Field Spaniel Health Problems and Raising a Field Spaniel Puppy to be Healthy

Quiz – How Long Will Your Dog Live?
How To Raise a Healthy Dog
Feeding the Best Dog Food
Feeding the 2nd Best Dog Food
Vaccinations: Needed or Not?
Are You Sure Your Vet Is Good?

The most common health problems in Field Spaniels:

The most common orthopedic diseases are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and luxating patella (loose knees). The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 620 Field Spaniels and found 19% dysplastic. That's VERY high, and the true rate is even higher because most of the obviously bad X-rays were not sent in for official evaluation. For comparison, American and English Cocker Spaniels are only at 6%.

The eye disease that causes the most concern in Field Spaniels is retinal dysplasia. Around 3 years old, cataracts can appear. Occasionally reported are progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cherry eye, and eyelid abnormalities (entropion and ectropion).

Epilepsy is unfortunately common in Field Spaniels, as is hypothyroidism. According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, up to 13% of Field Spaniels have low thyroid levels.

Heart disease (subaortic stenosis) is becoming a concern in Field Spaniels.

Allergies cause itchy skin and often lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma), and ear infections are common in all spaniels due to long hairs clogging the narrow ear canals.

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR Field Spaniel?

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Field Spaniels today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find a Field Spaniel puppy who is genetically healthy.
2. Other health problems are environmental – caused by the way you raise your dog. My best-selling dog health book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to prevent environmental health problems by raising your Field Spaniel puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Field Spaniel puppy or adult dog:

How Long Will Your Dog Live? – Take This Quiz!
Based on your dog's breed and how you're raising him, this personalized quiz will help you understand how long your dog might live – and most importantly, how you can increase his life expectancy.

Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Field Spaniel lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your Field Spaniel
The best diet for feeding your Field Spaniel is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, bison, venison, fish....This is not "people food" and I'll tell you why.

The Second-Best Dog Food For Your Field Spaniel
If you can't feed homemade dog food, here are your next-best choices.

Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Field Spaniel puppy really need? Does your adult Field Spaniel need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed. Find out what many vets aren't telling you.

The Type of Veterinarian I Recommend
Is your veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Learn about the differences between vets who practice conventional, holistic, and alternative veterinary medicine.

Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female Field Spaniel.

Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of neutering your male dog.

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