Spaniel (Cocker)

Good Practice schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that breeders, at a minimum, conduct these tests before breeding, as evidence indicates these conditions are a significant concern in the breed.

• Prioritising genetic diversity
• DNA test for Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS)
• DNA test for Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA)
• Hip testing (for hip dysplasia) using the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme

Best Practice schemes and tests

These tests address conditions that are still significant for the breed, though they may not be as critical as those listed under Good Practice. They might be less common or newly identified, and research is ongoing to determine their full impact.

To support the breed’s health, responsible breeders should ensure they complete all tests in both categories. Following our Best Practice guidelines means completing both the Good Practice and Best Practice tests for your breed.

• DNA test for Adult-onset neuropathy (AON)
• DNA test for Familial nephropathy (FN)
• Eye testing (and gonioscopy for PLA) using the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme

Click here to find out more about The Kennel Club's health standard

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed or Activity Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

To support your health testing journey, we provide our tailored Spaniel (Cocker) Breed-Specific DNA Package. Giving you the information you need about potential health risks, this package includes screening for Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS), Familial nephropathy (FN), Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) and DNA Profile (SNP - ISAG 2020)

4 essential tests valued at £255 for just £150, that screen for multiple conditions at once, saving you time and providing vital health information. 

The Breed Health and Conservation Plans

Our breed health and conservation plans (BHCPs) use evidence and data to help us understand the health issues found in each pedigree dog breed. These plans help breeders and owners identify health and welfare problems and use information, health tests and health schemes to avoid passing on those problems to future puppies. They also support and provide breeders with tools and specialist expertise to help manage genetic diversity, understand the impacts of close breeding, and find the best ways to preserve the population of their breed.

Working together for the breed

We’ve worked with breed clubs and breed representatives to gather all available evidence to help us determine the priority concerns for the breed and decide how we can work together to manage and reduce these problems.

Breed priorities

The current key priorities for the breed are:

• Immune mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA)
• Pancreatitis
• Thyroid conditions

How we plan to make improvements

We’ve agreed the following list of actions with the breed clubs to improve the health of the breed. Both parties are committed to working on these areas and will review these on a regular basis to ensure the actions remain focussed and relevant to the breed’s health.

Breed Club actions include:

• The Health Committee to consider appointing a member to represent the working population of the breed – COMPLETE (this action was completed in 2019)
• The breed clubs and the Kennel Club to continue to monitor any research with regard to the breed – IN PROGRESS

Our actions include:

• To keep the breed updated on any progress made with the spinal scheme – IN PROGRESS (We work with a group of specialists that form a neurology development group, who are looking at the feasibility of expanding the Dachshund IVDD scheme to other breeds. As well as this, the Kennel Club Genetics Centre has recently run an IVDD survey for Cocker Spaniel breeds to analyse the prevalence and possible influencing factors within the population)
• To investigate whether any population analysis can be undertaken on the working and show populations individually – IN PROGRESS (We are revising every breed’s population analysis throughout 2023, and will be releasing the findings from these once available)
• To share the findings of the Roslin Institute’s population analysis study
• To raise the feasibility of the Cocker Spaniel being involved in any thyroid research at the Royal Veterinary College – COMPLETE (this action was completed in 2019. Unfortunately at the time the Royal Veterinary College were unable to undertake a thyroid specific study, but have recently produced a breed-specific VetCompass paper for the Cocker Spaniel)

The full evidence base is available at the discretion of the breed clubs, however if you would like to seek access to the full report, please contact our health team here.

How do I use this information?

Breeders should be mindful of the top priorities in their breed and ensure they are working to reduce and eliminate the presence of these diseases when choosing to breed their dogs.

Puppy buyers should also be aware of these issues and be sure to ask their breeder how they are contributing towards the above actions, and whether any of these problems have been seen in their breeding lines.

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email 

There are not currently any additional breed specific restrictions in place for this breed.