The diseases of the English Cocker Spaniel, common pathologies in this breed of retriever and retriever dog both in water and on land.
If you have decided to adopt an English Cocker Spaniel it is essential to learn to recognize the diseases that can affect this breed.
It is always useful to inquire about the needs and any diseases that could affect your four-legged friend, since recognizing the signals in time, very often saves the life of the animal.
In today’s article we will analyze which diseases of the English Cocker Spaniel and which signals to watch out for.
Diseases of the English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel, you can guess from the name itself that its origins are British. In fact, it was born in Britain in the 15th century.
It is an exceptional specimen, one of the best dogs ever, thanks to its docile, cheerful and patient character.
The English Cocker Spaniel is endowed with a muscular and sturdy body, of medium to small size . It is quite hardy and generally in good health, with an average life expectancy of around 10-12 years.
Even if, unfortunately, like all other existing breeds, it can be the victim of some genetic pathologies, sometimes genetic and sometimes acquired .
For this reason it is necessary to avoid mating affected subjects or carriers of genetic diseases.
Let’s see, specifically, what diseases the English Cocker Spaniel can suffer from.
Progressive retinal atrophy
progressive retinal atrophy in dogs is a hereditary disease that leads to blindness .
This disease can manifest itself in the dog’s adult age but also at a young age, with the difference that an adult and mature dog is better able to adapt to his new life as a blind person.
While the puppy has little time to progressively prepare for his new life as a blind man. Both eyes are always affected, and sometimes a cataract can develop at the same time as the disease.
Unfortunately, there is currently no remedy and no treatment, the only thing to do in this case too is to test the breeders.
Familial nephropathy
Familial nephropathy develops inexorably leading to the premature death of the animal. It is an early hereditary renal failure.
The English Cocker Spaniel affected by Familial Nephropathy is born with kidneys without any problems but they begin to fail when the puppy is only a few months old.
This condition generates kidney failure in the animal due to a deficiency of a certain type of collagen. The disease is present in different forms with a more or less rapid progression. This condition affects the English Cocker Spaniel as well as the American Cocker Spaniel.
Primary glaucoma
Primary glaucoma is an eye disease that slowly but inevitably leads to total blindness and can be very painful.
It is a neuro-degenerative syndrome (progressive optic neuropathy and degeneration of retinal ganglion cells) which occurs in the final stages in dogs with increased intraocular pressure and consequent irreversible blindness .
Unfortunately, the signs of primary glaucoma in the dog begin to appear , by now the damage to vision and to the eye as an anatomical entity are very advanced and seriously compromise the well-being of the animal.
For this type of pathology, the treatments can be different, from drugs to surgery, up to enucleation of the diseased eye.
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is one of the most common diseases of the American Cocker Spaniel and causes lameness and pain.
It is a hereditary anomaly, it occurs when the femur does not enter the hip cavity correctly.
To diagnose dysplasia it is necessary to make radiographic plates to be sent to the authorized reading centers.
When the dog can no longer bear the pain, surgery is done, but surgery is not always the solution to the problem. There are dogs for which the intervention is decisive and others for which the prognosis is not good.