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There are two recognized types of Cocker Spaniels : American Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel . They are very similar in their strain standards and care requirements . Both weigh in at 20 - 30 pounds and have a life anticipation of up to 14 year . Feeding the best dog food for Cocker Spaniels is a big part of taking caution of these eyetooth .
Multiple color combinations are possible , but they all have a long , silky coating that requires consecrated weekly training and a dieting that ensures a healthy , lustrous coating . moreover , despite their little sizing , they are members of the sporting dog group , and this need to be addressed through dieting as well .
Both English and American Cocker Spaniels are generally healthy dogs . There are a few common strain - associated wellness issues that can potentially be helped by an appropriate therapeutic diet . The below five dog food brands are my commonvet recommendedchoices for pet owners who visit my veterinary recitation with their spaniel .
Finding the correct diet for your Cocker Spaniel is n’t a one - time matter . It ’s a subject that you ’ll involve to revisit as your dog progresses through life . puppy need a much different dieting than grownup dog-iron , and senior hotdog will also need a diet that caters to their unparalleled needs . I will address these point with my below recommendations , too .
The Best Dog Food for Cocker Spaniels' Health
Before switch your dog to any new dieting , always refer with a veterinarian . Remember that no article on the cyberspace , including this one , can replace a consultation with a vet .
1. Skin and Ear Disorders
Cocker Spaniels often suffer from skin and ear disorders . Most of these are atopic ( allergic ) dermatitis , pyoderma , barm infections , Vitamin A responsive dermatosis , and food allergies . If you have a Cocker Spaniel that suffers from a skin or ear disorder , it is important to see a veterinary dermatologist as before long as potential .
While your regular veterinarian is able-bodied to do a lot for your weenie , Cockers sometimes needspecial carewhen it comes to diagnose their unique skin conditions . If your Cocker Spaniel does not have a current issue or does not have solid food allergies , it is a good estimation to fend for their hide the good you may .
Select a food for thought that is less potential to stimulate an allergic answer , such as diets contain “ novel ” proteins like duck , kangaroo or Pisces . Fish - based diets are wild for supporting skin wellness , as they naturally hold in substantive omega-3 fatty acids .
When I want to advocate the best dog food for Cocker Spaniels with tegument and ear disorders , I reach forNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Small Breed . Natural Balance has a newfangled version of their awing sweet murphy and Pisces the Fishes pattern .
The kibble sizing and grain are made specifically for little lip , like those of the Cocker Spaniel , in judgment . The circumscribed ingredient recipe is aristocratical on sensitive stomachs and reduces the likelihood that your barker will be hypersensitized to any of the fixings .
If you are concerned about potential food allergens and desire to stick to to a food grain - costless canned expression , Natural Balance again does not disappoint withNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Canned . While not a “ hypoallergenic diet ” , its element are grain - free , eminent - fibre , and contain Salmon River vegetable oil for superior peel support compared to other brands out there .
Cocker Spaniels with atopic dermatitis , without food allergy , can benefit from feed a limited ingredient diet with the right-hand support vitamins , minerals , and essential fatty acids . lifelike Balance delivers by build up its Limited Ingredient Diets with atomic number 30 , Vitamin eastward , Vitamin C , andYucca schidigeraextract for joint support .
2. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is comparatively vernacular in the Cocker Spaniel . They run to suffer from primary hypothyroidism , which means that the thyroid gland tissue does not secrete enough thyroid internal secretion into the body . Dogs that suffer from this condition often have dull , brittle tomentum pelage , weight gain , pattern tomentum expiration around their midriff , joint issues and work out intolerance .
While hypothyroidism can be successfully treated with thyroid hormone supplementation , their peel issues often need a encouragement from enhanced nutrition . Hypothyroid hot dog often do good from omega-3 ample diets , like those mentioned above from Natural Balance .
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If your hypothyroid Cocker Spaniel has difficulty controlling its weight unit , I would recommendRoyal Canin Weight Control Small Formulaas the effective blackguard food for thought for Cocker Spaniels in this class . Royal Canin is a trusted name in the frank solid food cosmos and their weight control formula sustain overweight Cocker Spaniels in a few slipway .
High fiber keeps your wiener feeling fuller for longer , potentially trim down down on begging behavior as you cut down the calories . This recipe also underpin sizeable digestion with the inclusion of prebiotics . A synergistic portmanteau of antioxidants Vitamin E , lutein , taurine , and Vitamin C will brook your Cocker ’s resistant system of rules .
