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Cocker Spaniels might charm their way into every room, but they also come with some sneaky health sensitivities. From ear infections to weight struggles and itchy skin, they need more than a standard scoop from a bag of food. And with so many options in the market, knowing what actually supports their health can be a real challenge.
So, what should go in their bowl? Think quality proteins, ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties, and nutrients that target common breed issues — all backed by expert insight. Whether you're starting from scratch or fine-tuning what’s already working, the right diet can be a game-changer for your pup’s wellbeing.
Read more: Cocker Spaniel breed insights: care, personality & expert tips
How nutrition can help common Cocker Spaniel health concerns
Weight management
Cocker Spaniels are food lovers by nature, which can easily lead to weight gain — especially if they're not getting enough exercise or being overfed. Excess weight may also increase the risk of heart disease1 and joint issues2.
Try this:
Feeding portion-controlled, nutrient-dense meals and low-fat treats can help manage your dog’s weight effectively. A real food diet that’s high in lean protein and fibre supports satiety and a healthy body condition. Research3 has shown that lean dogs can live up to 2.5 years longer.
Lyka meals are custom-portioned to your dog’s ideal weight and lifestyle. Include high-fibre veggies like carrots and pumpkin.
Read more: Lyka’s vet guide to healthy dog weight (with charts and videos)
Skin sensitivities
Cocker Spaniels are predisposed to dermatological conditions, which can include itchy skin, hot spots, dull coats or recurring ear infections. While some triggers are environmental, food sensitivities can also be culprits.
Try this:
Feeding your Cocker a novel protein or limited ingredient diet can help manage sensitivities. Skin-supporting ingredients like flaxseed, fish oil, and zinc promote a healthy, shiny coat.
A hypoallergenic recipe made with novel proteins (like Lyka’s goat-based Hypoallergenic Pro) may reduce allergic flare-ups.
Read more: Dog skin allergies: triggers, symptoms and itch relief treatment (with photos)
Read more: Dog ear infections: causes, symptoms and treatment
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How to choose the best food for your Cocker Spaniel
Fresh food, raw, wet or dry? Supermarket, pet shop, or delivered to your door? There are so many dog food options on the market — where do you begin?
1. Complete and balanced
Cocker Spaniels, like all pups, need a complete and balanced diet containing the right nutrients in the right proportions.
Australia has pet food standards, but they’re largely unregulated. Many brands follow AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) or FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) guidelines.
Meeting AAFCO and FEDIAF standards is just the start. Lyka meals are formulated by a team of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists to ensure they’re complete and balanced for all life stages.
Read more: Dog food ingredients: a glossary of common and confusing terms
2. Optimal nutrition for your Cocker Spaniel
Not all dog food is created equally. The variety and quality of the ingredients and cooking methods can all impact the nutrient availability of your dog’s food.
Many raw dog food options present a good balance of high-quality protein, fresh produce, and superfoods. But not all dogs can easily digest raw food, especially pups with a weakened immune system, or digestive issues.
Dry food (kibble) often contains high amounts of carbohydrates and synthetic vitamins and minerals. The animal protein used in kibble is often pet-grade, like meat meal or meat by-products, that vary in quality and are not subject to the same checks as human-grade meat. Kibble is usually cooked at high temperatures, which can reduce digestibility and can lead to the potential formation of harmful compounds, like acrylamides.
Home cooking can be a great option for your dog, but making sure each mouthful is complete and balanced is not easy to do without expert guidance.
Lyka meals are made using human-grade ingredients and are gently cooked then snap-frozen to retain their nutritional value and digestibility. Each meal is high in protein and custom-portioned to meet your dog’s daily needs.
Want to dig deeper into which type of food is best for your Cocker Spaniel? We’ve created a series of guides to help you make an informed choice.
Read more: Freshly cooked vs kibble for dogs: which is better?
Read more: Freshly cooked vs raw meat for dogs: which is better?
Read more: Fresh vs home cooking for your dog: which is better?
Read more: Freshly cooked vs wet food for dogs: which is better?
How much food does a Cocker Spaniel need?
Serving size recommendations based solely on weight don’t tell the full story. Your dog’s energy level, lifestyle and body condition score are all part of the picture.
That’s why Lyka calculates your Cocker Spaniel’s portion sizes based on their personal profile, not just on their weight.
Establish a consistent feeding routine with your Cocker Spaniel to support their digestion, especially if they have a sensitive stomach.
Do Cocker Spaniel puppies and senior dogs need special food?
Not necessarily. Nutrient-dense, real food meals formulated for all life stages — like Lyka — cover the daily requirements of both growing pups and dogs in their golden years.
Read more: What should puppies eat? Expert nutrition tips for optimal development
Read more: Why real food is the healthiest choice for senior dogs
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New to Lyka? Let’s rethink dog food together
Parenting a Cocker Spaniel comes with plenty of decisions. Choosing what’s in their bowl is one of the most important.
Designed by Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists and made with real, human-grade ingredients, Lyka meals are custom-portioned to match your dog’s needs.
Cocker Spaniels across Australia are already thriving on Lyka — yours could be next. Join our pack of proud Cocker Spaniel parents today.
References:
1 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.14775
2 https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.3415/VCOT-08-08-0069
3 https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/220/9/javma.2002.220.1315.xml
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