Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide on feeding Cocker Spaniel.
In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a Cocker Spaniel, how often to feed your Cocker Spaniel; when to feed your Cocker Spaniel, what foods to feed your Cocker Spaniel., what foods to avoid feeding your Cocker Spaniel; and other questions you may have about your Cocker Spaniel’s nutrition.
You can read the article to the end, or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.
- Cocker Spaniel Nutritional Requirements
- Factors Affecting The Feeding Of A Cocker Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel Feeding Amount
- Cocker Spaniel Feeding Frequency
- Cocker Spaniel Feeding Schedule
- The Kind of Food To Feed A Cocker Spaniel
- The Kind of Foods To Avoid Feeding A Cocker Spaniel
- When To Transition A Cocker Spaniels From Puppy Food To Adult Food
- Why Your Cocker Spaniel Is Not Eating
- Why Your Cocker Spaniel Is Always Hungry
- Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding a Cocker Spaniel
- Final Thoughts
Cocker Spaniel are known to be easy-going and affectionate. They famously enjoy attention and can be cute show dogs. They are considered good with children because of their non-aggressive nature.
I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Cocker Spaniels to curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem. I will go into details from my knowledge working for a vet on every feed question you might have.
Let’s jump into the article.
Cocker Spaniel Nutritional Requirements
Cocker Spaniels are small sized dogs that require the proper nutrients in their specific amount to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.
Your Cocker Spaniel’s meal should majorly consist of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins to meet their nutritional requirements for a healthy lifestyle.
Your Cocker Spaniel’s protein source must be from animal protein like chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. Their fat source can be from fish oil or vegetables. Their source of fiber can come from wholesome healthy vegetables like cabbages, carrots, sprouts, and broccoli.
Your Cocker Spaniel meals should contain some amount of vitamins and minerals for a healthy immune system and bones.
Nutritional Requirement for a Cocker Spaniels Puppy
The diet of a Cocker Spaniel puppy should consist of 22-32% protein, 10-25% fat, and 6% fiber.
Cocker spaniel puppies are incredibly energetic and have a high metabolism. They require protein for building healthy muscles, minerals for building strong bones, carbohydrates for giving them energy, and fats for maintaining a healthy fur.
Nutritional Requirement for Adult Spaniel
The meal plan for an adult Cocker Spaniel should consist of 15–23% protein, carbohydrate, 8–10% fat, and fiber.
Cocker spaniels are most active at this stage and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage, as Cocker Spaniels are prone to obesity and can develop health complications.
Nutritional Requirement For Senior Cocker Spaniel
Your Cocker spaniel is less active at this stage than the previous stages. At this age, your pet’s food should ideally contain 26% protein, 10% fat, and 3% fiber. Senior Cocker Spaniels will need more minerals and vitamins added to their food to boost their immune systems and bone health.
Factors Affecting The Feeding Of A Cocker Spaniel
Some factors will affect the diet of your Cocker Spaniels, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.
Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.
Size consideration
The average length of a Cocker Spaniel for males is 15.5–16 cm (39–41 cm) and for females is 15–15.5 inches (38–39 cm) from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a male Cocker Spaniel is 13–16 kg, and that of a female is 12–15 kg.
Male Cocker Spaniels are generally bigger than female Cocker Spaniels, which means that the male will require a larger intake of calories than the female to stay healthy and strong.
Age consideration
Cocker spaniel puppies will require more calories during their growing stage due to their high metabolic rate. They need to be fed a lot if you want them to grow into strong, healthy dogs.
Adult Cocker spaniels should not be fed more than puppy Cocker spaniels. The adults have a slow metabolism that can lead to stomach bloating and indigestion if they’re fed excessively.
As a senior, your Cocker Spaniel is less active and will require fewer calories than at the adult stage. Doing otherwise might lead to obesity and other serious health problems.
Activity Level
Athletes are required to maintain a strict diet compared to non-athletes, so you should also keep your Cocker spaniel away from certain foods if you want to maintain its athletic abilities.
