Are you searching for a devoted, affectionate companion who will cherish every moment by your side? Allow us to introduce Éclair, a ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel whose gentle nature and warm heart will win you over the moment you meet her.
About Éclair
Éclair is a loving and affectionate girl who wants nothing more than to be with her favorite person at all times. Whether you’re curled up on the couch, enjoying a quiet afternoon, or heading outside, Éclair will be right by your side, ready to shower you with devotion and gentle cuddles. She forms a special attachment to one person but truly loves everyone she meets—her heart is as big as her beautiful brown eyes.
Personality & Home Life
• Éclair adores the company of other dogs, and she’s learning how to play and share in their excitement. She’s still a bit unsure but is making progress every day—she wags her tail, lights up when she hears squeaky toys, and is just beginning to join in on the fun!
• She gets along well with the family cat and enjoys the presence of children and adults alike. Family, singles, other dogs, cats, or kids—Éclair is excited for it all!
• Although she’s intimidated by new experiences and sometimes seeks out “safe zones” like the couch or bed when she’s scared, Éclair is gaining confidence and warms up much more quickly to new people and situations than before.
• She enjoys car rides, relaxes quietly during the day, and truly comes alive when her people come home—her joyous zoomies are a highlight of the afternoon.
• Éclair does well in her crate, is working on leash skills, and is still learning basic commands like “sit” and “stay.”
Health & Special Needs
It’s important to know that Éclair has health challenges, which will require ongoing cardiologist care, along with medication. She will need recheck echocardiogram in 6-9 months.
• She has a grade 6 out of 6 heart murmur, and her echocardiogram results also indicated severe pulmonic stenosis & moderate tricuspid valve dysplasia.
Below are the results of her echocardiogram:
Left Ventricle: Left ventricular cavity size is normal in diastole and systole. Wall thicknesses are normal. Normal systolic function (FS 32.1%, LVIDd 22.90 mm, LVIDs 15.60 mm, EPSS 3.68 mm). Septal flattening noted during diastole and systole.
Left Atrium: Normal cavity size. LA 2D RPS LAX = 20.50mm.
Right Ventricle: Moderately enlarged. Wall thickness is severely increased. Global systolic function is normal.
Right Atrium: Cavity size is moderately dilated.
Aorta: Normal aortic root size.
Aortic Valve: Structurally normal with no evidence of stenosis and no significant regurgitation visualized.
Mitral Valve: Structurally normal with no evidence of stenosis and no significant regurgitation visualized.
Pulmonary Artery: Moderate to severe post-stenotic dilatation is present
Pulmonic Valve: Mild to moderate valve thickening. Mild-to-moderate pulmonic regurgitation present. Severe stenosis
with peak velocity of 5.87 m/s; pressure gradient estimate of approximately 140mmHg .
Tricuspid Valve: Structurally normal with no evidence of stenosis and no significant insufficiency.
Pericardium: Appears normal. No pericardial effusion visualized.
Other: No masses visualized. No heartworms seen.
Severe pulmonic stenosis - Eclair has an inherited heart defect known as pulmonic stenosis. This causes thickening and narrowing of the pulmonic valve leaflets that lead from the right ventricle (right pumping chamber of the heart) to the pulmonary artery (vessel leading to the lungs). These leaflets did not form properly, such that they do not open as well as
they should. This increases the workload on the right ventricle (right pumping chamber) as it tries to pump blood to the lungs. It causes the right ventricular wall to become thicker than normal, severely so in Éclair’s case. The thickened heart
wall does not get adequate blood flow, which can result in scarring and abnormal heart rhythms. Eclair has only mildly thickened, however significantly fused pulmonic valve leaflets. Pulmonic stenosis puts her at risk for complications of fainting, exercise, intolerance, or fluid in the belly (congestive heart failure). Occasionally, this can cause sudden death (from a very fast heart rhythm = ventricular tachycardia to fibrillation). The treatment of choice for this disease is balloon
valvuloplasty, a minimally-invasive procedure in which a balloon is inflated across the fused valve leaflets. This often can help decrease the gradient across that thickened valve, ideally by at least 50%, which can decrease the pressure load on the right pumping chamber. Sometimes very thick valves do not balloon well enough to have a significant decrease in their
gradient; however, others balloon well. The gross appearance of Éclair’s valve suggests that it could balloon well,however her stenosis may remain in the more moderate to severe category given the current level she is today. The risk of complications is higher in dogs with severe hypertrophy (thickening), therefore medications are provided for several weeks prior to correction in hopes of lessening this risk. A balloon valvuloplasty still gives these dogs the best chance to improve
quality of life and have increased longevity. However, as described below I do believe the tricuspid valve is also affected and the balloon surgery would not be able to improve the tricuspid valve. This will likely affect overall prognosis both with and without the balloon valvuloplasty. Whether surgery is pursued or not, I would recommend that atenolol medication as well as long-term monitoring.
Moderate tricuspid valve dysplasia - This is a malformation of the tricuspid valve that has been present since birth. The defect allows some leakage backward through the valve (regurgitation), and in severely affected patients, can cause cardiac enlargement and congestive heart failure (fluid accumulation within the abdomen (leading to abdominal distention) or around the lungs (leading to respiratory difficulties). The overall degree of disease is moderate and while by itself I
would not expect any immediate problems for her, when this condition is coupled with pulmonic stenosis this doesn’t affect prognosis. As stated above, the balloon valvuloplasty procedure may be helpful for the pulmonic stenosis but will not improve the tricuspid valve dysplasia. This does not change my recommendation for performing the balloon procedure but it is expected that it could impact long-term prognosis.
• She also has grade 4 bilateral luxating patellas (kneecaps), which can bother her at times but don’t prevent her from loving life and enjoying gentle play.
• Éclair will soon be getting a dental cleaning and will be spayed. She’ll need a little extra TLC while she recovers from her procedures.
Ideal Home
Éclair’s ideal home is one filled with love, patience, and a gentle touch. She thrives on routine, a calm environment, and lots of cozy cuddle time. While she may be shy at first, her trust and affection blossom with kindness and understanding. Her new family should be committed to her ongoing medical care, including medication and regular veterinary visits, and be willing to help her continue building confidence with positive reinforcement.
A Typical Day with Éclair
• Morning potty break
• Relaxation time throughout the day (Éclair is a pro at napping!)
• Zoomies and excitement when her people return home
• A walk outdoors followed by a good meal
• Evening cuddles and gentle play before bedtime
Why Éclair?
If you’re ready to open your heart to a sweet, sensitive soul, Éclair will reward you with unwavering loyalty, endless snuggles, and a gentle joy that lights up every room. She’s ready to become a cherished member of your family—are you ready to welcome her home?