3. Hip Dysplasia
Cocker Spaniels are lowly to medium - sized dogs , but can still suffer from hip dysplasia . Hip dysplasia is a developmental orthopedic disease in which the “ ball and socket ” joint of the rose hip does not work decently . Genetics plays a declamatory part in the development of the disease , and it is crucial to insure that your puppy ’s parent had their hips “ certified ” – the current good method being thePennHiptechnique .
While screen out is helpful in excrete the genes in breed stock , it is still possible for Cockers to originate hip dysplasia . Even though there is a genetic factor to this disease , there are significantnutritional risk factorsthat play a part during puppyhood . These hazard factors are rapid ontogeny and extra dietary calcium intake .
To be safe , do n’t overfeed your whelp and use a commend breed and age - appropriate puppy food . It ’s always crucial to prey the good dog solid food for Cocker Spaniels in any leg of life , but specially during the puppy stage when their eubstance is mature and modernise so quickly .
The Best Dog Food for Puppy Cocker Spaniels
Cocker spaniel puppies are some of the cut , most industrious balls of fluff you will ever see . They can seem like bottomless quarry but do n’t be tempted to give them 2d helpings . Cocker Spaniels are prostrate to fleshiness and rosehip dysplasia , so feed them cautiously and keep their body condition score on the skimpy side .
Cocker Spaniel puppy need to start out out on the right manus when it comes to nutrition . I recommendNatural Balance Limited Ingredients Diets Puppy Formulaas the best intellectual nourishment for Cocker Spaniels in the puppy stage for a bit of reasons .
First , its alone ingredients are less likely to cause an allergic reaction issue , second , it contains fantabulous nutrition . Like the other Limited Ingredient Diets , it is caryopsis - innocent and fortified with omega-3 ample Salmon River rock oil .
The Best Dog Food for Cocker Spaniel Adult
If your Cocker does not have a wellness issue that a peculiar dieting could serve , it is well to stick with a trusted brand , such asRoyal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Cocker Spaniel Adult . Royal Canin has done a passel in developing nutrition tailored to certain breeds , admit the Cocker Spaniel .
It not only provides sure nutrition , but it also has a specifically - made kibble shape and texture . This special kibble optimise how your dog picks up and chews his food – making digestion more effective . More efficiency means give less , and feeding less can mean less of a strike to your pocketbook .
If you ca n’t line up Royal Canin ’s Cocker Spaniel dieting , or it is out of your price range , PurinaPro Plan Focus Sensitive Stomach and Skin Formulais another great choice as the respectable dog food for Cocker Spaniels in this stage of life . Since Cocker Spaniels have a tendency to have more raw body systems , it is good to select an adult recipe that supports their need .
Purina Pro Plan is an affordable but quality way to furnish essential nutrition for your grownup Cocker . Highlights include omega-3 , omega-6 , and zinc , as well as oatmeal and rice for slow - free energy .
The Best Dog Food for Senior Cocker Spaniels
If your senior Cocker Spaniel is still participating and going strong , it is important to fuel them with aging alteration in mind . For normal , healthy Cocker seniors , I recommendPurina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7 + Small Breed Formula .
Purina Pro Plan ply splendid nutrition at low-priced prices . They have a tasty , well abide formula that is perfect for active senior .
It contains a moderate amount of protein ( 30 % ) with encephalon - boosting antioxidants and DHA omega roly-poly battery-acid . Purina ’s insipid , triangular and small-scale kibble invention is easy for modest dogs to beak up , masticate and compilation .
As some Cockers get older , they begin to lose from age - touch on problems , such as joint pain and dental disease . If your elder is having a few wellness issues , see the best dog food for thought for Cocker Spaniels that will support them on multiple fronts .
It is best to babble to your veterinarian aboutHill ’s Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility Stewas it is usable by prescription . Hill ’s Science Diet has been a trusted source of prescription diets for decades . This particular expression serves onetime Cocker Spaniels well due to its alone ingredients .
It contains joint support glucosamine as well as high level of omega-3 fat acids for skin health . Many dogs that are on this food are also overweight . The eminent vulcanized fiber content boost level-headed weight expiration in fleshy individuals or can be used to maintain a healthy weight . The vegetable and tuna recipe will tempt even the pickiest of bow-wow .
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