Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | German Shorthaired Pointer |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $36,847 | $40,905 |
| First year | $6,732 | $5,830 |
| Monthly average | $260 | $254 |
| Puppy price | $1,800 to $3,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,708 | $2,706 |
| Documented conditions | 26 | 17 |
| Median lifespan | 11.8 yrs | 13.4 yrs |
| Adult weight | 13 to 18 lb | 45 to 70 lb |
| Daily food | 1.3 cups | 3.4 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $668 | $250 |
| Risk profile | High, mid life | Low |
| Biggest single risk | Heart murmur and mitral valve disease | Skin disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Heart murmur and mitral valve disease | 31%1-yr clinical | $534–$1,438 |
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Murmur (US) | 36%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Extracted teeth (US) | 35%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dental calculus (US) | 26%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 23%screened dogs | not priced |
| Hip dysplasia | 16%screened dogs | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Digestive disease | 11%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Deafness (US) | 11%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Heart (cardiac) murmur | 10%owner survey | $534–$1,438 |
| Dental disease | 10%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Ear Infection (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Anal sac impaction (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Mitral valve disease (MVD) | 7%owner survey | $534–$1,438 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Hearing loss (incompletely deaf) (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Seasonal allergies (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Chocolate (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Gingivitis (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Umbilical hernia | 6%owner survey | $621–$1,671 |
| Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS Dry Eye) | 4%owner survey | $224–$604 |
| Patellar luxation/Slipping kneecap | 3%owner survey | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Anal gland/sac impaction/blockage | 3%owner survey | $84–$226 |
| Arthritis | 3%owner survey | $281–$756 |
| Patellar luxation | 2%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 2%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 2%screened dogs | $534–$1,438 |
| Syringomyelia | n/a | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Periodontal disease | 13%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Lipoma | 11%owner survey | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 6%owner survey | not priced |
| Arthritis | 3%owner survey | $281–$756 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 2%screened dogs | $169–$455 |
| Skin lump | 2%owner survey | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 1%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Epilepsy | 1%owner survey | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Spondylosis | 1%owner survey | not priced |
| Cruciate disease | 1%owner survey | $2,468–$5,640 |
| Heart (cardiac) murmur | 1%owner survey | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0%screened dogs | not priced |
| Congenital heart disease | 0%screened dogs | $534–$1,438 |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Hip dysplasia | n/a | $3,500–$7,000 |
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Both breeds carry surgical risk, and premiums are priced by breed
Expected vet costs are $2,986 for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and $0 for the German Shorthaired Pointer. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
Common questions
Is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a German Shorthaired Pointer more expensive?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is cheaper by about $4,058 over a lifetime. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: $36,847. German Shorthaired Pointer: $40,905. Health costs are not inside either figure. They are documented separately below, in the units each study used.
Which lives longer, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a German Shorthaired Pointer?
The German Shorthaired Pointer has the longer typical lifespan. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: 11.8 years. German Shorthaired Pointer: 13.4 years.
Which is healthier, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a German Shorthaired Pointer?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's biggest single risk is heart murmur and mitral valve disease, seen in 31% of the breed. For the German Shorthaired Pointer it is skin disease, at 36%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.