In April 2013 we launched a Health Survey on cockapoos with our members. A 100 people completed a online questionnaire. The answers were taken in good faith and where viable Health Tests were verified by being on KC health finder database or the acceptance of a certificate number. The results give a snap shot view of health ranging from puppies to adults, both sexes and all types of cockapoos.
Here are the results:
Type of Cockapoo you own?
F1 ENGLISH COCKAPOO 84%
F2 ENGLISH COCKAPOO 2%
F3 ENGLISH COCKAPOO 0%
F1B ENGLISH COCKAPOO 2%
F1 AMERICAN COCKAPOO 5%
F2 AMERICAN COCKAPOO 0%
F3 AMERICAN COCKAPOO 0%
F1B AMERCIAN COCKAPOO 0%
NOT SURE 5%
OTHER 2%
Health Certificates?
GIVEN BY BREEDER 37%
NOT GIVEN BY BREEDER 42%
DONT KNOW 21%
SIRES BREED
TOY POODLE 22%
MINIATURE POODLE 59%
STANDARD POODLE 1%
ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL 9%
AMERICAN COCKER SPANIEL 0%
ENGLISH COCKAPOO 2%
AMERICAN COCKAPOO 0%
NOT KNOWN 7%
WERE HEALTH TESTS DONE ON THE SIRE?
YES 45%
NO 33%
DONT KNOW 52%
SIRES HEALTH DETAILS
CPRA - (BVA eye test for ENGLISH COCKER SPANIELS) 3%
GPRA Also known as pcrd-PRA. - (DNA eye test for POODLES, COCKAPOOS and COCKER SPANIELS) 27%
BVA EYE TEST 15%
FAMILIAL NEUROPATHY (FN): Recommended for ENGLISH COCKER SPANIELS 4%
PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE (PFK): Recommended for AMERICAN COCKER SPANIELS 0%
HIP DYSPLASIA 12%
Other 39%
HEALTH TEST VERIFICATION
VERIFIED ON KC HEALTH FINDER 13%
VERIFIED BY HAVING COPIES OF CERTS/HEALTH RESULTS 46%
CLEAR BY PARENTAGE (Grandarents have had tests and I have seen or been given proof by breeder) 9%
TOLD BY BREEDER/
UNABLE TO VERIFY 24%
Other 7%
PRA INFORMATION - MUST BE CHECKED WITH KENNEL CLUB - http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/mateselect/test/Default.aspx
PRA CLEAR/UNAFFECTED 73%
PRA CARRIER 0%
PRA AFFECTED 0%
Other 27%
DAMS BREED
TOY POODLE 2%
MINIATURE POODLE 6%
STANDARD POODLE 1%
ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL 74%
AMERICAN COCKER SPANIEL 4%
ENGLISH COCKAPOO 6%
AMERICAN COCKAPOO 0%
NOT KNOW 7%
WERE HEALTH TESTS DONE ON THE DAM?
YES 21%
NO 8%
DONT KNOW 71%
DAMS HEALTH TEST DETAILS
CPRA - (BVA eye test for ENGLISH COCKER SPANIELS) 15%
GPRA Also known as pcrd-PRA. - (DNA eye test for POODLES, COCKAPOO'S and COCKER SPANIELS) 15%
BVA EYE TEST 26%
FAMILIAL NEUROPATHY (FN): Recommended for ENGLISH COCKER SPANIELS 0%
PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE (PFK): Recommended for AMERICAN COCKER SPANIELS 0%
HIP DYSPLASIA 12%
Other 32%
HEALTH TEST VERIFICATION
VERIFIED ON KC HEALTH FINDER 17%
VERIFIED BY HAVING COPIES OF CERTS/HEALTH RESULTS 42%
CLEAR BY PARENTAGE (Grandarents have had tests and I have seen or been given proof by breeder) 8%
TOLD BY BREEDER, UNABLE TO VERIFY 33%
Other 0%
PRA INFORMATION MUST BE CHECKED WITH KENNEL CLUB - http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/mateselect/test/Default.aspx
PRA CLEAR/UNAFFECTED 45%
PRA CARRIER 5%
PRA AFFECTED 0%
Other 50%
YOUR DOGS HEALTH SURVEY
HAS YOUR DOG REQUIRED VETERINARY TREATMENT FOR ILLNESS, CONDITION OR RECURRENT INFECTIONS?
YES 33%
NO 66%
DONT KNOW 1%
ALLERGIES:
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 9%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 6%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3 yrs 6%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3 yrs + 0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 79%
ALLERGY INFORMATION
According to the Vet - House dustmites and a variety of grass pollens.
