In your quest to find your pooch the perfect chow, we suggest taking a peek at our top picks of the best dog food for Cocker Spaniels. Much loved, they’re a lively breed known for being 'happy' dogs because their tails are always wagging. Plus, they love to play, making them great pets. For them to stay active, you need to make sure their diet is up to scratch with all the required nutrients. So, if you have a springy Cocker Spaniel at home, finding the right dog food will make a world of difference.
Of course, the taste is the most important factor as far as these pooches are concerned. So, we’ve made sure we’ve included options that are bound to get their tongue wagging as soon as they get a whiff at dinner time. So, should cocker spaniels eat grain-free food? All of this and more - from wet food to some doggie treats, we have some paws for thought…
Best dog food for Cocker Spaniels at a glance
• Best overall food for Cocker Spaniels: Pooch + Mutt, Adult Complete Superfood - 1.5kg
• Best dry dog food for Cocker Spaniels: Pooch + Mutt, Soft and Shiny Dry Food - 2kg
• Best wet dog food for senior Cocker Spaniels: Lily’s Kitchen, Wet Senior Recipe for Older Dogs - 400g
• Best dry dog food for Cocker Spaniel puppies: James Wellbeloved, Grain Free Dry Puppy + Junior Dog Food, 1.5kg
For our round-up, we consulted Pooch & Mutt’s in-house Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Linda Simon. Her expertise takes us through what to feed your Cocker Spaniel, from pup to a senior pooch. Like many dogs, the best food for Cocker Spaniels “depends on the dog’s needs and preferences,” says Linda.
Unfortunately, this breed is quite prone to a few health issues – which we talk about below. Linda points out dental disease as a major problem, so a dry dog food diet is often a good idea. Not only that but Spaniels suffer from “ongoing allergies and yeast infections” – which can be triggered by their diet. Linda suggests a hypoallergenic diet, which is dog food for itchy skin and allergies.
Best dog food for Cocker Spaniels
Best overall food for Cocker Spaniels
www.poochandmutt.co.uk
Pooch & Mutt's Superfood is the ultimate hypoallergenic kibble for your Spaniel. Alongside fresh chicken, this recipe contains a nutritious blend of spinach, cranberries and kale. These fruits and veg are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants - perfect for boosting immunity and overall health. With Omega oils for skin and coat, glucosamine for joints, prebiotics for digestion and chamomile for calm, this food is bursting with goodness. What a knockout!
Customer Review: "We are in the process of switching our dog over to the adult complete superfood. Our dog loves it and it seems to be agreeing with his tummy."
Pros
- Hypoallergenic and grain-free
- Omega and antioxidant-rich
- Subscription services available
Cons
- For medium and large adults only
Best dry dog food for Cocker Spaniels
www.poochandmutt.co.uk
First up, we have this 'soft and shiny' vet-recommended, grain-free dry food from Pooch + Mutt. If your dog is prone to itchy skin and needs a bit of help for a glossy coat, this food may just be the thing. It’s packed with active ingredients, including herring, which is a digestible, omega-rich protein. Plus, with added supplements such as collagen and with the Omega’s making an appearance, your dog’s skin and coat will be nourished. No more endless scratching.
Customer Review: "My really fussy dog loves this food. He doesn’t have the best skin and does seem to help.”
Pros
- Hypoallergenic and supplemented
- Vet recommended
- Omega and antioxidant-rich
Cons
- May not suit all sensitive stomachs
Best wet dog food for Cocker Spaniels
www.petsathome.com
Next, we recommend James Wellbeloved for your Cocker Spaniel's needs. They’ve combined a mixture of natural, hypoallergenic and nutritious ingredients to make hearty adult food. It contains no beef, pork, soya, eggs, wheat or dairy. This mix contains 100 per cent natural turkey and seaweed – which is rich in iodine and Omega 3 and 6 to support healthy skin and a glossy coat.
Customer Review: “I decided to switch my dog's wet food for something more nutritious and of better quality. I was supposed to buy another brand but it was out of stock and there was a great sale for this one. My dog seems to be enjoying them a lot and I'm happy seeing her eating with such an appetite!”
