Like all dogs (other pedigrees, crossbreeds and mongrels) there can occasionally be health issues found in the breed. These issues are not common considering the number of cocker spaniels bred each year. Thankfully, the vast majority of cocker spaniels bought from reputable breeders are healthy.

In an effort to try to ensure you have a puppy that has had the best start in life, one that should hopefully grow up to be a healthy and long-lived dog it is important to buy your puppy from a caring and responsible breeder - a breeder who breeds from fully health tested dogs (with the results of tests being appropriately applied to breeding decisions).

It is important to remember that like all living creatures health can never be fully guaranteed; however, by buying a puppy from a reputable breeder who has undertaken all relevant health tests available you can ensure that wherever possible your new puppy/dog will not suffer from the debilitating conditions that are preventable through health screening/testing the puppy's parents using the currently available cocker spaniel health tests.

Please note, the KC/BVA health testing/scoring schemes are only available to Kennel Club registered dogs, puppies bought from breeders whose dogs are DLRC, PPRC, Kennel Registration or the Canine Registration Club UK registered are likely to have parents who have not been screened for hereditary health issues.

There is a limited range of available health testing options; they are limited by the realms of science and not for any other reason! In the fullness of time, the ongoing research into many of the other conditions affecting cocker spaniels (and dogs in general) should produce screening methods for many more health issues. Thankfully, the most serious & debilitating conditions found to occur in the breed are being eradicated through the use of the health schemes listed below.

At the moment, the tests available for cocker spaniels are as follows (please click on links below):

All dogs used for breeding should be tested before breeding using all currently available testing schemes & have appropriate results to eradicate or minimise the risk of producing affected offspring.

For other health issues affecting Cocker Spaniels please visit our 'Health' page. It should be borne in mind that the majority of these health issues are not serious & do not impact a dogs welfare to any significant degree and the frequency of disease occurrence in most instances is minimal.

The vast majority of long standing & experienced dog breeders will never produce puppies with these diseases as their occurrence is very infrequent and through careful breeding the risks are low. However, less reputable breeders who do not place a high emphasis on health and welfare may frequently produce puppies affected with serious hereditary conditions and/or health conditions which are also not inherited.