Bentley was a purebred Blenheim male, bred by Tri Star Cavaliers in South Carolina. He was born on 4/12/03 and adopted at 12 weeks old.
Bentley was neutered at 5 months of age. He was micro-chipped because I couldn’t bear to lose him!
As a puppy, Bentley had a very white muzzle which, over time, developed several adorable freckles. His tail was long and feather-less until after his first birthday. As an adult, he had a gorgeous plume of long feathers that routinely swept the ground!
Bentley’s best friend was a 100 lb Golden Retriever named Tucker who lived in our neighborhood. Tucker was unbelievably patient when Bentley was a tiny puppy and would let Bentley crawl all over him, and lick Tucker’s face. They shared walks, toys and bones together for many years until Tucker pass away. For years, Bentley continued to look longingly at the front door of Tucker’s house when we walked past.
Aside from romps with Tucker, Bentley learned to socialize with other dogs at a local doggie day camp. It was a day camp that Bentley developed his love for chasing soap bubbles!
Bentley enjoyed a relatively healthy childhood, though he had a tendency to throw his knee out of joint (patellar luxation) every once in a while while running to catch a tennis ball. When it happened, he would stand still for a minute, holding his left rear leg up. But within a minute or so, he would be back running and jumping. On occasion, our Vet gave Bentley anti-inflammatory meds to help him get over any soreness in his knee, but fortunately the condition was never bad enough that we considered surgery.
Bentley never whined or cried when he was in pain. At most, the only hint I would have that he was uncomfortable was when Bentley stood still, swallowing repeatedly. Otherwise, I could tell when Bentley needed pain relief because he would slow down on our daily walks and I could see him hesitate for a few moments before jumping up into his favorite chair.
Between 5 and 7 years of age, Bentley was diagnosed with fairly serious osteoarthritis in both hips as well as his knee. In addition to giving Bentley glucosamine and fish oil supplements, Bentley began needing stronger meds.
I learned how to administer Adequan injections, which helped Bentley’s arthritis tremendously for a long time. However, over time, I noticed that Bentley was having stomach distress (i.e. vomiting) on the same day he was getting the Adequan injections, so eventually we turned to other meds (Gabapentin and Tramadol).
Amazingly, the best relief for Bentley’s arthritis turned out to be laser treatments! Fortunately, our Vet is part of a progressive clinic that specializes in a number of alternative therapies. K-Laser is a wonderfully non-invasive treatment when a Vet Tech runs a light laser (it looks a bit like a small, narrow flashlight) over Bentley’s fur. Though the results take time, the laser stimulates the body’s natural healing process, and was a Godsend for Bentley!
The other thing that helped Bentley’s health was been keeping his weight under control. I constantly received compliments from strangers when they saw Bentley and I walking, partly because he stayed so slender. Certainly feeding him a premium pet food and keeping excess weight off his tiny frame was a big plus for his arthritis!
At 8 years old, Bentley had his teeth cleaned as well as two cracked teeth extracted. He came through the procedure without any trouble (though my pocketbook hurt for some time thereafter!).
Over the next two years, we paid more attention to Bentley’s heart. After diagnosing a slight heart murmur and some abnormal blood tests, our Vet prescribed Enalapril for Bentley. He did wonderfully on it, and his albumin levels quickly went back to normal levels.
As he approached his 10th birthday, Bentley became deaf. I don’t know whether it was sudden or gradual because it didn’t seem to bother him very much. As a result, he slept through thunder storms and ignored the fireworks on 4th of July for the first time in his life. I had to adapt, however, as I couldn’t call his name anymore to get his attention, so we needed to be more careful keeping him on the leash.
Early in his last year of life, we had to switch Bentley to a new medication for his arthritis, but he had negative reactions to it, experiencing “mini-seizures.” Shortly, thereafter, Bentley also lost most of his eyesight. Meetings with a neurologist suggested that Bentley had a brain tumor, which we began treating with steroids.
My poor, darling deaf, blind and arthritic little boy continued as my loving companion for many more months, before succumbing to his health challenges. He died in my arms on August 17, 2013.
After losing Bentley, my heart felt impossibly quiet. For a long time, I couldn’t imagine bringing another dog into my life—Bentley had been so much more than a pet; he was my little shadow, my confidant, my heart. But as time passed, the silence turned into something else: space. Space that was ready to be filled again. Not in place of Bentley, but in honor of the love he taught me to give.
And then came Snickers.
Snickers is a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, just 6 months old when I adopted him. He has the classic warm chestnut markings against a snowy white coat, and a perfect little lozenge on the top of his head—a true hallmark of the Blenheim charm. His eyes are wide, wondering, and full of mischief, and there’s one tiny freckle near his nose that always makes me smile.
Where Bentley was dignified and gentle, Snickers is a joyful whirlwind. Every day is an adventure, every toy is a best friend, and every mealtime is a reason to dance in circles. He’s playful, clumsy, and endlessly affectionate. He insists on sleeping tucked under my arm and follows me from room to room, often carrying a favorite plush squirrel in his mouth.
Though he’s still young, Snickers is already showing that deep Cavalier devotion. He watches me intently, as if trying to memorize every expression. Sometimes, he tilts his head just like Bentley used to do—and in those moments, I feel both the ache of loss and the warmth of something new beginning.
Bentley will always be my first Cavalier love, but Snickers is teaching me that the heart has room for more joy. He’s not a replacement—he’s a continuation. A new chapter in a story that Bentley helped start.