Cocker Spaniel
Breed Profile
About the Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is the most pup-ular spaniel breed within the UK and is one of the most common pet dogs around.
The reasons for this are simple; this is a fun-loving, energetic and affectionate dog.
Their size is seen as an attractive feature, as they aren’t too large and can be accommodated in most homes.
Breed facts
- Size: Small>medium breed
- Exercise: One hour per day
- Life expectancy: 11-12 years
- Temperament: Fun-loving, energetic and affectionate
What health conditions could affect my Cocker Spaniel?
As a dog breed suited to an outdoors and an active lifestyle, the Cocker Spaniel can make a wonderful family pet, just as long as they get enough exercise. These dogs are fast learners and bond strongly with their owner. As there are a number of health conditions they can be prone to, so it pays to purchase your pup from a reputable breeder who health screens their dogs.
Listed below are a number of health conditions that may affect this breed. Pet insurance can help you cover the costs of clinical care should your canine companion fall ill or have an accident. Please don’t leave it until it’s too late to arrange cover.
Let’s do the #BestForPets.
There are several eye conditions that breeding Cockers should be tested for.
This is to prevent faulty genes being passed down to litters of puppies.
There are a total of twelve eye diseases which can be tested for, including progressive retinal atrophy, persistent pupillary membrane and primary glaucoma.
For those of us who own dogs with atopy, we’ll be all too aware of how frustrating this condition can be.
Dogs experience skin flare ups after allergen exposure and may show signs such as paw licking, face rubbing and scratching. Secondary skin and ear infections are not uncommon.
Indeed, the floppy Spaniel ears make chronic ear infections common. The aim is to identify the dog’s trigger or triggers and to avoid them. When not possible, immunotherapy may be suggested.
Ongoing medication, allergy tests and immunotherapy can cost several thousand pounds over a dog’s lifetime.
An excessive amount of sugar in the blood results in symptoms including weight loss, an insatiable appetite and a perpetual thirst.
This endocrine disorder is easily diagnosed as excess sugar is detected in both the blood and the urine.
For most Cocker Spaniels, diabetes is managed and not cured. This can mean many years of expensive insulin and check ups.
The good news is, with the right ongoing care, most dogs have a good prognosis.
The Cocker Spaniel is one of several dog breeds to be prone to a heart disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy or DCM.
As the heart becomes unable to pump blood efficiently, dogs suffer from episodes of weakness and collapse. Ongoing coughing and shortness of breath may also be apparent.
To diagnose DCM, your vet will want to run some tests such as a chest x-ray and echocardiogram.
While DCM cannot be cured, Cocker Spaniels tend to have a slowly progressive form of the disease which can be managed with ongoing medication.
This relatively uncommon disease can cause vague symptoms that wax and wane, making it tricky to diagnose.
Affected spaniels may show signs including chronic diarrhea and vomiting, episodic tremors, lethargy and bloody stools.
For some, they are not diagnosed until they become very unwell during an Addisonian crisis.
Blood tests can confirm the vet’s suspicion and dogs will be treated with ongoing hormone replacement.
As the condition is not curable and dogs require frequent check ups, owners will end up spending hundreds of pounds every year.
The average pet insurance claim currently stands at £848 according to the report produced by the Association of British Insurers in 2022.
As there is no NHS for pets, could you afford to take your chances and not have cover in place for your Cocker Spaniel?
Why choose MiPet Cover?
Our policies put you in control. You can flex your vet fee cover and fixed excess amount so you can get the cover your Cocker Spaniel’s needs for a price that suits your budget.
Vet fee cover up to £12,000
Choose the level of lifetime vet fee cover that suits your Cocker’s needs, replenished every year you renew.
Up to £3m third party liability
Cover to help with the legal side of things should your Canine companion injure someone or cause damage to a third party’s property (dogs only).
Complementary treatment
Cover for your Cocker Spaniel to access complementary therapy sessions as advised by your veterinary professional.
Holiday cancellation cover
If your dog became ill and you needed to cancel or cut short a planned holiday, you could recover your financial losses.
Advertising & reward costs
We’ll help you with the costs of reuniting you with your lost dog for advertising and any rewards fees for their safe return.
Pet helplines
You’ll get access to a number of 24/7 helplines. Whether you need help with counselling or pet legal matters, we’re here to offer a helping paw.
Emergency treatment abroad
We’ll help you with expenses (for things such as accommodation or transport) should your dog become ill or injured while you’re abroad. (Not WalkawayCover)
Boarding & kennel fee cover
If you become unwell and staying in hospital for 4+ days, we’ll pay towards the costs of your pet minder, kennels or cattery. (Not WalkawayCover)
What type of dog cover do I need?