Pros
- Natural ingredients and hypoallergenic
- Added seaweed is rich in iodine
- Omega-rich for skin and coat health
Cons
- Not grain free
Best wet dog food for senior Cocker Spaniels
www.petsathome.com
Packed with joint care, this hand-crafted, grain-free recipe from Lily’s Kitchen is perfect for your Cocker Spaniel. Made with fresh turkey, fruit, veg and botanicals, this recipe is nourishing and will help support your senior pooch – whether their joints, coat, skin, digestion or brain function.
Customer Review: “Our dog loves the Senior recipe wet food for older dogs and licks up every drop with a waggy tail.”
Pros
- Fresh, nutritious ingredients
- Joint support with glucosamine
- Botanicals for digestive support
Cons
- Comes as singular tins
Best dry dog food for senior Cocker Spaniels
Specially crafted for senior dogs who are sensitive to cereals, James Wellbeloved has taken a sprinkle of nature's nourishing ingredients and combined them with sustainably sourced fish for a delicious meal. Coming in a 10kg bag, this fish and veg dry food has proved a lifesaver for many pups around the country, settling many tummies. With prebiotics and antioxidants, as well as glucosamine, this meal contains vital nutrients to support your senior Spaniel.
Customer Review: "Our 11-year-old Labrador has had pancreatitis her whole life. We have to give her low-fat food only. For most of her life, she has been on chicken and rice dry food. This proved to be the best food for her pancreatitis. However, over the years she's had many ear infections and anal gland problems.
"Eventually, a couple of years ago we made the hard decision to remove her anal glands. They were constantly infected and causing her a lot of pain and distress. After a tense time following this delicate operation, she is back to 'normal'. We looked into allergies and so changed her food from chicken to fish, hence the James Wellbeloved Senior Fish and Vegetable review.
"It has proved to be absolutely brilliant for her. It's low fat, and she's not had any ear infections. Her stools are slightly different but no upset tummy at all. We are very happy. It's been a long and difficult journey, especially as a lot of food has chicken in it, or is higher fat, so we haven't had a big choice. We are really happy with this food and will happily keep her on it."
Pros
- Sustainably sourced, predominantly ocean white fish
- With glucosamine - believed to help support joint mobility
- Subscribe and save with Amazon
Cons
- No variation in flavour
- Better suited to larger breeds
Best wet dog food for Cocker Spaniel puppies
www.poochandmutt.co.uk
And for the Spaniel puppies, we recommend this wet food from Pooch & Mutt, which is bursting with goodness from fresh free-run chicken and nutritious vegetables - all sourced from British farms. Not only is it high in protein, but this food is rich in added prebiotics to aid healthy growth, development and digestion. This Pooch & Mutt recipe has been formulated with no artificial flavours, colours, preservatives, grain, cereal, gluten, beef or soy. Happy and healthy!
Customer Review: "Willow gobbled up the wet food, unlike her previous food which she just picked at when she felt like it. I love the fact that the ingredients are all nutritious and natural. My dog has more energy and her coat is becoming so glossy."
Pros
- 100 per cent recyclable packaging
- Locally sourced in the UK
- Rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and prebiotics
Cons
- Not as easy to keep fresh once opened as other products
Best dry dog food for Cocker Spaniel puppies
James Wellbeloved has formulated a balanced, nutritious meal for your pup. If your young Cocker Spaniel prefers a dry meal, then why not grab a 1.5kg bag? It'll last, for sure. Made with turkey and a whole host of natural ingredients, this is a great option to help your puppy grow, develop and stay happy through its formative years. Packed with Omega 3 and 6, prebiotics, antioxidants and DHA, this dry food is grain-free and fantastic for a fussy pup with a tricky tummy.
Customer Review: "My dachshund puppy has a sensitive tummy and my friend recommended a grain-free diet - best decision ever! This food has made my pup who was toileting 6-7 times per day down to 3! He also loves the taste of this food - always excited at meal times."
