Cocker Spaniel – Health Issues and the Importance of Genetic Testing

As with any popular breed of dog, a number of hereditary conditions are occasionally seen in the Cocker Spaniel. However by undertaking the appropriate Genetic Testing, many of these issues can be avoided by careful choosing of breeding stock. The results of this Genetic testing will advise if a Dog is either Clear, a Carrier or Affected. Ideally Clear to Clear is the desired mating but a Clear to a Carrier can be done with the understanding that a percentage of the litter may be Carriers. Therefore it is essential that all resultant Puppies are tested prior to sale. Unless a breeder knows what the genetic make up of their dogs are, it is possible to mate Carriers to Carriers with affected puppies being the result. Some of the inherited diseases do not manifest until later in life, hence the importance of testing early in life.

EYE CONDITIONS

There are three main eye conditions that a Cocker Spaniel may suffer from. these are:

PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) is an inherited eye disease found in many breeds of dogs with varying ages of onset. There are various types of PRA but the one most commonly seen in Cockers is GPRA (General Progressive Retinal Atrophy) also known as prcd-PRA. This results in night blindness gradually leading to total blindness.

Retinal Pigment Epithelial Dystrophy (RPED): This is the condition previously known as CPRA (Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy). This results in a central loss of vision but not usually total blindness (affected dogs still maintain peripheral vision).

Primary Glaucoma: This is a very painful condition caused by a build up of internal fluid pressure in the eye due to an inherited abnormality of the drainage angle. An affected dog will go blind (and surgery to remove the affected eye or eyes is often necessary). 

KIDNEY DISEASE

Familial Nephropathy (FN), a fatal kidney disease in young Cockers, was unfortunately quite prevalent in the breed in the 1980’s until research instigated by The Cocker Spaniel Club established that this was a hereditary condition with a simple recessive mode of inheritance (as with PRA). 

ADULT ONSET NEUROPATHY (AON)

AON is another Autosomal Recessive condition seen in some older Cockers (typically aged 7-9). It is a progressive weakness due to a neuropathy which results initially in a wobbly or uncoordinated gait affecting the hind limbs. Breeders can use the available DNA test to ensure that Carriers/Affected dogs are only mated to Normal (Clear) dogs to avoid producing affected progeny.

For further information on these potential Health issues, please refer to the Health Page on The Cocker Spaniel Club (UK) website.