Rabbit mites, change of season ear problems, bites paws
Still searching for the causes lots of things!
Mainly yeast in body, pollen, house dust
Not known he has had an allergy test but it only showed that it was an indoor allergy not a very helpful test but it would appear the older he gets the less trouble he has
Food with additives or unusual food also stress
MENINGITIS
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3yrs 6%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3yrs +0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 94%
PANCREATITIS
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3yrs 3%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3 yrs + 0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 97%
HIP DYSPLASIA
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 3%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3yrs 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3yrs + 0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 97%
LUXATING PATELLA
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3 yrs 3%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3 yrs + 0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 97%
COLITIS/GARDIA/CAMPYLOBACTER
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 6%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1 yr - 3 yrs 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3yrs +0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 94%
EPILEPSY
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3 yrs 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3 yrs + 0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 100%
GLAUCOMA
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS00%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3 yrs 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3 yrs +0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 100%
PRA
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 13%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3 yrs 0%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3 yrs + 0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 97%
RECURRENT EAR INFECTIONS
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 12%
DIAGNOSED AGED 6 - 12 MONTHS 12%
DIAGNOSED AGED 1yr - 3 yrs 13%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3 yrs + 0%
AGE NOT KNOWN 0%
NOT DIAGNOSED 73%
ANY MAJOR, ILLNESS, CONDITION, RECURRING INFECTION NOT MENTIONED ABOVE
Names have been taken out to provide confidentiality..a snapshot:
Has had gastroenteritis about 3 or 4 times requiring treatment at the vets .
Heamoragic colitis starts with anxiety, stress and food .
Ear mites when we brought him home from breeder. Cleared after around 1 month with ear drops
Eye Infection
Aged 5 months was taken into hospital with suspected pancreatitus but tested negative, it is now thought she caught seasonal canine illness.
High temperature, lack of appetite.... No cause found
Colitis symptoms (vomiting and diarrhoea with mucus and blood) are caused by intolerance to certain foods (not strictly speaking an allergy). Processed foods with grain in and especially rice are a major cause and also those with meat in. As a result she is able to eat only fish and vegetable kibble but in general can manage raw or cooked meats (chicken and small amounts of beef or lamb) without too much problem. Sardines, salmon and oily fish are problematic too.
At 6 months old there was concern over clouding in the eyes and we were referred to a specialist opthalmic vet. He carried out an examination and noted a green shading on the image of the eye. Apparently this is thought by some vets to be a precursor to PRA. At that time he declared her fit and her eye sight good but, mainly for research purposes, has monitored her regularly to see if the theory is valid and if PRA would develop. He was especially keen to do this because her parents were DNA tested and most dogs he sees have only BVA tests. No further deterioration has occurred over the years and now aged 4 her eye sight still seems fine. Her eyes still have a blue clouding which is more apparent sometimes than others but there seems to be no problem.
Had lung worm aged 10 weeks
Agressive problems
Infected and blocked anal glands
Sensitive Trachea
Parvovirus
He was very anxious from day one. He also had an unusual gait. After over a year of blood tests and X-rays He was diagnosed with a neurological disorder. There was also a suggestion that he had a thyroid problem but this did not improve with drugs. Sadly his condition worsened and even a weekly home visit from the behaviourist did not help. He did not recognise us when out for walks in the end and would lash out biting when we tried to put him on his lead. He was scared of his own shadow and had no quality of life in the end.
Unfortunately my little dog passed away 1 yr ago with AIDS. I was informed by the vet that this genetic disease is quite well known in both the poodle breed and the cocker spaniel breed. It is also more common in bitches. There are no screening tests available to see if the parents carry the defective gene and also no screening tests to see if the pups are suffering from the defective gene. The disease is ALWAYS fatal and there is absolutely no treatment available.Usually the unfortunate dog dies within 3-5 days of the 1st symptoms showing.
We thought he might have Hip Dysplasia, but he hasn't! So at aged 3 he was diagnosed as not having Hip Dysplasia after a xray and various treatments. It is a muscle issue.
Skin infection causing mild hair loss
DIAGNOSED AGED 2 - 6 MONTHS 27%
DIAGNOSED 6 - 12 MONTHS 0%
DIAGNOSED 1yr - 3 yrs 12%
DIAGNOSED AGED 3yrs + 6%
AGE NOT KNOWN 3%
NOT DIAGNOSED 52%
Thank you to all the club members who participated in the Health Survey.