Cavapoo health: what owners should know

A Cavapoo can inherit problems from either side of its family. The Cavalier side brings mitral valve disease and syringomyelia; both parent breeds contribute kneecap problems and eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy. Floppy, hairy ears make ear trouble common, and dental disease is frequent in small dogs.

Ask for evidence that both parents were screened: cardiologist heart checks on the Cavalier, DNA tests for inherited eye disease and kneecap examinations. Keep your Cavapoo lean and its teeth clean. See a vet if you notice a new cough, fast breathing at rest, persistent scratching at the neck or shoulders, or head shaking with a smell from the ears.