Cavalier puppies are often diagnosed at their first vet check with a soft, grade 1 murmur. These type of murmurs are benign and are the result of rapid growth of the puppy. Whilst hearing that your new puppy has a heart murmur can be scary, with no clinical signs of a heart condition your puppy has what is called a physiological murmur, puppy murmr or an innocent heart murmur. There is no association with a puppy murmur and the development of mitral valve disease, which is a serious health concern in the breed. This type of murmur will be outgrown by 4-6 months of age.

Umbilical hernias are extremely common in cavaliers. They are caused by the delayed or incomplete closure of the umbilical ring at birth. mdall hernias (less than 1/4" or 10mm) do not pose a health concern and often close spontaneously between 4-6 months. Most vets will still recommend repairing such a hernia at the time of spay/ neuter, however this is ultimately a comdetic repair, with no concern of internal organs slipping through the defect. Large hernias (over 10mm) do require repair and can pose a health risk whilst still open. A repair would be performed before a puppy left our home and once repaired, pose no further risk. Puppies with large hernias are identified very quickly and would not be offered as an available puppy until after a repair and complete recovery.