You wouldn’t want to feed your dog a meal high in fat and sodium, like cheap fast food, which would make him sluggish and lethargic.
These fast foods don’t contain the nutrients that would make your dog perform to the best of their abilities and make them slow to learn new tricks or obey your commands.
Health Consideration
Cocker spaniels are prone to certain health conditions which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent them from those issues.
Some health issues that affect your dog breed include hip dysplasia, glaucoma, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, heart problems, dental problems, obesity, intervertebral disc disease, patellar luxation, liver problems, and skin and ear problems.
These health problems could be avoided or mitigated by eating or avoiding certain foods from the start, rather than treating them as they arise.
It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act in the long run could lead to pain, seeing your Cocker Spaniel sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses.
Cocker Spaniel Feeding Amount
Your Cocker Spaniel, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need according to their nutritional requirement.
On average, feed your Cocker Spaniel puppy 1.77 to 2.38 cups of food, which has 610 to 1046 kcal per day; feed your adult Cocker Spaniels 2.50 to 3 cups per day, which has 803 to 926 kcal per day; and feed your senior Cocker Spaniels 1.68 to 2.38 cups per day, which has 524 to 765 kcal per day.
I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.
How Much To Feed a Puppy Cocker Spaniel
For your puppy and adolescent to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.
A Cocker Spaniel puppy should be given 1.75 to 2.38 cups of food per day that contains 610-1046 Kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The feeding requirement of your puppy is given in detail in the charts below:
| Age | Daily Food Quantity (Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 2 months | 1.75 – 2.38 | 610 – 828 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
| 3 months | 2 – 2.75 | 697 – 959 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
| 4 – 6 months | 2.13 – 3 | 741 – 1,046 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
| 7 months | 1.88 – 2.88 | 654 – 1,002 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
| 8 – 9 months | 1.75 – 2.63 | 610 – 915 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
| 10 months | 1.5 – 2.25 | 523 – 784 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
| 11 months | 1.5 – 2.13 | 523 – 741 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
| 12 months | 1.68 – 2.23 | 586 – 777 | 22% – 32% | 10% – 25% |
Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.
How Much To Feed an Adult Dog Cocker Spaniel
The nutritional requirements of an adult Cocker Spaniel differ from those of a puppy. The food of a mature Cocker Spaniel should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity.This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.
An adult Cocker Spaniel puppy should be given 2.50 to 3 cups of food per day that contains 803 to 926 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of adult Cocker Spaniels and help you with their meal plan.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 1 – 6 years | 2.50 – 3 | 803 – 926 | 15% – 23% | 8% – 10% |
How Much To Feed a Senior Cocker Spaniel
Senior Cocker Spaniels are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain fewer calories, protein, and fat.
Geriatric Cocker Spaniels are often plagued with health issues. Some of these issues can be alleviated by supplementing your senior dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals to help revive his or her weakened immune system and fragile bones.
Senior and geriatric Cocker spaniel puppies should be given 1.6–3 cups of food per day that contains 524–765 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.
The table below gives you some details about the meal plan of an older Cocker Spaniel.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 7 years and above | 1.63 – 2.38 | 524 – 765 | 26% | 12% |
You can continue giving your senior Cocker Spaniel the same food you gave them as an adult, only in a lesser quantity, as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.
Cocker Spaniel Feeding Frequency
Your Cocker Spaniel’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your Cocker Spaniels:
How Often Should You Feed a Cocker Spaniel Puppy?
• During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times a day with equally spaced time intervals.
| Age | Optimal Feeding Times |
| 2 – 5 months | 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. |
| 6 – 12 months | 8:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. |
| 1 year and above | 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. |
How Often Should You Feed an Adult Cocker Spaniel?
You should feed your adult Cocker Spaniels twice a day, with 12 hours of spacing between meals. One in the morning and one in the evening is ideal.
How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Cocker Spaniels?
