The Cockapoo is a famous dog breed that came to be as a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. That’s where their name comes from, too! These cute and fluffy dogs are adored for their lovely looks, friendly behavior, and loyalty. They are prized as companion dogs, and with good reason. Sometimes, they might require a little positive reinforcement and training, or they can show a bit of a temperamental side from time to time. But in general, they are adorable dogs in every regard. But, just like many other crossbreeds, Cockapoos can also suffer from some inherited problems. What problems do Cockapoos have, and are they a reason for you to worry?
The first thing we need to consider is the parentage of the Cockapoo. While some mixed breeds are thought to be less prone to genetic issues, they might still inherit problems from their parent breeds. In this case, those are the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniels. Both breeds are known to have a few hereditary conditions, and these can be transferred to the Cockapoo. This is especially true if you get to deal with an irresponsible, amateur breeder. So, potential Cockapoo problems might occur – with this breed, it’s all a gamble: you never know what your pet will be like.
Eye disease
Overall, Cockapoos are considered healthy and hardy dogs. But, there is always that small percentage of dogs who will inherit something from their parent breeds. One major problem that can occur in such cases is called progressive retinal atrophy. This degenerative disease is most commonly seen in Cocker Spaniels but can appear in Poodles too. If your Cockapoo inherits it from both parents, the disease has a great chance of developing. It affects the eyes and deteriorates the cells of the photoreceptors in them. As the eyes deteriorate, the end result is blindness. Sadly, there is no treatment for this mean disease.
Another potential problem is known as glaucoma. It is also an eye condition that can be inherited from the Cocker Spaniel side. This illness causes unhealthy levels of pressure in the dog’s eyes. This can damage the optic nerves and cause blindness. Laser treatments for this problem are costly and can go up to two thousand dollars.
Von Willebrand Disease
Cockapoos can also inherit the so-called “Von Willebrand disease”, a blood clotting disorder from which bleeding can become prolonged and excessive. They can inherit this from both parent breeds, and it can be a fairly common occurrence. Again, no cure exists for this disease, but treatment is possible to keep it managed.
Hip and kidney issues
Hip dysplasia, a common problem in many breeds, can also trouble Cockapoos. If left untreated, it can develop into a serious hip issue that can hamper movement. Also, a potential issue that they can inherit from Cocker Spaniels is familial nephropathy. This rare condition causes early kidney failure and is passed on hereditarily. The chances for this are small, but they still exist.
However, all of these potential issues should not be a concern for excess worry. Reliable breeders screen dogs for these issues and rear only healthy Cockapoos. Of course, it won’t hurt to keep an eye out for early signs of any of these problems, so you can react quickly and keep your pet in prime health.
Photo credit: mountaintreks/Shutterstock
The first thing we need to consider is the parentage of the Cockapoo. While some mixed breeds are thought to be less prone to genetic issues, they might still inherit problems from their parent breeds. In this case, those are the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniels. Both breeds are known to have a few hereditary conditions, and these can be transferred to the Cockapoo. This is especially true if you get to deal with an irresponsible, amateur breeder. So, potential Cockapoo problems might occur – with this breed, it’s all a gamble: you never know what your pet will be like.
Eye disease
Overall, Cockapoos are considered healthy and hardy dogs. But, there is always that small percentage of dogs who will inherit something from their parent breeds. One major problem that can occur in such cases is called progressive retinal atrophy. This degenerative disease is most commonly seen in Cocker Spaniels but can appear in Poodles too. If your Cockapoo inherits it from both parents, the disease has a great chance of developing. It affects the eyes and deteriorates the cells of the photoreceptors in them. As the eyes deteriorate, the end result is blindness. Sadly, there is no treatment for this mean disease.
Another potential problem is known as glaucoma. It is also an eye condition that can be inherited from the Cocker Spaniel side. This illness causes unhealthy levels of pressure in the dog’s eyes. This can damage the optic nerves and cause blindness. Laser treatments for this problem are costly and can go up to two thousand dollars.
Von Willebrand Disease
Cockapoos can also inherit the so-called “Von Willebrand disease”, a blood clotting disorder from which bleeding can become prolonged and excessive. They can inherit this from both parent breeds, and it can be a fairly common occurrence. Again, no cure exists for this disease, but treatment is possible to keep it managed.
Hip and kidney issues
Hip dysplasia, a common problem in many breeds, can also trouble Cockapoos. If left untreated, it can develop into a serious hip issue that can hamper movement. Also, a potential issue that they can inherit from Cocker Spaniels is familial nephropathy. This rare condition causes early kidney failure and is passed on hereditarily. The chances for this are small, but they still exist.
However, all of these potential issues should not be a concern for excess worry. Reliable breeders screen dogs for these issues and rear only healthy Cockapoos. Of course, it won’t hurt to keep an eye out for early signs of any of these problems, so you can react quickly and keep your pet in prime health.
Photo credit: mountaintreks/Shutterstock
