Cocker Spaniel Health Issues

Learn how to keep your Cocker Spaniel healthy by understanding the common dog diseases and illnesses he may have to deal with during his lifetime.

Forewarned is forearmed...keep your dog's health problems at bay!

My Cocker Spaniel Is Fit!

Your Cocker Spaniel may be as fit as a butcher's dog, and that's great, but there's no guarantee he'll always be so fit and healthy.

Your Cocker is likely to be with you for 10 - 12 wonderful years, and many live longer, up to 15 years, especially where they've lived a healthy lifestyle!

And by that, I mean they've been fed a healthy diet with plenty of nutritional variety, had regular exercise and mental stimulation, and frequent visits to see their vet.

I'm a healthy Cocker Spaniel!

However, despite following all of the above, your pet may have to deal with one or two illnesses at some point in his life.

The list is long, but I don't mean to scare-monger.

Your pet will NOT have to deal with all the ailments listed below. These are simply conditions to which your pet may be susceptible.

General Cocker Spaniel Health Problems

The following is a list of conditions that may affect your pet sometime in his life:

Hip Dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joints and a common health problem in older dogs;

Familial Nephropathy (FN) - where the kidney's filtering system fails to work effectively;

Skin problems, such as Atopic Dermatitis, are caused by inhaling pollens. If your pet is overly sensitive to pollens, he may develop an allergy to them;

Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT) is an auto-immune problem that can cause internal and external bleeding and lead to anaemia and severe lethargy. It can be treated, but relapses are relatively common.

Mammary tumours are pretty common in un-spayed female dogs, but tumours can also be found in male dogs and are much more dangerous.

Pancreatitis is where the pancreas no longer functions as it should. Your dog's pancreas releases enzymes that help digest food and regulate blood sugar levels. When the pancreas isn't working correctly, it can lead to diabetes.

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) which ranges from minor to severe back pain and paralysis;

Heart disease;

Chronic kidney disease;

Hepatitis (liver disease);

Ear infections are common in Cockers. This is partly caused by the design of those incredible floppy ears not allowing air to circulate around and inside the ear canal. This creates a warm, dank environment which is ideal for breeding bacteria.

Follow the link if you'd like to learn more about what could affect your Cocker's ears.

Lip-fold dermatitis;

Epilepsy;

Obesity

Cocker Spaniel Health Problems With Eyes

Cockers are susceptible to a few eye problems, so keeping them clean and protected is essential.

However, if your puppy has parents that have been 'clear eye tested', your pup is less likely to suffer from many eye problems.

Here is a list of eye conditions that may affect your pet sometime in his life:

Happy, healthy Cocker Spaniel!

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a condition where your pet gradually loses his sight;

Glaucoma causes a severe build-up of pressure in the eyeball, and if it's not diagnosed and treated quickly, it can lead to permanent loss of sight...read more;

Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy causes a gradual degeneration of the retina. While it can cause partial vision loss, it doesn't usually cause blindness. Unfortunately, there is no cure;

As your Spaniel ages, he may develop cataracts. However, the good news is that these can now be surgically removed without too much trauma for your pet. As the saying goes, "We have the technology!"

Cherry eye is where part of the third eyelid becomes visible, making your Cocker's eyes look red and bulging (just like a cherry); thankfully, it's possible to correct this condition with surgery;

Distichiasis is where your Cocker has extra eyelashes (sometimes 2 layers!), which can cause irritation and damage to the eye.

Dry eye (Keratoconjunctivitis sicca) affects the production of tears and, if not treated quickly, can lead to other eye problems.

Learn more about eye problems in dogs, symptoms to look for and how to keep them clean and healthy to make the best of your Cocker's sight.

Cocker Spaniel Health & Obesity

Our Cockers tend to get fat as they age, so it's best to keep treats to an absolute minimum to keep their weight in check.

Is your Cocker Spaniel healthy?

Whilst being overweight in itself won't cause your dog to die, it can cause heart problems, liver disease and even tumours.

Your overweight Cocker is also at risk of developing pancreatic health problems, especially if his diet is high in sugar or fats, which can then lead to diabetes. So no feeding scraps from the dinner table!

Excess weight will also put extra pressure on your dog's joints which will eventually take its toll and cause him considerable pain.

Whilst we're talking about joint problems, I should mention that Cockers are prone to Hip Dysplasia and arthritis, so your dog's diet must be wholly nutritious and packed full of all the vitamins necessary to keep his bones strong and healthy.

Keep your Cocker's weight stable by ensuring he has plenty of exercise with long healthy walks in the countryside (if you can) and letting him chase a ball or a Frisbee to get that heart pumping.

Grooming Your Cocker Spaniel

Grooming can play a big part in keeping your Cocker Spaniel healthy; grooming is about more than just looking good!

Checking your pet's eyes and ears while grooming him can often alert you to a potential health problem long before it can develop into anything serious.

Ear infections are common in Cocker's and can be tough to clear, especially if the infection wasn't spotted early enough. If you do a quick check every now and then (not just when you're grooming your dog), you'll be able to spot any signs of dog ear infection and be ready to act quickly.

Whilst ticks and fleas aren't usually life-threatening, these parasites aren't welcome, either in our homes or on our dogs. Regular grooming sessions will allow you to see signs of these pesky wee beasties and treat them accordingly.

Hereditary Dog Illnesses and Dog Diseases

You can almost guarantee that your puppy will be safe from specific hereditary Cocker Spaniel health problems simply by choosing a breeder who has tested the 'parents' for genetic illnesses and diseases before breeding occurs.

However, not all breeders carry out testing, so I recommend you ask the right questions before you decide to visit the breeder.

Unfortunately, screening or carrying out generic testing for every Cocker Spaniel health problem is impossible. If you'd like to see a glossary of available tests, follow this link to the Kennel Club.

Cocker Spaniel Health: Summary

To keep your Cocker Spaniel healthy, make sure he has a nutritious, fully-balanced diet and lots of regular exercise.

I'm not well!

Couple that with frequent grooming sessions, thorough checks on his eyes and ears, and scheduled checks with his vet throughout the year; there's no reason your Cocker shouldn't live a long and happy life.

I'll drink to that...in moderation, of course!

If you'd like to learn more about your dog's health, you can do so by clicking on this link or the above photo of this poorly Cocker Spaniel recovering from recent surgery.