Cocker & Springer Health
Many things can have an effect on the health of your Spaniel from the food they eat, their environment and upbringing to the conditions that are prevelant in both breeds. Here I will try to cover some of these so that you can use this as a part of your research. Click the blue text to open the websites for your reference.
Even if you have happened across my website by accident, if you are thinking of getting a Cocker or Springer from any breeder, please make use of the information and links below. This information and the links provided are not meant to be used exclusively, they are merely meant to give you somewhere to start your research.
For more information about Cocker Health there is the Working Cocker Pro Health website, have a read of "Our 10 Point Guide To Finding A Responsible Breeder" page.
Food
Your BarleyCourt puppy has been weaned on to a holistic puppy food, I have researched this puppy food and have found that it is a good, natural food.
I cannot tell you what to feed your dog, but I will tell you that what you feed them will have an affect the health and longevity of your dog and can also affect their temperament or cause them to be hyperactive.
There are many great websites for researching foods, the one that I use is All About Dog Food and I have found this really useful and informative. In addition, the food you feed your dog can cause allergic reactions and cause things like chronic itching or ear infections. There is a useful piece on this in Modern Dog Magazine
I don't feed my dogs tid-bits as a general rule, however as well as their kibble I allow them to have raw carrots, cooked chicken and every now and then raw liver and eggs. I personally don't feel that leftovers are healthy for dogs and although some are fine, there are human foods that can make dogs ill and some that are poisonous and can kill a dog; grapes and chocolate being a good example. Symptoms may not always be present immediately after eating these things so their illness may not be attributed to the food, but longer term can be very dangerous.
Environment
Some problems with dogs can be environmental, for example allowing your young pup to be over excercised, become overweight or allowing them to run up and down the stairs frequently can cause joint issues later in life. Pet MD have a good article on this.
There are plants that are poisonous to dogs, so it may be worth researching some of these so you know what to look for. The Kennel Club have a good page for information on these.
Puppies need a lot of sleep. If your pup is constantly disturbed and not allowed adequate sleep, this too could have an effect on general wellbeing and growth in the same way as it would with human babies.
PRA
(Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
PRA/PRCD
Affects Cocker Spaniels
Below I have copied the text from a page on the Optigen website to give you some information on the condition:
"Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA--and specifically, the prcd form of PRA) is an inherited eye disease rooted deep in the gene pool of at least a couple dozen breeds. Dogs with prcd-PRA often become blind, and always have serious vision problems. In most breeds prcd-PRA manifests by the time a dog is at least six years old, after it has already been bred. However, in English Cocker Spaniels, prcd-PRA manifests even later, not until usually a dog is at least 8 years old. In order to develop PRA, a dog must inherit two copies of the defective prcd-PRA gene: one from its dam, one from its sire. Two recessive mutated genes equals disease in anyone's book--and there's no cure, no treatment; no way to stop it. You can, however, prevent PRA in the next generation even though you can't treat it in the current generation. How? Through safe, selective breeding based on genetic testing."
They have a huge amount of information on their website about this condition and others so this is a great page to use for research.
PRA CORD 1
Affects Springer Spaniels
Below I have copied the text from a page on the VetGen website to give you some information on the condition:
"Cone-Rod Dystrophy 1 - Progressive Retinal Atrophy (cord1 - PRA) is an inherited disease of the eye that affects the cone and rod cells that make up the dog's retina and often leading to blindness."
Depending on which laboratory has done the testing the results for this 'may' be available on the Kennel Club webiste by entering the dogs KC name - the name should be made available by the breeder. If it is not on the Kennel Club website, paperwork should be made available for you to view on request.
If both parents have been DNA tested 'clear' of PRA, the puppies will be 'hereditary clear' and their KC paperwork will state that.
FN
(Familial Nephropathy)
Affects Cocker Spaniels
Below I have copied the text from a page on the Antagene website:
"Familial nephropathy leads to an early and fatal renal failure. Around 11% of English Cocker Spaniels are carriers of the genetic mutation responsible for the disease. A reliable DNA test can screen stud dogs and brood bitches, in order to adapt matings and avoid birth of affected puppies and spread of the disease in the breed."
The records for this should be available on the Kennel Club website by entering the dogs KC name - the name should be made available by the breeder.