Pros
- Sourced and made in the UK
- Prebiotics and antioxidants for the gut and immune system
- Supplemented with natural DHA
Cons
- No variation in flavour
Best dog food multipack for Cocker Spaniels
www.petsathome.com
James Wellbeloved’s multipack contains naturally sourced animal protein and vegetables. Hypoallergenic, there are no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. This is recommended to help support skin and coat, packed with Omega 6 and zinc. Not only that, but it aids digestion with some added grain-free fibre and supports your Cocker Spaniel's immune system with all the nutrients.
Customer Review: “My dog loves this new wet food. I have always fed him on James Wellbeloved. I highly recommend this product to owners that are looking for a variety of flavours, in healthy wet food. I mix it with dry food, and a little bit goes a long way! Will be purchasing more of this product.”
Pros
- Omega oils for skin and coat support
- Grain-free and good for digestion
- Good value and variation
Cons
- It would be worth checking if your pooch is keen on the various flavours before buying the multipack
FAQs
How much food does a Cocker Spaniel need?
According to Dr Linda Simon, how much food a Cocker Spaniel requires depends on a few factors, namely their “age, size, activity level and health status.” In general, you’ll need to feed them a complete, balanced dog food to keep them slim, as well as healthy – split into two meals.
For a healthy adult, Linda estimates “a 12-14kg dog that needs about 500 calories of food a day”, fed at the same time daily to maintain a routine. As much as we love feeding our dogs treats in-between mealtimes, training treats can unbalance a diet. So, make sure not to feed them too many. As a general rule of paw, treats shouldn’t make up more than 10% of their daily calorie intake.
Perhaps, you're thinking: what foods should cocker spaniels avoid? Food allergies can affect Cocker Spaniels, leading to health concerns like skin irritations, digestive issues, and ear infections. Common allergens for dogs can range from meats such as beef, and chicken, to dairy, corn, wheat, and soy.
Can Cocker Spaniels thrive on a raw diet?
If your Cocker Spaniel is prone to allergies or requires food for a sensitive stomach, you could feed your dog homemade chow. For this, you’ll need to be clued up on your dog’s nutritional requirements. Of course, that’ll take a fair bit of research, and factors such as age, breed, lifestyle and life stage will influence their homemade diet. Also, you should be aware of certain foods that can be harmful to your pooch.
Or – you could consider a raw diet, however, with that comes more research and concerns. Again, it’s risky as you’ll need to get the balance right, and we’d recommend working with your vet on this one. For example, Dr Linda Simon says that some dogs do well on raw diets. However, she’s not keen “due to the increased risk of food poisoning to the animal and the humans within the home.”
Which health problems are common in Cocker Spaniels?
Cocker Spaniels can be great pets, says the PDSA, but “unfortunately, like so many other purebred dogs, they are at risk of certain problems and conditions relating to their breed.” If you have a Cocker Spaniel or are thinking of getting a puppy, make sure you screen them for potential issues and, if possible, source your new furry friend from a reputable breeder (i.e. Kennel Club Assured).
Atopy – can affect your spaniel, with allergies causing skin and ear infections. Food ingredients such as grain, and rich meats can cause itchy skin. Luckily, sensitive and grain-free dog food can help.
Ear problems – such as an ear infection, which is an irritating overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in the ear. Further, this can be spotted by excessive ear scratching, pain and head shaking.
Dental – can be a painful problem, which can lead to more serious health issues.
Auto-immune conditions
Eye problems – which include inherited conditions; luckily, there is BVA/KC testing for this.
Hip dysplasia – is where the hip joint doesn’t fit together correctly, which can lead to arthritis. For support, we suggest joint supplements and screening through the BVA’s Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
Inherited conditions – which include familial nephropathy, adult-onset neuropathy and acral mutilation syndrome. There is CombiBreed health testing available for these conditions.
Is dry or wet food better for cocker spaniels?
Both dry and wet dog food will work just fine for a Cocker spaniel.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Take a Break, specialising in pet health. When she’s not barking about dog supplements, she’s online devouring cat content.