
8 years and above | ¾ – 1 | 339 – 433 |
Proteins and fat content should be kept at 30 percent and more than 5 percent for seniors, respectively.
As they age, they become prone to muscle mass loss. Increasing protein intake should help them with this issue.
You may also watch the video below to learn more about how much to feed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
How Often Should You Feed Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
Young Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy must be fed three to four times daily. Meals for fully grown ones can be split into two meals a day at 12-hour intervals. Meanwhile, senior Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may be fed once or twice a day.
Check the table below regarding the feeding frequency of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
Age | Feeding frequency |
2 – 3 months | Three to four times a day |
3 – 12 months | Two to three times a day |
1 – 7 years | Two times a day |
8 years and above | Once or twice a day |
While this is the suggested frequency of feeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the schedule depends on the lifestyle you want for your pet.
Remember that dogs follow a routine. Hence, it is vital to be consistent with the feeding time.
Lastly, while having a fixed time is suitable for your pooch, the amount of food will still be the main factor to consider in feeding a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
How to Transition Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to a New Food
You may come across a need to change the diet of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This can be by the advice of your veterinarian to cater to a specific condition, or you are changing the type or brand of dog food.
Nevertheless, you must gradually switch the food to avoid upsetting their stomach. During the transition, you must also check for any food allergy your Cavalier King Charles may have.
The table below summarizes the food transition plan for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
Day | Old Food | New Food |
1 – 2 | 75% | 25% |
3 – 4 | 50% | 50% |
5 – 6 | 25% | 75% |
7 | 0% | 100% |
When transitioning, train your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rightfully and refrain from giving them human food off the table.
If your pet experiences a symptom of digestive problems, such as bowel movement and change in appetite, consult your veterinarian immediately.
As mentioned earlier, CKCs are quite picky eaters, and due to this, I used to do transition diets most of the time. Following the prescribed ratio above helped me prevent any gastrointestinal issues with my dogs.
However, to instill further discipline into acceptance of the new food, I also ensured that I gave them food at exactly the same time daily.
Aside from the discipline aspect, this also regularized their bowel movement, making it easier for me to observe any changes during transition periods.
Tips on Feeding an Overweight Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are prone to obesity. The ideal weight for an adult is 13 to 18 pounds. Thus, if your pet is overweight, you may need to change its lifestyle and feeding.
Here are some feeding tips for your overweight Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
- Reduce the amount of food. This seems like an obvious solution, but it is easy to do this incorrectly. If your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is overweight, how much you feed it should follow the amount recommended for its ideal weight, not the current weight.
- Decrease the feeding frequency. You may experiment with different ways of reducing your dog’s calorie intake. This includes feeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniel only once daily if it is an adult. You may alternate between providing it with meals once and twice a day to prevent drastic change.
- Do not free feed. Refrain from giving your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel food scraps from the table. It will cause behavioral and digestive problems. Free feeding also includes unmonitored rewarding of treats. Remember that these should be included in their daily calorie count.
- Feed your dog nutritious food. For an overweight Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, its meals should have higher protein and fiber content and fewer carbs. Limit the intake of fats and ensure you are feeding them healthy fats. You may add eggs and vegetables for homemade dog food. Still, you may choose commercial dog foods formulated especially for overweight dogs.
These are some tips you can do to help your buddy lose some weight. The most crucial part of its weight loss depends on your commitment to stick with these lifestyle changes.
If none of the tips mentioned above worked, consult your vet for other possible alternatives. Checkups might also help determine the root cause of your dog’s obesity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If I’m Feeding My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Enough?
The first thing you can do is check the weight of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and compare it with the ideal weight for the specific age group of your pet.
If it is out of range, then you may need to feed it more, or you may be overfeeding it.
You can also check its physical appearance. You must increase its serving size if you can feel or see its ribs through its coat.
Why Is My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Not Eating?
Several factors affect your dog’s appetite. Check if it is experiencing stress or anxiety and deal with its cause. Consider reevaluating if your food preparation is correct and appealing to them.
Similarly, your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may have an underlying sickness. If you notice vomiting, decreased water intake, diarrhea, and lethargy, you should take it to the vet right away.
Can I Feed My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel With Human Food?
Although most human foods are safe for your pet’s consumption, some are extremely dangerous. Before feeding your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with human food, you should research whether it is safe for them.
Obesity is a concern if you feed them with human food. Thus, you should only give them small amounts and stick mostly to quality dog food.
Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Eat Bones?
Even though it aids in their bone development and dog instinct stimulation, it is generally advised not to give your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel bones.
Cooked bones are brittle and can break while they chew on them. The fragments can damage their mouth and digestive tracts.
If you plan to feed your Cavalier bones, read the AKC guide on feeding dogs with bones to ensure your dog’s safety.
Do you have other questions or doubts regarding Cavalier King Charles Spaniel feeding? Let us know in the comments!