Health Concerns Facing the Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel health problems are considerably few compared to the other breeds, and that is because the Cocker Spaniel breed is very active and happy, which tends to help. However, there are a few Cocker Spaniel health problems that it is best you know about, so you can recognize the symptoms and signs when you see them. Most diseases are best prevented, and that is what the veterinarian will do.
Common Cocker Spaniel Health Problems
The ears of the Cocker Spaniel are prone to infections such as otitis, which can happen to your Cocker Spaniel because of his long ears that mostly touch the ground when he is playing or sniffing around. The common symptoms of ear infection is head shaking, scratching of the ears while making crying like noises, and pain when you touch the ears.
The best Cocker Spaniel care plan in this situation will be to contact a doctor immediately so a treatment can start. You can also avoid this problem by cleaning your Cocker Spaniel’s ears as often as possible, but always after a bath, after you have returned from a vigorous training, and/or after your dog was playing outside where he could he collected dirt and bacteria and deposited it in his ears.
The next big Cocker Spaniel health concern is his or her eyes, which are also prone to infections. The best possible Cocker Spaniel care you can offer is to clean them as often as possible, each with a different cotton ball in case one eye is infected and not the other.
Common eye infections are cherry eye, glaucoma, distichiasis, progressive retinal degeneration, and cataracts. It is recommended that you have an yearly eye check-up for your Cocker Spaniel because of his predisposition to eye infections. This can help prevent some of these diseases that otherwise may lead to blindness.
Other Cocker Spaniel Health Problems
Cocker Spaniels can suffer from hip, knee and elbow dysphasia, which basically is a form of arthritis that can cause a lot of pain. In rare cases, Cocker Spaniel health issues may also include urolothiasis, which is an infection of the urinary tract, seborrhea, which is mainly a condition that puppies will be born with. Therefore, it should be mentioned on the medical report that you will receive when acquiring the puppy.
Cocker Spaniels can also get immune-medicated hemolytic anemia, a blood disease that results in chronic anemia which may require your Cocker hospitalized in order to recover.
Epilepsy is yet another illness, and it is only common with the English Cocker Spaniel, and not his American cousin.
How to Take Care of Your Cocker Spaniel
The best way you can ensure Cocker Spaniel care and good health is to ensure that you know how to choose a vet for your Cocker Spaniel. The right veterinarian will be able to prevent most diseases and combat them before they can happen.
