Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Long Cocker Spaniels Live. Cocker Spaniel Life Expectancy
- Lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Common Causes of Death in Cocker Spaniel, and how to Prevent Them.
- How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Cocker Spaniels
- How Old is Your Cocker Spaniel in Human Years
- How Long Do Cocker Spaniels Live in Human Years?
- More Ways to Make Your Cocker Spaniel Live Long
- Conclusion on Cocker Spaniel Life Expectancy
How Long Cocker Spaniels Live. Cocker Spaniel Life Expectancy
Generally, the lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel is from 12 to 15 years.
Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 60 pet Cocker Spaniels lived.
From the study, it was found that Cocker Spaniels have a average lifespan of 10.3 years. Furthermore, the study found that Cocker Spaniels can live for as long as 17.3 years.
Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Cocker Spaniels.
According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Cocker Spaniels are:
- Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
- Hematopoietic Disease: Problems having to do with platelets, blood vessels, or clotting factors.
- Neurologic Disease: Refers to problems with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
- Inflammatory Disease: Problem caused by the body`s response to an infection.
- Trauma: Issues involving injury
In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Cocker Spaniel to make your Cocker Spaniel live a longer.
Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Cocker Spaniel have a longer than average lifespan.
Do you want to know how old your Cocker Spaniel is in human years? Then, check out our Cocker Spaniel age to human years calculator
Lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See in the table below how the lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Lakeland Terrier Lifespan | 15.40 |
| Parson Russell Terrier Lifespan | 13.00 |
| Manchester Terrier Lifespan | 12.80 |
| Welsh Terrier Lifespan | 12.60 |
| Collie Lifespan | 12.60 |
| Pointer Lifespan | 12.40 |
| English Springer Spaniel Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Australian Terrier Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Saluki Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Irish Red & White Setter Lifespan | 11.40 |
| Large Munsterlander Lifespan | 11.30 |
| Cocker Spaniel Lifespan | 11.10 |
| German Longhaired Pointer Lifespan | 10.50 |
| Cocker Spaniel Lifespan | 10.30 |
| Boxer Lifespan | 10.20 |
| Giant Schnauzer Lifespan | 10.00 |
| Flat-Coated Retriever Lifespan | 9.83 |
| Greenland Dog Lifespan | 8.46 |
| Irish Wolfhound Lifespan | 7.04 |
| Bulldog Lifespan | 6.29 |
| Dogue de Bordeaux Lifespan | 3.83 |
Common Causes of Death in Cocker Spaniel, and how to Prevent Them.
We will now discuss the common causes of death in Cocker Spaniel, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Cocker Spaniel.
Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause
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Neoplastic Disease in Cocker Spaniels
Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).
Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 20.0 percent of all deaths in Cocker Spaniels.
Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Cocker Spaniel
Neoplasms in dogs, just like in people, are caused by either a genetic predisposition (like some breast cancers), an environmental factor (like smoking in humans), or a combination of both.
How to Prevent Neoplastic Disease in Cocker Spaniels
Just like in humans, there is little you can do to prevent cancers that are caused by genetic factors. You can, however, reduce the environmental risks that are associated with cancer. The `environmental` causes of neoplasia are chemical agents, infectious agents, and physical agents. An example of a chemical agent that could cause cancer in Cocker Spaniels (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Cocker Spaniels is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Cocker Spaniels is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.
Another way to prevent neoplasms in Cocker Spaniels is to vaccinate them against harmful viruses, such as canine adenovirus (DHPP vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks and then once a year, every year). As in humans, early diagnosis is the key to supporting Cocker Spaniels with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Cocker Spaniel. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Cocker Spaniel`s gums look pale.
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Hematopoietic Disease in Cocker Spaniels
Normally, the body can regulate its own blood pressure and fluid volume without outside help. However, issues in hematopoesis can cause high or low blood pressure, blood clots, edema (fluid where it`s not supposed to be, like in the lungs), and even shock.
Hematopoietic Disease is responsible for 14.8 percent of all deaths in Cocker Spaniels.
