Expert: Liz Gregory - 7/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: I purcahsed a king charles cav spaniel from a pet shop at 4.5 months. She was 5 lbs 2 ozs. She is now 5.5 months old, 7.2 lbs and just spayed. How big do you think she will get, and when do they typically stop growing.  

Also, the pet store recommended leaving her a bowl of dry food all day -- she eats her two meals a day. Should I continue to leave her the extra food, and if so, for how long?  She continues to eat all the extra that is left for her.

Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Alyson,
She sounds like a small girl. They don't grow alot after 6 months of age and spaying will definitely keep her from growing or maturing much more. I would say she won't top 10 lbs. My adult girls are 12 and 15.5 lbs, so I think she will be rather small.
Feeding cavaliers is a tricky business. You need to stay with what works for as long as it works. It sounds as though she likes to eat, so that is a good thing. When you leave the food all day they tend to graze, a couple of bits here and there. This is fine as long as she is within the amount she should be eating. If she is wolfing it down in one sitting you aren't really leaving the food out. That is actually my favorite way to feed, but we have a lot of competition here, it just doesn't work! My adults get a total of one cup of dry food, a puppy would likely require more than that but cut back as she gets older and fills out more. I give them a very tasty and nutritious food and sometimes a bit of a treat along with it like tuna or sardines (no mustard) or a bit of leftover meat from dinner and the occasional egg (1/2 per day is plenty) I feed a grain free food so I make sure that I am not giving any grains, rice or pasta.
To make sure that your little girl's weight is on target, make sure that you can see a bit of a 'tuck up' by the last rib. In other words there should be some definition. You should be able to feel ribs with a nice layer of skin over them but not loose fat. If you can see many ribs she may be underweight.
Hope I didn't give you too much information!
Good luck with her, I am sure she is already the love of your life!
Liz

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well the dog came out of the surgery and is home doing well! As far as feeding, we have been giving her 1/3 cup of dry food two times a day, along with another 1/2 a cup or less in the bowl, which she picks out during the day (however some days she eats it immediately when I put it out).  We weaned her off of the wet food per the vets instructions.  She seems hungry though, as she usually eats her meals within minutes of putting it out. (on  occassion I will sneak her a bit more, but we try to stay away from table food). Just curious why you recommend a grain free food. I will be switching from her puppy food to an adult food probably by 10 - 12 months and was wondering what you recommend.

As far as her body, her stomach pinches after her ribs and towards her back legs.... it almost hollows inward. As far as her ribs, you can feel them when she is pet, but they are not visible-- however, her top shoulder bone is visible when she moves.

Just curious, how large was your 12 lb girl at about 6 months -- I am just trying to guage growth!!!! However, I am sure they are all different!

Thank you again for your info - you are extremely helpful.

Answer
Hello Alyson,
So sorry it has been so long for me to respond. I had a long vacation, a sick father-in-law and all kinds of pending work that I have had to catch up on.
As far as my Emma's weight at about 6 months, I don't remember what it was exactly, but they don't grow an awful lot after 6 months. She most likely won't gain more than 3lbs.
Her weight sounds perfect! Cavaliers normally like veggies too like raw green pepper or carrots, no onions and very limited fruit (no grapes). When my dogs hear the sound of the knife against the cutting board, they all come running! I feed grain-free food because it is closer to what a natural food would be in the wild without feeding raw. I would give a raw diet but I don't think I have the discipline to keep it up. They do find this food very tasty.
By the way, the grain free doesn't have a puppy food. I also don't ever feed my dogs over 8-10 weeks puppy food even when I didn't feed the grain free. It isn't good for large breeds but nothing has ever been said about the small one. Mine have all done fine and none have been on puppy food.
Good luck with that little girl!
Liz