If both parents have been DNA tested 'clear' of FN, the puppies will be 'hereditary clear' and their KC paperwork will state that.
PFK (Phosphofructokinase)
Affects Springer Spaniels
Below I have copied the text from a page on the Optigen website:
"Phosphofructokinase (PFK) is an enzyme that is crucial for production of energy from sugar sources in all cells of the body, especially red blood cells and muscle cells. Lack of this enzyme causes a range of effects: weakness and muscle cramps, discolored urine, anemia and jaundice. In Spaniels, this disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive condition."
The records for this should be available on the Kennel Club website by entering the dogs KC name - the name should be made available by the breeder.
If both parents have been DNA tested 'clear' of FN, the puppies will be 'hereditary clear' and their KC paperwork will state that.
Fuco
(Fucosidosis)
Affects Springer Spaniels
Below I have copied the text from a page on the English Springer Spaniel Club website:
"Canine Fucosidosis is a disease which is severe, progressive and ultimately FATAL.
It is characterised by deteriorating signs of the nervous system that progress over a period of several months, sometimes from an early age. Signs include inco-ordination and ataxia (loss of control of movement), change in temperament, loss of learned behaviour, loss of balance, apparent deafness, visual impairment and varying degrees of depression. The inco-ordination and ataxia affects all four legs and is mostly evident when affected animals are walking on slippery surfaces or attempt more complicated movements such as turning. In addition, affected dogs lose weight and may suffer from swallowing difficulties and sometimes regurgitation of food."
The records for this should be available on the Kennel Club website by entering the dogs KC name - the name should be made available by the breeder.
If both parents have been DNA tested 'clear' of FN, the puppies will be 'hereditary clear' and their KC paperwork will state that.
HD
(Hip Dysplasia)
Affects Cocker and Springer Spaniels
Hip dysplasia is a term which includes a number of specific developmental and other abnormalities involving the hip joint.
The BVA (British Veterinary Association) and the KC (Kennel Club) have a scheme where breeding bitches and stud dogs can have their hips x-rayed and scored by the BVA, the purpose of which is to reduce the incidence of the condition in dogs used for breeding. This test however is not a guarantee of unaffected puppies, but for now it is the best tool we have.
The records for this should be available on the Kennel Club website by entering the dogs KC name - the name should be made available by the breeder.
AMS
(Acral Mutilation Syndrome)
Affects Cocker Spaniels
Below I have copied the text regarding AMS from a page on the Antagene website:
"Lesions on distal extremities caused by self-mutilation, loss of sensivity to pain on distal limbs, tendency to lick or bite their own pads resulting in auto-amputation of claws, digits and footpads in severe cases, no limping"
Glaucoma
Affects Cocker and Springer Spaniels
This test (gonioscopy) is undertaken by an eye specialist, at present this is a one off test. I believe that in the future this may change to two yearly. This is part of the BVA/KC/ISDS scheme.
Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure is placed on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage in the eye. If the condition becomes chronic or persists without treatment, it will eventually cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, resulting in blindness.
The records for this should be available on the Kennel Club website by entering the dogs KC name - the name should be made available by the breeder.
In-breeding/Line-breeding/Out-breeding
Inbreeding is the mating of two closely related individuals. Line breeding is the mating of individuals that are slightly less related. In-breeding/line-breeding is done to keep certain attributes of the line in-tact. Out-breeding is breeding dogs that are not heavily related.
I personally like to keep the inbreeding coefficient (COI) of my pups quite low by out-breeding, I try to find a stud dog who compliments my girls in conformation, size, work ethic and temperament (as well as being health tested) but use their inbreeding coefficient as another tool to decide who the best match would be.
Different breeders have different methods and different breeding programmes, you as a buyer need to find one that suits you.
You can check the COI of the puppies by using the Kennel Club Mate Select tool by entering the breed name 'Cocker Spaniel' or 'Springer Spaniel' and then the name of the dam and sire of the litter, the breeder should be happy to give you these.
Here are some links to examples as to why I personally try to keep COI's low:
Problems with inbreeding dogs - VetInfo
Population Structure and Inbreeding From Pedigree Analysis of Purebred Dogs - Genetics
Inbreeding and line-breeding in working dogs - The Field
Pedigree dogs plagued by disease - BBC
The Institute Of Canine Biology - Why all the fuss about inbreeding?