Welcome to the Cavachons by Design Blog!

When outdoor time is limited, indoor enrichment becomes essential. Simple activities that engage your dog’s brain — like scent games, puzzles, and calm skill-building — can provide the mental stimulation they need to stay relaxed, focused, and content at home.

A clean environment plays a bigger role in your dog’s health than many people realize. Your dog’s bedding, toys, and everyday accessories are in constant contact with their skin, mouth, and environment — and when these items aren’t cleaned regularly, they can harbor bacteria, yeast, odors, and allergens that contribute to irritation and illness. From supporting healthy skin and coat to reducing allergens and unwanted odors, regularly cleaning dog bedding and toyshelps promote your dog’s comfort, immune health, and overall balance — while also keeping your living space fresher and healthier.

Natural detoxification isn’t a single organ’s job. It involves the gut, liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, skin, lungs, hydration, and movement — working together to eliminate toxins and support whole-body health.

The Body’s Elimination Pathways

When the body needs to clear toxins, it uses multiple detox pathways:

Gut and Liver — Process and package toxins into bile for elimination through stool
Kidneys — Filter metabolic waste from blood into urine
Lymphatic System — Collects cellular waste and toxins for processing
Skin — Eliminates toxins through sweat, sebum, and cellular turnover
Lungs — Release volatile compounds through

The Foundation of Whole-Dog Health

Many dogs experiencing chronic inflammation don’t have weak immune systems — they have overactive ones.

Because such a large portion of immune activity is tied to the gut, irritation there can lead to immune overreaction elsewhere in the body.

Understanding Immune Overreaction

Many chronic inflammatory conditions reflect an immune imbalance at the cellular level. The immune system has two main branches:

Th1 response — fights infections and intracellular threats
Th2 response — produces antibodies and fights parasites

When functioning properly, these branches stay balanced. But when the gut is compromised, the immune system often shifts into a

How the Liver Processes Toxins

The liver detoxifies in two phases, and understanding this process explains why gentle support works better than aggressive protocols.

Phase I makes toxins more reactive and potentially more dangerous. This phase creates oxidative stress as toxins are broken down into intermediate compounds.

Phase II neutralizes those compounds and packages them for elimination through bile and urine.

If Phase II pathways are sluggish or overwhelmed, Phase I intermediates accumulate and cause cellular damage. This is why antioxidants are essential — they protect cells while detox pathways do their work.

The Bile and Elimination Loop

Once the liver packages

The Foundation of Whole-Dog Health

Over the years, a consistent pattern has emerged across the dog world — particularly around common concerns like allergies, ear infections, skin flare-ups, digestive upset, and low energy.

On the surface, these issues can look unrelated. But underneath, they’re often deeply connected.

The common thread is gut health.

About 70% of a dog’s immune system lives in the gut, which means the digestive tract does far more than simply break down food. It plays a central role in immune regulation, inflammation control, nutrient absorption, and overall resilience.

When the gut is compromised, the effects rarely stay confined to digestion alone.

The Gut Does More Than Digest

Broccoli isn’t just a healthy choice for people — it’s one of nature’s best whole-food boosters for dogs, especially Cavachons. This beloved breed, known for its gentle temperament and sensitive digestion, can benefit tremendously from broccoli when it’s prepared and portioned correctly.

Packed with fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins, broccoli can help support the areas where Cavachons sometimes need extra care — like gut health, skin and coat condition, and inflammation control.

Walk into most homes and you’ll be greeted with a burst of “fresh linen,” “ocean breeze,” or “apple cinnamon.” Over 75% of households use air fresheners in one form or another—sprays, plug-ins, wax melts, candles, or automatic mist machines. But here’s the catch: while these products make your home smell clean, many of them are hiding toxic chemicals that can silently harm your dog.

Your pup doesn’t get to choose the air they breathe—and what smells pleasant to us can cause long-term damage to them. Let’s look at the dangers, and then I’ll share a pet-safe, DIY alternative you can make today.

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting milestone filled with cuddles, playtime, and first adventures. But it also comes with big responsibilities—one of the most important being vaccinations. A carefully considered puppy vaccination schedule is essential for protecting your dog from serious diseases while also giving their developing immune system the chance to respond effectively. 
Vaccines save lives, but giving too many too close together can stress your puppy’s body and create unnecessary problems. By following a thoughtful, well-planned vaccination schedule tailored to your puppy’s needs, you’ll ensure they are protected without overwhelming them.

When it comes to your Cavachon’s health and happiness, choosing the right treats and chews is just as important as selecting the right food. While rawhide chews have long been a popular choice for dog owners, they pose significant risks that make them unsuitable for your Cavachon. Did you know that natural alternatives like bully sticks, cow trachea, and cow hooves are much healthier and safer options for your furry friend? Here’s why you should think twice  before giving your Cavachon rawhide chews: 

1. Rawhide Chews Are Hard to Digest 

Rawhide chews are notoriously difficult for dogs to digest, especially smaller breeds like Cavachons. This can lead to gastrointestinal issues such as gas, stomach upset, and even blockages in severe cases. Your

Checking Your Cavachon’s Teeth for Ticks: A Surprising but Vital Practice 

Everyone knows to check their dogs for ticks frequently, but did you know that you should also check inside their mouths? This is especially true for breeds like the adorable and affectionate Cavachon, who, with their curious and playful nature, can easily pick up ticks in unexpected places. Here’s why it’s important and how to keep your  Cavachon’s health in check. 

Why Check Inside Your Cavachon’s Mouth? 

Ticks are notorious for hiding in warm, moist, and less visible areas. While you may already inspect your Cavachon’s coat, ears, and paws, their mouth can often be overlooked. Cavachons, with their small, soft muzzles and lively

Providing clean, safe water is just as essential to your Cavachon’s health and well-being as offering high-quality, nutritious food and treats. Water plays a critical role in every bodily function, from regulating temperature to aiding digestion and flushing out toxins. However, giving your Cavachon tap water can potentially pose risks, as it may contain contaminants like fluoride, chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, or bacteria. These substances, even in small amounts, can contribute to a range of health issues, including digestive disturbances, kidney strain, skin irritations, and excessive tear staining.

To protect your dog’s health and ensure optimal hydration, consider providing filtered, spring, distilled, or reverse osmosis water that is free from harmful additives