How Long Do Cocker Spaniels Live (And Why)?

How Long Do Cocker Spaniels Live (And Why)?

Exact Answer: Up to 15 years

Cocker Spaniels are good-natured dogs that exhibit high levels of intelligence. It is a breed of gun dog that can further be classified as workers, field, or house cockers. Cocker Spaniels are mainly of two types based on their origin: English Cocker Spaniel and American Cocker Spaniel.

English Cocker Spaniels have originated in England. Their breed is closer to the working-dog form of English Springer Spaniel or hunting dogs such as Field Spaniel. American Cocker Spaniels have originated from the English Cocker Spaniels and are more commonly known as the Cocker Spaniel in the U.S.

How Long Do Cocker Spaniels Live

How Long Do Cocker Spaniels Live?

Cocker Spaniels live for 10 to 14 years on average. The average lifespan of this breed depends on several factors such as genetics, health conditions, lifestyle, and diet. Some Cocker Spaniels live longer than the given average lifespan also because of these determining factors.

The life expectancy of Cocker Spaniels varies based on whether it is an English or an American Cocker Spaniel. English Cocker Spaniels have a slightly higher average life expectancy as compared to the American Cocker Spaniels.

English Cocker Spaniels

The English Cocker Spaniels have an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. These dogs are sturdy and well-balanced with high expression of intelligent characteristics. The males of the breed grow up to 15.5 to 16 inches and the females grow up to 15 to 15.5 inches.

American Cocker Spaniels

The American Cocker Spaniels have an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. These dogs are comparatively smaller with the males of the breed being 14.25 to 15.5 inches. The females grow up to 13.5 to 14.5 inches and weigh up to 13 kilograms.

Cocker Spaniels are good house pets because of their kind, compassionate, determined, and resilient nature. Their cheerful behavior and excellent obedient intelligence make them more lovable. The typical longevity of purebred Cocker Spaniels is only 11 to 12 years, although many tend to live for longer periods.

In summary:

BreedAverage Life Span
English Cocker Spaniel12 – 15 years
American Cocker Spaniel12 – 14 years

Why Do Cocker Spaniels Live For So Long?

Cocker Spaniels are one of the most popular dog breeds in the entire world because of their lovable nature and long flowing coats with feathered ears. These medium-sized dogs can live for up to 3 decades in rare cases with no health issues. Cocker Spaniels experience both minor and major health issues that can reduce their life expectancy by a lot.

Cocker Spaniels can live longer when provided with a good diet, lifestyle, and medical facilities. This breed requires high maintenance and demands regular veterinary visits. They should also be provided with good mental and physical exercises to maintain a healthy state of living.

The most common causes of death in Cocker Spaniels include:

  • Aging
  • Cancer
  • Cardiac
  • Combination of different health conditions
  • Improper breeding
  • Lack of medical facilities
  • Improper Diet

Cocker Spaniels suffer from various health issues that can affect their lifespan. Some of the common health problems in Cocker Spaniels include:

Eye Conditions

Cocker Spaniels suffer from Glaucoma, eyelid issues, cataracts, cherry eyes, etc that might reduce their average lifespan.

Ear Conditions

Some of the common ear conditions in Cocker Spaniels include ear infections and narrow canals.

Mouth Conditions

Lip fold dermatitis, halitosis, etc are some of the major mouth conditions faced by Cocker Spaniels.

Immune Conditions

Cocker Spaniels suffer from deadly immune disorders such as IMHA or immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, IMT or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, etc.

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Some of the musculoskeletal conditions affecting Cocker Spaniels include Arthritis, patellar luxation, IVDD (disc disease), hip dysplasia, etc.

Skin and Fur Conditions

Cocker Spaniels suffer from a wide range of skin and fur conditions in the absence of good hygiene and proper care. Some conditions include lumps and bumps on skin, allergies, seborrhea, etc.

Cardiovascular Conditions

Dilated cardiomyopathy, murmurs, mitral valve disease, etc are some of the cardiovascular health issues faced by Cocker Spaniels.

Conclusion

Cocker Spaniels are well-behaved, loving house pets that are popular all over the world. They are medium-sized creatures that grow up to 16 inches in size. There are two types of Cocker Spaniels called the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel.

The average lifespan of a Cocker Spaniel is anything between 10 to 14 years. English Cocker Spaniel tend to live longer than American Cocker Spaniel by a year or two. Under proper guidance, Cocker Spaniels can live longer than 15 years.

References

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0168159195010122
  2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.tb02981.x
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