Causes of Hematopoietic Disease in Cocker Spaniel
The causes of hematopoietic problems usually involve inflammation and immune responses gone wrong. This can cause congestion, hemorrhage, and many more problems.
How to Prevent Hematopoietic Disease in Cocker Spaniels
Talk to your veterinarian if your dog`s gums or skin look very pale or very red. It`s also a good idea to talk to your vet if your dog is experiencing exercise intolerance. Many parasites can cause internal bleeding, so you should have your dog on flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives all year round. Here is a good flea and tick prevention medication (buy the box associated with your pet`s weight!).
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Neurologic Disease in Cocker Spaniels
These problems include canine cognitive disfunction, dementia, stroke, Lyme disease, and more.
Neurologic Disease is responsible for 13.0 percent of all deaths in Cocker Spaniels.
Causes of Neurologic Disease in Cocker Spaniel
Neurological issues can be caused by vascular disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and developmental disorders.
How to Prevent Neurologic Disease in Cocker Spaniels
Some neurological problems can be caused by infectious agents, like Lyme disease. You should always get your dog vaccinated with the course recommended by your veterinarian.
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Inflammatory Disease in Cocker Spaniels
Inflammation in the body is usually a good thing. When you hit your thumb with a hammer, your thumb swells up, gets red and warm, and even throbs because there is so much extra blood flow. The extra blood helps the body start the healing process. However, you can have too much of a good thing, and inflammation in the body can get out of control.
Inflammatory Disease is responsible for 10.5 percent of all deaths in Cocker Spaniels.
Causes of Inflammatory Disease in Cocker Spaniel
Chronic inflammation is generally caused by one of two things. It is either because the pathogen that is responsible for the inflammation is so sneaky and evasive that the body cannot find it and therefore stays in a prolonged state of inflammation, or the body is immunodeficient and cannot mount a strong enough immune response to destroy the infectious agent.
How to Prevent Inflammatory Disease in Cocker Spaniels
There are some over-the-counter medications that you can use in humans to modulate inflammation, but you CANNOT use many of these in Cocker Spaniels. For example, giving Tylenol to your Cocker Spaniel will likely make them very, very sick. There are not many over-the-counter medications and preventatives that are recommended for inflammatory issues in animals, so you should talk to your veterinarian if you see chronic redness, heat, throbbing, or pain in your Cocker Spaniel.
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Trauma in Cocker Spaniels
These includes cuts, bites, bruises, broken bones, wounds, scratches, and more.
Trauma is responsible for 9.8 percent of all deaths in Cocker Spaniels.
Causes of Trauma in Cocker Spaniel
One of the most common causes of trauma in Cocker Spaniels is getting hit by cats. Another common cause is bites and scratches from fighting or play with other dogs.
How to Prevent Trauma in Cocker Spaniels
The best way to keep your Cocker Spaniel from getting hit by a car is by having them on a fixed leash. Veterinarians do not recommend retractable leashes for dogs. This is because, oftentimes, dogs on retractable leashes will bolt into the road before their owners can lock the leash and get hit by cars, even though they were technically on a leash. Having a normal, fixed leash is also a good way to prevent your Cocker Spaniel from bolting on walks and getting into fights with other dogs before you can lock the leash.
Here is a good fixed leash that can save your Cocker Spaniel from traumatic accidents.
How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Cocker Spaniels
Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Cocker Spaniel is not an exception.
These disease will reduce your Cocker Spaniel`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Cocker Spaniel`s lifespan.
The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Cocker Spaniel offsprings by only breeding Cocker Spaniel that have been screened and cleared of genetic defects.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is one the organizations that keep records of which disease to which a dog breed is genetically prone.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Cocker Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy and live long, make sure that your Cocker Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
If you do not know if your Cocker Spaniel has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Cocker Spaniel for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Cocker Spaniel a pet health insurance.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Cocker Spaniels for:
How Old is Your Cocker Spaniel in Human Years
The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Cocker Spaniel. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.
Learn more about how old your Cocker Spaniel is in human years here.
