Why does my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel snore?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are among the most peaceful and loving dogs around. It is not for nothing that this breed enjoys great popularity. However, this breed’s owners always ask, “Why does the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel snore?”
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel snores because of the shape of his head combined with his short nose and the resulting breathing problems. Due to questionable breeding goals, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s head is bred to be rounder and rounder, and the nose shorter and shorter. This leads to narrowing the airways, resulting in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel snoring and rattling. But also allergies or being overweight can be the cause of snoring.
Do all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels snore?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel belongs to the breeds that suffer from brachycephaly. This is nothing else than the technical term for short-headedness.
Questionable breeding goals of man promoted this disease. Without consideration of the health, an image of a dog was drawn, which shows a dog as cute as possible.
The result was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel whose upper and lower jaws were pushed together to get a round head with a short nose.
This purposefully bred head shape brought many health problems to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It causes Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to snore because they have trouble breathing freely.
It can be said that almost all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels snore if the classic breeding goal of a round head and a short nose is followed.
Why do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels snore?
Let’s take a closer look at why Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have problems with breathing and snoring.
Dogs basically snore when air cannot flow freely through the throat or nose.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s breathing problems are homemade. The breeding goal of the Cavalier was to have as round a head shape as possible and a short nose. So, attention was paid to making the dog look “cute” rather than ensuring it was healthy.
Snoring in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel occurs because of the desired head shape. As a result, the jaws push together, the nose becomes shorter, and the nostrils are significantly narrowed.
Because the heads are bred smaller and rounder, the tongue is often too big for the head. The too-large tongue then additionally blocks the throat area and leads to the fact that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cannot breathe without problems.
To make matters worse, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an enlarged palate due to the deliberate breeding towards a round head with a short nose. This does not form back with.
The enlarged palate also prevents free breathing and is, among other things, the reason for snoring.
Not for nothing; for example, Norway has now banned the breeding of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels because of serious diseases.
More reasons why the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel snores
Suppose you are lucky and your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel comes from a serious breeder who again emphasizes a long nose and has fewer breathing problems. In that case, it can be that he snores for other reasons.
- Allergies can cause the airways to narrow, and your Cavalier snores now.
- But also, a cold can be the reason if your Cavalier King Charles suddenly snores. Typical symptoms are sneezing, nasal discharge, fatigue, and snoring.
- Being overweight causes your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to snore. Each kilogram your dog has too much on the ribs stresses the joints and makes breathing more difficult.
- The lying position can be the reason why your dog snores. If your Cavalier is lying on his back, the risk of snoring is much higher than if he is lying on his belly or side. The tongue can slip back and obstruct the airway by lying on the back.
- Sometimes, however, it is a foreign body in the throat or nose that obstructs breathing and is the reason for sudden snoring. A trip to the vet can quickly provide certainty. Besides simple seeds ingested during a walk, it can also be parts that your Cavalier should not swallow or inhale.
Is it only the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that snores?
Some breeds snore. The Cavalier is not the only one. But the reason why dogs snore is usually the same.
The best-known and most widespread representative worldwide is probably the French Bulldog. They all suffer from brachycephaly (short-headedness). The French Bulldog also snores and struggles with breathing problems.
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Is there anything that can be done about snoring?
If your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a nose that is bred way too short, there is not much you can do about the snoring.
The only thing that could help is to try to change your dog’s lying position. Just like with us, there are lying positions in dogs that promote snoring. Just nudge your Cavalier briefly, so he turns and lies down again in a different position. Sometimes you can achieve a significant improvement.
It’s the same with our Cane Corso. She doesn’t snore, but sometimes she lies, so unfortunately, she snores very loudly in this situation.
If the snoring is due to a cold, it will also disappear after it subsides.
If your dog is overweight, the only thing that will help is more exercise for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and less food. You should always be able to feel but not see the ribs on a dog without any problems. Being overweight, in addition to snoring, can also harm general health and weaken the immune system.
Conclusion: Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels snore?
Unfortunately, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel also suffers from brachycephaly. The short nose and round head lead to breathing problems and are why they snore.
@ Bane.m-stock.adobe.com (Contributed image)
