These high energy, fun-loving pups are fabulous family dogs. They are always keen to learn and please, which makes them easy to train. They are often considered the happiest, waggiest dogs around, however they are prone to a few common health concerns, that all Cocker owners should be aware of.
This is a painful condition where the hip “ball and socket” do not fit together properly, causing the hips to be unstable. They can become painful, stiff and eventually arthritic.
Dogs will often show signs of HD whilst growing (approximately 5-6 months old), but typical symptoms include a “bunny hopping” gait, hindlimb lameness, difficulty getting up, a wobbly swaying walk or skinny hips.
Treatment is often influenced depending on the severity of the disease. Mild forms can be managed by maintaining a lean body weight, physical therapy, joint supplements and prescriptions for pain relief. More advanced forms may require surgical correction of the affected hip joint.
We at Vetsy are able to offer you pain management, as well as long term prescriptions for those cases that progress to arthritis much later in life.
Patellar Luxation occurs when the knee cap dislocates from the knee joint, causing lameness, typically an intermittent skip or hobble, pain or reluctance to exercise. The luxation can be grade 1-4.
Grade 1 and 2 are considered mild forms, where the kneecap pops back into place by itself. They can be managed medically, with physical therapies and exercise. If diagnosed with a grade 3 or 4, the kneecap is permanently dislocated and is more likely to require surgical stabilisation.
Dogs that suffer from patellar luxation are prone to arthritis and therefore may require long term pain management, which can be provided by us.
The Cocker Spaniel is known for their long ears, however they can prove bothersome. Spaniels' ears are prone to recurrent bouts of bacterial, yeast or ear mites infections, that often need treatment. Additionally, grass seeds in the summer can often find their way into dogs ear canals too.
Typical symptoms of ear infection include;
Owners can reduce the risk of ear issues, by regularly cleaning the ears, with a balanced ear cleanser to remove wax and debris build up. Yet if your dog is showing signs of ear discomfort, we advise booking a consultation to discuss further treatment options.
Cocker Spaniels tend to suffer with atopy or allergies, with sensitivities to either environmental or food allergens. They often present with itchy, scaly skin, hair loss or suffer from hot spots.
Common triggers include;
Most dogs with allergic skin disease are allergic to more than one thing.
It can be frustrating trying to source the trigger, but this can often guide owners on appropriate treatment management.
Sadly, no one size fits all. Every allergy case needs a slightly different treatment plan. There is so much value in discussing your dogs symptoms with our vets and formulating a plan together. As the condition often requires life long care, the key to management is case continuity. Being able to follow up and review responses to treatment with the same vet can really help you succeed.
Sadly, Cocker spaniels are prone to multiple issues affecting the eyes, including;
We are Vetsy can discuss the above ocular concerns, review potential causes and guide you on appropriate treatment options, including eye drops, pain relief or referral to an Ophthalmologist for further investigations.
