The best dog food for a Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are cooky, cuddly, and full of character that can seem as endless as their energy. This breed has persistently been one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide ever since their creation. Cockers are as friendly and loving as they are playful, and they make amazing family pets.
But what is the best dog food for Cocker Spaniels that will help fuel their energetic and playful days without causing hyperactivity? And what diet will help to protect them from common Cocker Spaniel health problems like pancreatitis?
A healthy diet for any breed should provide all the nutrients your pooch needs to stay healthy, but here are some Cocker specific clauses to watch out for.
The best dog food for Cocker Spaniels should:
Provide plenty of stable energy
Help to maintain a healthy weight
Provide all the nutrients to keep their fur healthy
Help to prevent pancreatitis
Protect your pooch from common illnesses and prolong their lives
So what should you look for in your dog’s diet, and why do these factors make the best dog food for Cocker Spaniels?
Plenty of energy for excitable pups
Cockers, like Tigger, are bouncy and full of fun, so they need plenty of slow-releasing carbs to prevent burnout. Pure is complete and balanced dog food, packing lots of protein, fibre, and complex carbohydrates to make sure your Cocker has all the energy they need to keep up with their active lifestyle.
Complex carbs and fresh food can help to cut down hyperactivity too when compared to brown biscuits. Kibble is full of simple carbs and sugars, which both turn to glucose. Just like humans, a shot of glucose can cause hyperactivity. But this energy doesn’t last fur long, and dogs often suffer crashes afterwards.
If your Cocker Spaniel’s energy seems to spike after meals, their food could be causing their hyperactivity. Try switching to a nourishing diet like Pure which puts protein first, has plenty of fibre to slow sugar absorption, and focuses on slow-releasing carbs to keep your Cocker’s energy stable throughout the day.
Help to maintain a healthy weight
Sadly, more than half of Britain’s dogs are overweight, and Cockers especially are prone to becoming obese. Make sure you’re feeding your pooch a balanced diet in perfectly sized portions that will help to keep their calories in check, while still providing them with the energy they need to stay active and prevent piling on the pounds.
Fresh meals like Pure help to maintain a healthy weight naturally, and aren't packed full of starch and empty calories like boring brown biscuits are.
Cockers are greedy little things though, and would merrily eat and eat if given the opportunity. Offering them dog food that is packed with protein and fibre will help to keep them feeling fuller for longer and satisfy their appetites.
Plus, our personalised plans mean you know exactly how much to feed your pup every day, so you’ll never have to worry about giving them too much or too little of anything.
Nutrients to nourish skin and fur
A Cockers most distinguishing feature is their glamorous feathers and curls. Diet plays an important role in making sure your dog’s skin and fur is kept healthy, with all the nutrients needed to keep their fur glossy and silky.
Pure has plenty of good fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 which help to keep your dog’s skin supple and their fur soft. Our carefully chosen mix of veggies and whole meat also mean your pup gets plenty of the good stuff like vitamin A and Biotin, which are vital for keeping fur in top condition. They help to keep up the skin’s barrier too, keeping your pup protected and preventing problems like itchy skin.
Nelly the Cocker was suffering with alopecia, and her skin and fur were in a state. But after switching to Pure, she looks like a new dog. Our food helps keep your pooch feeling fabulous inside and out.
Preventing pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a common condition that can affect any dog, however, Cockers are more likely to be affected than other breeds. The cause for pancreatitis remains unknown, but there are proven factors that increase a dog’s risk and can trigger the condition. For instance, being overweight or eating food that is high in fat.
Because these are the two biggest risk factors, it makes it extra important to keep your Cocker a healthy weight and watch what they’re eating. You’ll have to pay particular attention to the amount of fat your pooch eats.
If your pup has already suffered from pancreatitis, they will need to eat low-fat food for the rest of their life. Pure has several tasty recipes suitable for pancreatitis sufferers, and has helped a whole pack of pups to heal and prevent flare-ups of the condition.
Ear-friendly food
A Cocker’s ears are their trademark, but those luscious curls and long ears are a magnet for dirt and bacteria and are prone to infection. Regular grooming can help to prevent the build-up of grime, but diet can get to the root of infections. If your pooch has had recurring ear infections (or skin problems) your vet might recommend a grain-free hypoallergenic diet.
That’s because grains are a common allergen for canines, causing itchy skin and inflammation. Inflammation in the ears can block up their ear canals, so it’s important to find the cause of your pup’s irritation. The best dog food for cocker spaniels should be grain-free and free from artificial ingredients as these are some of the most common causes of dietary intolerances.
We have many recipes that are grain-free and use a short list of recognisable and natural ingredients to help prevent allergies and irritation. Plus, your pup will be eating fresh food that’s created to suit their biology.
Never any nasties
Some pet food brands use poor quality ingredients ranging from cheap fillers to slaughter by-products to provide low-cost protein. Commercial dog food came to a rise after WW2 when rationing was in full force, and people needed to feed pets conveniently and cheaply.
But we’re well past the days where dogs have to live on leftovers and highly-processed dinners, not least because it’s affecting the health and longevity of our pets.
Pure by name and nature, there’s never any nasties in our recipes and we use natural, wholefoods to make real dog food. What's more, all our ingredients are the highest quality you can have.
We don’t use any harsh processing either, so none of those great ingredients go to waste. All we do is gently air-dry our food so all that all the goodness stays locked in. It’s simple, honest food for healthier lives and happy tummies.
Healthy food for longer lives
Dogs and humans have different dietary needs, but one fact remains true for both. Plenty of exercise and a balanced diet of fresh, low-processed foods will work wonders on their health. You eat veggies and whole meat to keep active and fit, so why shouldn’t your dog? It makes no sense to feed a pup nothing but highly-processed kibble every day of their lives and not expect some side effects.
A good diet is especially important for Cockers, who need plenty of protein to maintain their muscle mass, fatty acids to keep their fur and joints healthy, and lower dietary fat to stop weight gain and prevent pancreatitis.
For years, studies have been showing that dogs fed natural food live longer. (As much as 32 months more.) The premise is that this food is higher quality and is more bioavailable, which means dogs can digest it more easily and absorb more of the nutrients.
Pure is formulated by nutritionists to be perfectly balanced and digestible, and has been approved by vets for its health benefits. To put it as simply as possible, we make healthy food for long, happy lives.
How much should I feed a Cocker Spaniel?
How much you should feed your Cocker Spaniel will depend on their individual needs. For example, older dogs have slower metabolisms (and generally aren’t as active) so need fewer calories. Neutered and spayed dogs also do not need to eat as much.
Your pooch’s needs will change according to their age, activity level, neutering status, and any conditions they have. Generally though, Cockers should have their daily food split between two meals and a typical adult dog needs less than 1000 calories a day.
But it isn’t just calories that need to be calculated, your dog will have different dietary requirements according to their individual needs. For examples, pups who have had pancreatitis need much lower levels of fat to make sure their food doesn’t cause a flare-up of the condition.
Pure personalises your plan especially for your dog and their individual needs, so you never have to worry about balancing meal plans or counting calories. Tell us more about your pooch, and we can advise you on the perfect food (and portion sizes) to keep your Cocker looking and feeling their best fur-ever.