Best Dog Food for Cocker Spaniel

Merrick Grain-Free with Real Meat + Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

The Merrick Grain-Free with Real Meat and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food is made with real deboned salmon as the first ingredient.

This dry dog food is made with 60% protein and healthy fat ingredients and 40% produce, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients, so you can relax in knowing that there are no hidden additives or synthetic fillers that have no substance or nutritional benefits.

This dog food contains glucosamine and chondroitin to help maintain your dog’s healthy hips and joints whilst aiding their active lifestyle. 

74% of the protein in this food comes from animal sources, offering the ideal combination of protein and healthy fats to help a dog maintain optimal weight and increased energy.

Pros

• Omega-3 fatty acids support your dog’s healthy skin and a shiny coat.
• This food contains real whole foods for optimum health and nutrition.
• This grain-free dog food does not contain corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or any artificial preservatives and is also free of any poultry ingredients.

Cons

• A few customers noted that this bag is not resealable, and would have preferred different packaging for freshness. 

Royal Canin Cocker Spaniel Adult

Royal Canin Cocker Spaniel Adult dog food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of your purebred Cocker Spaniel and to help them thrive. 

This breed formulated food helps to maintain a healthy heart with taurine and EPA and DHA from fish oil for healthy cardiac function. As the Cocker Spaniel is prone to developing heart disease, this food helps to ensure that your dog’s heart is as healthy as it can be.

The exclusive kibble shape is designed to help Cocker Spaniel’s pick up their food and chew it more easily. 

This food works to reinforce the skin barrier with nutrients designed to support skin and coat health.

Pros

• Royal Canin is tailored nutrition for pure breed dogs, meaning you can relax in knowing your dog is getting the right kind of nutrients for their specific breed.
• The custom kibble is designed for your Spaniel’s broad muzzle and square jaw.
• 50 years of scientific observation and research to ensure the best for your pets.

Cons

• A few customers found that this particular kibble was too hard for older dogs to chew.

Taste of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food Appalachian Valley Small Breed – Venison

Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food is formulated especially for small breeds. 

Pasture-raised venison is the primary ingredient thus providing a highly digestible form of protein.

32% protein and 18% fat content provides smaller breeds with the energy that they require.

High protein ingredients with an added blend of vitamins and minerals as well as fruits and vegetables for antioxidants. 

Pros

• This dog food is made with natural ingredients that are easily digestible, meaning there are no hidden ingredients or artificial surprises to upset your little one’s stomach.
• Taste of the Wild contains probiotics to aid healthy digestion.
• Reduced size kibble is suited to fit smaller mouths.  

Cons:

• A few customers found that their dogs took a little while longer to adjust to this specific food than they had expected. 

ORIJEN Dry Dog Food, Grain-Free, High Protein, Fresh and Raw Animal Ingredients

The ORIJEN Dry Dog Food is designed to nourish dogs according to their natural, biological needs. 

This dog food contains whole animal ingredients from ranch-raised beef, wild boar, Boer goat, grass-fed lamb, Yorkshire pork, and wild-caught mackerel to replicate what an animal would eat in the wild. 

This protein-rich dog food is packed with a variety of fresh and raw quality animal ingredients to keep your canine companion happy, healthy, and thriving.

ORIJEN Regional Red nourishes dogs of all breeds and life stages completely while offering a delicious flavor that they’ll love.

Pros

• Contains fresh, regional ingredients that you can trust. 85% of this food is made with real animal ingredients and 15% are real fruits and vegetables.
• Free from gluten, potato, and tapioca.
• Features whole prey ingredients in ratios that mirror wild prey.

Cons

• Some customers noted that their dog struggled to adapt to this particular dog food.

Instinct Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, Original Raw Coated Natural High Protein Dog Food

Instinct Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a high protein kibble based on raw and natural ingredients. 

This dog food contains 71% real animal ingredients and 29% fruits and vegetables, meaning you know exactly what your pooch is eating. 

This dog food is suitable for dogs with severe allergies as it contains no grain content and is free from potato, soy, meat by-products, and artificial additives. 

This food made is made with probiotics to support healthy digestion and omegas for skin & coat. 

Pros

• Made with natural ingredients, so you know there are no hidden nasties to unsettle your pooches stomach.
• Helps promote lean muscle development, digestive health, and healthy skin and coat.
• Responsibly sourced, cage-free chicken is the number one ingredient. 

Cons

• A few customers found that the packaging of this particular product could be improved. 

Best Dog Food for Cocker Spaniel Buying Guide

There are some things that you should consider before buying your Cocker Spaniel a new type of dog food, but it mainly comes down to the fact that they can be prone to health issues and allergies.

Cocker Spaniels require a high-quality, protein-rich diet that will not trigger allergies and stomach sensitivities. As a result, do not be tempted into buying lower-quality food at a cheaper price.

Lower-quality dog foods often contain hidden additives and meat by-products, as well as cheap fillers that have little to no nutritional value.

Your Cocker Spaniel needs great care and healthy nutrition to thrive. You are likely to find that lower-quality food won’t have the correct nutrients that your pup requires for a balanced diet and could result in more serious health issues in the future. 

Do your research and save yourself the hassle of having a sick pup!

Check out the factors below before checking out.

Energy & Nutrients

Something to consider when choosing a new dog food for your Cocker is the nutrients and energy that it will provide. 

Like many dogs, Cocker Spaniels require a high protein diet to maintain their strong muscles and for their growth and development. 

Avoid buying animal by-products and look to see whether real meat is one of the first ingredients listed, possibly followed by another meat source or meat meal, as those foods will provide your dog with the most energy. 

Maintenance

A Cocker Spaniel’s coat is long and thick and is relatively high maintenance to manage and keep smooth. Daily brushing at home is necessary to keep the coat free of tangles and mats. 

