Cocker spaniel health problems

Cocker spaniels are fun-loving, friendly dogs with high levels of intelligence, boundless energy, and a love of adventure!

Not only do cocker spaniels tend to be fantastic to train, but they’re also excellent at canine sports, like agility or scent work, that test all their incredible skills. It’s important to keep your cocker spaniel’s mind busy while at home, too – through mental enrichment activities, e.g. interactive puzzle toys – due to their history as a working dog.

A cocker spaniel’s silky coat must be groomed several times a week to make sure their hair and skin stay in tip top condition.

Explore our cocker spaniel breed guide for more information about this cheerful breed!

Potential health conditions linked to the cocker spaniel breed

Please remember that while the following health concerns are frequently seen in the cocker spaniel breed, each dog is a unique individual. So, your canine companion isn’t necessarily going to suffer from any of the health conditions commonly experienced by cocker spaniels. But, if you’re considering pet insurance, you could read our guide to insuring your cocker spaniel for more information.  

Always speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s health.   

Don’t forget to visit our dog first aid guides to discover the basics of canine first aid.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma in dogs is caused by pressure inside the eye due to a build-up of fluid. Some dog breeds, like the cocker spaniel, are more prone to glaucoma than others.

There are two types of glaucoma:

• Primary glaucoma is an inherited fault in the eye’s drainage system, which usually starts in one eye before progressing to both eyes over time.
• Secondary glaucoma is often caused by something preventing the drainage of fluid from the eye, such as cataracts, injuries, or tumours.

Symptoms of glaucoma in dogs can include runny eyes, squinting, pain, redness, rubbing their face, and cloudiness. However, if not treated quickly enough, glaucoma can lead to blindness.

After vets have diagnosed glaucoma – using special equipment to check the pressure of each eye and/or ultrasound scans – your cocker spaniel might need emergency treatment. The treatment for glaucoma, following a stay at the vet practice for emergency care, usually involves anti-glaucoma medication (eye drops) to keep your cocker spaniel’s condition under control.

Ear infections

Due to the shape of their ears, cocker spaniels are known to be prone to ear infections. There are many potential causes of ear infections in dogs, including:

• Excess wax, hair, or moisture in the ear.
• Allergies.
• Foreign objects, e.g. grass seeds.
• Ear mites.
• A bacterial infection, e.g. otitis externa.

An ear infection is both irritating and painful for your cocker spaniel. So, if you notice that your cocker spaniel is showing any of the following symptoms, it’s important to contact a vet for advice straight away:

• Head shaking.
• Scratching (e.g. rubbing their face along the ground).
• Redness and inflammation.
• Heat and/or swelling.
• Discharge and/or a foul smell from the ear.
• Pain (they may not let you touch their ear).
• Head tilt and/or loss of balance.

To treat your cocker spaniel’s ear infection, a vet will begin by finding out what’s caused it. Along with examining your cocker spaniel’s ear, a vet might perform tests to determine whether a specific type of bacteria is causing the ear infection.

Once your vet understands the cause of your cocker spaniel’s ear infection, they can advise as to the best course of treatment, which could include:

• Ear drops.
• Ear cleaning.
• Anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication.
• Antibiotics.
• Dealing with the underlying cause, e.g. surgery to remove a grass seed.

Hip dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic condition (something a dog is born with) that impacts their hip joints. ‘Dysplasia’ is a word linked to abnormal development, so, hip dysplasia describes abnormalities within a dog’s hip joint.

For cocker spaniels with hip dysplasia, either one or both of their hip joints are unstable and can cause them to experience pain, swelling, and stiffness – resulting in lameness. Eventually, hip dysplasia is likely to cause dogs to develop arthritis.

Treatments for hip dysplasia in cocker spaniels could include weight management, anti-inflammatory medication, and surgery.