With so many pet insurance policies in the market, it can be confusing as to what’s really right for you and your dog’s needs. It’s easy to just pick the cheapest pet insurance policy and relax. But it’s important to take some time to consider if that policy would be enough if your pet suddenly developed a lifelong condition or needed significant clinical care as a result of an accident or illness.
An annual policy (also known as ‘time-limited’) will only cover your pet for any new illnesses or injuries for 365 days.
A lifetime policy offers a far more comprehensive level of cover for your Cocker Spaniel.
These policies typically offer a fixed amount of veterinary fee cover which will be renewed each policy year, so long as you remain with the same provider, your premiums are paid up to date and you renew your cover every year. Lifetime cover will ensure that your pet can receive lifelong treatment should they develop a condition such as diabetes or arthritis.
Perfect for pet parents looking for a comprehensive lifetime policy with up to £12.000 vet fee cover.
About lifetime cover
12 months’ cover, for help with unexpected treatments. Choose £2,500 or £5,000 vet fee cover.
About annual cover
Four weeks’ free pet insurance for puppies and kittens. Peace of mind for the early weeks.
About WalkawayCoverCompare our levels of pet cover
With many options to choose from, we’ve broken it down for you so you can quickly compare our pet insurance policies and benefits.
per year
per year
per year
per condition
per condition
per year
per year
per year
per condition
per condition
£100-£200
£100-£200
£100-£200
£100-£200
£100-£200
View policy document
Things to know about lifetime pet cover: New accidents and illnesses (conditions) are covered up to the specified financial limit in each policy term. If the limit is reached during the policy term, the cover stops until the policy is renewed. At the renewal date the limit is fully reinstated and the condition(s) will continue to be covered. This is subject to the insurer inviting the policy renewal and payment of premiums by the due date. No further cover will be provided beyond the cancellation or expiry date of the policy. Please be aware that you need to renew your policy each year for cover to remain in force. Like humans, our pets are more likely to be affected by illness as they get older. This means that every year your insurance premium will increase even if you haven’t made a claim. This increase will be significant if you have claimed. If your pet suffers an illness during the policy term you may find it difficult obtaining cover for these conditions from other providers.
Get a tail-wagging 5%
multi-pet discount
Caring for your Cocker Spaniel
Nutrition
Your Cocker’s diet needs to contain the correct balance of nutrients and any good quality manufactured complete dog food will provide your dog with all the basic nutrients.
Canned, dried or a mixture of the two may be fed.
There’s also a wide range of commercial diets available to match the needs of specific breeds of dogs.
Grooming
- Check their skin by inspecting your dog’s fur for tangles and matting, then their skin for signs of lumps, bumps, fleas, ticks, fur loss and other skin issues
- Comb, then brush by using a metal comb first in the direction of the fur growth, then switch to a bristle or rubber brush.
- Keep things brief when you are starting out. Keep sessions to a matter of minutes before gradually building up the time spent grooming as they get more comfortable with the idea.
- Use treats so your dog can build a positive association with being groomed, particularly parts that are less enjoyable such as being bathed or having their nails clipped.
Get a free dog insurance quote in minutes…
FAQs
Yes we do, as we know that more furry friends = more fun!
If you are getting quotes for all you pets at the same time, simply get a quote online and add additional pets using the ‘Add another pet’ button.
Your 5% multi pet discount will be automatically applied to your quotes.
You can also add additional pets and get your multi pet discount by calling 0808 164 8000.
The details you enter are used by the underwriter to calculate your pet insurance premiums.
Examples of rating factors which may affect the price of your premium are the breed of your pet, the age of your pet and your postcode.
Yes, we can pay your vet directly on your behalf. Any claims will be subject to your policy excesses. Your veterinary practice may be able to help you submit your claim. It’s always best to check with your vet in the first instance.
Both our LifetimeFlex and 365Flex pet insurance policies cover dental treatment as a result of an accident or illness. (So long as your pet is up to date with their yearly dental check-ups and where any work recommended is carried out at your own expense).
No, we currently do not offer cover for pre-existing conditions when you take out a new policy with MiPet Cover.
This includes any illness, accident, or incident, that occurred to your pet prior to taking out the insurance policy with MiPet Cover, and, any accident, illness, or incident that occurred within any exclusion period.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Existing customers
Call now on 0808 164 7999
to discuss your policy with us.
Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 20:00 Saturday: 09:00 - 14:00