However, the food you choose can help the maintenance process hugely too. 

You’ll want dog food that aids a shiny coat to help you manage to brush it with ease. Your dog’s diet will have a direct effect on how the coat looks and how easy it is to brush.

To make your life and your dog’s maintenance significantly easier, the food that you choose should have plenty of antioxidants, fatty acids (such as Omega-3 and Omega-6), alongside minerals for improved coat health.

Ingredients that improve your dog’s coat are generally good for your dog’s skin, which is beneficial for dogs with skin allergies.

Allergies 

Before choosing a new dog food you should consider the potential for allergies to occur and be prepared if they do. Allergies are a common ailment in dogs, and Cocker Spaniels, in particular, can be prone to them. 

However, it can be hard to avoid foods that can trigger allergic reactions, as the majority of proteins can trigger food allergies. Therefore, finding food that your dog is allergic to is largely down to trial and error, as every dog is different.

Just because Cocker Spaniels are prone to developing allergies does not mean that yours will.

There’s no need to avoid any types of protein unless your vet has specifically diagnosed your dog with a food allergy. 

Feeding Schedule 

Something that is important to consider is a feeding schedule. It’s important to note that a feeding schedule should be discussed with a veterinarian beforehand so you can wholeheartedly know what is best for your Cocker Spaniel. 

The feeding schedule that you decide on will likely take into consideration your dog’s particular needs and eating habits, so bear in mind that it is not as simple as a one size fits all type of situation.

Depending on the size of your Cocker Spaniel, 1 ½ to 2 ½ cups of dog food spread over two meals during the day should be enough to sustain your dog’s energy.   

Generally speaking, Cocker Spaniels have a hearty appetite, and so will overeat if given the chance. As a result, free-feeding is not encouraged for your Cocker Spaniel as they will gorge themselves.

It is important that you do not encourage your Cocker to eat from the table as they will learn to beg and it could lead to health issues such as obesity further down the line. 

Health

Something to consider before choosing a new dog food for your Cocker Spaniel is their health and the problems they can be prone to develop throughout their life.

Cocker Spaniels are prone to developing the life-threatening heart condition DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy). Taurine supplements have been found to improve the condition, so something important to consider is buying dog food that is concentrated on heart health.

Obesity is one of the more major dietary concerns in Cocker Spaniels. Obesity is a serious concern in dogs as it can cause metabolic and digestive disorders, heart disease, back pain, and joint disorders so you need to ensure that your dog is consuming the correct amount of food to avoid this.

Cocker Spaniels are also prone to develop hypothyroidism, whereby the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the thyroid hormone to keep your dog healthy.

Cocker Spaniels with hypothyroidism will begin to start showing symptoms, such as a dry and brittle coat or a sudden increase in weight, that you should be able to notice relatively easily.

If you suspect that your dog is suffering from hypothyroidism you should take them to a vet and they will be able to suggest the changes you will need to introduce into your dog’s diet to manage the health problem.

As their owner, it is essential that you manage their dietary requirements with the appropriate choice of food. You will want to buy dog food that is high in protein and relatively low in carbohydrates to ensure that your Cocker Spaniel maintains a healthy diet. 

Alongside this, you should look for a food that is high in fiber and ensure that your dog gets enough exercise throughout the day. Making sure that your dog leads an active lifestyle is the key to a healthier and generally happier dog.

Check with your vet

Most importantly, before making a significant change in your dog’s diet you should always check with your vet. 

The vet should be your first point of contact, as they know which foods can cause flare-ups in your Cocker Spaniel and will be able to tell you what foods are the safest bet when you feel anxious or unsure about picking the correct food for your dog.

As it largely comes down to the dog itself, it may be a lot of trial and error before you find the best dog food for your Cocker Spaniel.

However, if you’ve never had a Cocker Spaniel before, it is best that you check with your vet on which food they would recommend that you feed your dog and any ingredients you should avoid giving them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cocker Spaniels fussy eaters?

In short, yes they can be. If you have a fussy Cocker Spaniel don’t worry, it is common within their breed. However, you still need to ensure that your pup is getting the right amount of nutrients.

A high-quality food packed with protein is essential for a healthy balanced diet. If you have a fussier dog that won’t eat hard kibble alone, you could try mixing in some wet food to make it more appetizing to them. 

It is important to note that you should be monitoring how much fresh drinking water they are consuming too. If your dog continues to have food aversions, it could be them showing signs of something more serious than a food aversion and could be a food intolerance or allergy.

Take your dog to the vet after a few days to ensure that they don’t lose too much weight.  

How much should a Cocker Spaniel eat?

Depending on the size of your Cocker Spaniel, generally speaking, you should be feeding them 1 ½ to 2 ½ cups of high-quality dry kibble split into two meals a day.

You should try to avoid giving your Cocker Spaniel food from your table to prevent bad habits such as begging and picky eating from developing, especially as this can cause your dog to gain weight.

It is worth noting that you should always check with your vet if you are unsure about how much you should be feeding your Cocker Spaniel. They can help you figure out a feeding schedule that works for you and your pup.

Can Cocker Spaniels eat fruit?

Fruit can be a natural source of vitamins and a refreshing treat for your Cocker Spaniel on a hot day. They can eat a range of fruits and vegetables. However, there are some fruits you should avoid giving your dog.

Fruits that are not safe for your Cocker Spaniel to eat include grapes, cherries, and lemons. 

However, you should always be wary when introducing any kind of new food and be sensible with how much you give your dog. It is likely that you’ll know if your dog has any food sensitivities so take this into account when conducting your own research.

Before you feed your dog any fruit you should check with your vet, especially if you’re anxious about what is safe to give to them.