Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Heart Supplements

Mitral valve disease (MVD) is essentially universal in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels — by age 10, nearly all Cavaliers have some degree of MVD. The ACVIM has a Cavalier-specific cardiac protocol: annual cardiac examination from age 2, echocardiogram from age 3, and preventive cardiology medication discussion when criteria are met. Supplements are an appropriate adjunct.

Heart supplements for Cavaliers

• Omega-3 (EPA+DHA) at cardiac dose: ACVIM-recommended for dogs with confirmed cardiac disease. Reduces inflammatory cytokine burden on cardiac muscle, reduces cardiac cachexia, and supports cardiac muscle efficiency. Small-medium dog: 600–1,000mg EPA+DHA daily.
• Taurine: Essential for cardiac muscle contraction. While Cavaliers don't have the same taurine metabolism issues as DCM-prone breeds, taurine supplementation is appropriate as cardiac support. 500–1,000mg daily.
• CoQ10 (ubiquinol form): Mitochondrial energy support — cardiac muscle has the highest CoQ10 demand of any tissue. 100–200mg daily (ubiquinol is significantly more bioavailable than ubiquinone).

Supplement timing relative to MVD stage

All Cavaliers benefit from omega-3 from age 1–2 regardless of cardiac status. Taurine and CoQ10 become particularly relevant at ACVIM Stage B1 or when echocardiographic changes are first detected.