For a healthy and happy Cocker Spaniel, you need to feed them right. It can be a little tricky knowing how much to feed them and what the best dog food is for your Cocker.
In this guide, we’ve provided you with all the handy tips and key information you need to get on top of your Cocker’s diet.
When it comes to feeding your Cocker Spaniel, there are many factors that determine how much they need to eat. One of the most significant factors is the life stage your dog is in.
As Cocker puppies develop, their dietary requirements will change quickly and will gradually increase until they reach 12 months old. On average, your Cocker Spaniel puppy should be eating between 2 – 3 cups daily, shared between three to four meals.
Due to this, it’s often recommended that you free-feed them when they’re young.
Generally, an adult Cocker Spaniel will need 1 – 2 cups of high-quality dry food each day, split into two meals.
The amount of food they need will vary depending on their size and activity levels, so you’ll need to monitor the amounts carefully to make sure they stay at a healthy weight.
Older dogs can be fed the same amount as they were when they were younger adults, but their appetite will most likely decrease as they age. Because of this, senior Cocker Spaniels only require between 1 cup – 1.5 cups of food per day.
If you notice that your senior Cocker is starting to gain weight, then you will need to reduce the amount of food you give to them.
Senior Cockers are more likely to gain weight as their activity levels will be lower than younger dogs.
Pregnant Cockers will typically eat the same amount of food as a normal Cocker during the first four weeks of pregnancy and may even eat less.
Once they’re past the four-week mark, their appetite usually increases, and they should be given around 30% more food than usual. Pregnant dogs need to eat high-energy food, and it can be a good idea to choose food that’s specially formulated for pregnant dogs.
There are some owners who only feed their Cockers raw dog food as they argue that a raw food diet is better for their dog’s gut health.
However, the benefits of a raw diet have not been proven, and it’s still recommended that Cockers are mainly fed dry food with a limited amount of raw meat or dog wet food.
You can give your Cocker treats as rewards, but try to make sure they are healthy treats such as raw, meaty bones or fresh vegetables.
As with all dogs, grapes and chocolate are poisonous to Cockers, and they should never be allowed to eat them.
Cocker Spaniels are not known for being fussy eaters, and they usually have big appetites that need to be carefully controlled to avoid weight gain.
Cocker Spaniels should have constant access to a water bowl that’s filled with clean and fresh water. This is particularly important during high temperatures.
When it comes to their diet, Cocker Spaniels are relatively simple to look after, and they don’t require a huge amount of food on a daily basis, although it does vary depending on your dog’s weight.
As long as you make sure they get all the nutrition they need, you can be sure that you’ll have a happy and healthy pooch.
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