You should feed your senior Cocker Spaniels two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.
Cocker Spaniel Feeding Schedule
• Cocker Spaniel’s puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues
• Adolescent Cocker Spaniels should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into adults.
• Adult and Senior Cocker Spaniels should also be fed in the morning and the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.
As a general rule, you should feed your Cocker Spaniels a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.
In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be primarily used as a reward when training your Cocker Spaniel.
| Age | Optimal Feeding Times |
| 2 – 5 months old | 6:00 am, 11:00 am, 4:00 pm, and 9:00 pm |
| 6 – 12 months | 7:00 am, 12:00 pm, 5:00 pm |
| 1 – 6 years | 7:00 am, 7:00 pm |
| 7 years and above | 7:00 am or 7:00 pm if fed once a day; 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. if fed twice a day. |
The Kind of Food To Feed A Cocker Spaniel
The food you feed your Cocker Spaniels should specifically cater to small breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.
The kind of food to feed your Cocker Spaniels includes dry dog food, wet dog food, a home-cooked diet, and Biological Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.
Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:
- Dry Dog Food: Dry dog food, or kibble, is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog food contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein, and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.
- Wet Dog Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.
- Home-Cooked Diet: Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.
- BARF Diet:Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.
The Kind of Foods To Avoid Feeding A Cocker Spaniel
We should take caution before giving whatever food we’re eating to our Cocker Spaniels. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.
There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Cocker Spaniels because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.
Human foods to avoid feeding your Cocker Spaniels include chocolates, coffee, gum, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.
The fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Cocker Spaniels include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.
You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.
When To Transition A Cocker Spaniels From Puppy Food To Adult Food
You should transition your Cocker Spaniel puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10–12 months old.
Transitioning your adolescent Cocker Spaniels from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.
Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit, until you get to 100% adult feed.
However, feeding your adult Cocker spaniel puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.
| Day | Old Food | New Food |
| Day 1 – 2 | 75% | 25% |
| Day 3 – 4 | 50% | 50% |
| Day 5 – 6 | 25% | 75% |
| Day 7 – 8 | 0% | 100% |
Why Your Cocker Spaniel Is Not Eating
Your Cocker Spaniel will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:
Illness, dental problems, teething, medication, constipation, time of day, spoiled food, dehydration, and stress
Cocker Spaniels are not picky eaters, so when they are eating it might be a sign of some underlying illness that needs to be treated by the vet.
Sometimes it can be something as mild as stress, which can resolve itself after some time, but if your dog is not drinking water or eating, then you need to see the vet immediately.
Why Your Cocker Spaniel Is Always Hungry
Cocker spaniels, like other small dog breeds, are big eaters. However, being hungry all the time could stem from issues that are not physical, like stress, learned behaviors, and a lack of training.
Some medical problems can cause this, like Cushing’s disease. Another reason may be the lack of adequate amounts of appropriate nutrition in your dog’s feed.
Excessive exercise will make your dog’s body burn calories faster and thus make them hungry after such exercises. Worms could be another reason your dog is always hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding a Cocker Spaniel
Do Cocker Spaniels eat a lot?
Can Cocker spaniels become vegetarians?
However, you should consult a pet nutritionist or veterinarian to plan a vegan diet for your dog breed to prevent health complications that can arise from an uncertain practice.
Can Cocker Spaniels eat bones?
However, you should follow some guidelines laid down by the American Kennel Club before giving bones to your Cocker spaniel. One of the guidelines is to throw away the raw meat bones given to your furry friend after three to four days.
What human food can I feed my cocker spaniel?
What fruits and vegetables can I feed my Cocker spaniel?
Should you give your Cocker Spaniel supplements?
Final Thoughts
Cocker spaniels are excellent lap dogs; they are attached to their owners and generally affectionate to those around them. You must give them the best nutrition to ensure they grow into a healthy animals
Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your Cocker Spaniels as puppies, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they go on. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.
However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Cocker Spaniels, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.
