Caring For An Adult Cocker Spaniel
Learn the tips and tricks to maintaining a happy and healthy
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Most Cocker owners take their dogs to a local groomer every 4-5 weeks. The great scent and clean coat start to fade after about 2 weeks. You could take your dog back to the groomer or do some simple things to make it last longer. Brushing your dog's hair is the easiest way to do it. All you need is a "pin brush".
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Sometimes Cockers will get very dirty and require a bath. It might be a bit awkward the first few times but it will get much easier with practice. The bathtub is an ideal place to bathe your Cocker. A hand-held shower massage with a long hose makes it easier. You will need dog shampoo, conditioner, towels, a human hair dryer and a pin brush.
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Cockers are one of the breeds with hanging ears. The ear flaps fold down and cover most of the openings for their ears. This creates another situation where dirt can accumulate and become infected. You can help avoid problems by keeping water out of their ears and cleaning them on a weekly basis. You can put Malacetic Otic or other ear cleaning solution on a cotton ball and swab the inside of their ears with it. Ear cleaning solution is available from your veterinarian and pet supply stores.
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Dogs' teeth have a lot in common with human teeth. If left unchecked, plaque will start to form on the teeth. It is the primary cause of stinky "dog breath". Over time it will lead to gum disease and tooth decay, which is painful for the dog and can require significant medical expense for you. The way to avoid these problems is to brush your dog's teeth and have them checked and cleaned by your veterinarian.
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The best time to clip your Cocker's toenails is at the end of the day when they are tired. Lay them down on the couch or the floor next to you. Hold a foot with one hand and use the other to find a toenail. It is easier if you find one that is a translucent white. You can look at it from the side to get an idea where the quick ends. The quick contains blood. You want to clip the nail just beyond the quick. It is more difficult to know where to clip a black toenail. All the nails on a foot tend to grow at the same rate. If you find the quick on a white toenail, you should clip the same amount off a black toenail on the same foot. Another way to find the best location to clip is to look for the new growth on the toenail. There will be a notch in the underside of the toenail between the new and old growth. You can clip where the new growth starts.
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An overweight dog will not live as long and will have more health problems related to their excess weight. The two main factors that control weight are the food they eat and the exercise they get. You should feed them a well-known brand of dry dog food at the rate specified on the bag for their ideal weight. You can feed a diet version of their regular food to give them more volume with fewer calories. Your Cocker shouldn't get any people food and only an occasional dog treat.
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