In 1997, researchers from Purdue University developed a method for converting a dog`s age to its human age. Their method was based on the 1953 work of the French Veterinarian, A. Lebeau that we discussed above.
Researchers from Purdue University took Lebeau`s work further by taking into account two important factors to develop a more accurate method for converting a dog`s age into its human equivalent age:
- The size of the dog: Smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breed dogs
- The lifespan of the dog: Dog breeds that live longer lives will age slower than dog breeds that live shorter lives
The average lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel is 10.3 years.
Cocker Spaniels are small-sized dogs. Cocker Spaniels weigh 24 to 28 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Cocker Spaniel in converting Cocker Spaniel age to human age.
The researchers used data on the lifespan and weight of 5,608 mixed breed dogs and 17,927 purebred dogs to develop their method for converting the ages of dogs (of different breed sizes and lifespans ) to their equivalent human ages.
The calculator below lets you convert your Cocker Spaniel`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Cocker Spaniel`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Cocker Spaniel`s human age. If you do not know your Cocker Spaniel`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your Cocker Spaniel is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your Cocker Spaniel`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Cocker Spaniel`s up-to-date human age.
Cocker Spaniel Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a Cocker Spaniel age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your Cocker Spaniel`s human age based on your Cocker Spaniel`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Cocker Spaniel`s human birthday! Try it out!
| Cocker Spaniel Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12 |
| 2 | 19 |
| 3 | 25 |
| 4 | 30 |
| 5 | 35 |
| 6 | 40 |
| 7 | 44 |
| 8 | 48 |
| 9 | 52 |
| 10 | 56 |
| 11 | 59 |
| 12 | 63 |
| 13 | 67 |
| 14 | 71 |
| 15 | 75 |
| 16 | 79 |
How Long Do Cocker Spaniels Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel is 10.3 years. In human years, the Cocker Spaniel lives for 57 years.
How Old is 2-year-old Cocker Spaniel in Human Years?
A 2-year old Cocker Spaniel is 19 years old in human years.
How Old is 3-year-old Cocker Spaniel in Human Years?
A 3-year old Cocker Spaniel is 25 years old in human years.
How Old is 6-year-old Cocker Spaniel in Human Years?
A 6-year old Cocker Spaniel is 40 years old in human years.
How Old is 9-year-old Cocker Spaniel in Human Years?
A 9-year old Cocker Spaniel is 52 years old in human years.
More Ways to Make Your Cocker Spaniel Live Long
Here are more things your can do to make sure your Cocker Spaniel live a long life:
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Regular Exercise: Research studies have shown that one of the very effective ways to make a dog live long is to ensure that a dog is in good shape. Adequate exercise will make your Cocker Spaniel fit and make it live longer.
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Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Cocker Spaniel does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Cocker Spaniel will have a shorter lifespan than a Cocker Spaniel that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Cocker Spaniel high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Cocker Spaniel. Check out our Cocker Spaniel feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Cocker Spaniel from being overweight here.
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Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Cocker Spaniel existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Cocker Spaniel has access to clean water whenever your Cocker Spaniel needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Cocker Spaniel. See our Cocker Spaniel water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Cocker Spaniel.
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Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Cocker Spaniel might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Cocker Spaniel.
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Routine Vet Care: Regular preventative visits to the vet can help catch diseases early.
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Vaccinations: Always make sure your Cocker Spaniel is up to date on its vaccination.
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Dental Hygiene: Your Cocker Spaniel’s teeth can get infected, and if the infection goes unnoticed, that infection can spread to other parts of the body and become systemic. This could lead to a shortened lifespan. You must have your Cocker Spaniel teeth cleaned professionally at your vet’s office a couple of times in its lifetime. Talk with your vet about the best ages to have these cleanings done.
Conclusion on Cocker Spaniel Life Expectancy
We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Cocker Spaniel`s life expectancy.
Tate Ackerman contributed to this article. Tate is a second-year veterinary student at Kansas State University. Tate is also a concurrent Ph.D. student. She has a lot of experience reading scientific literature and communicating that information to a non-veterinary audience. Tate was a veterinary technician for a companion animal practice before she applied to veterinary school.