10 Healthiest & Best Dog Food for Cocker Spaniels in 2023

Cocker Spaniels are one of America’s favorite breeds. These sweet and cuddly dogs are a medium-sized breed. They have soft fur that is perfect for cuddling but they are also athletic and can be a fun, and playful partner.

Their coat is one of their most distinguishing qualities. With some extra grooming care and the proper nutrition, you’ll be snuggling up to these softies for many years to come.

Their long ears are another trademark. Originally used as sporting and hunting dogs, Cocker Spaniels are intelligent and easily trained.

Male Cocker Spaniels will weigh around 25-30 pounds and stand 14.5-15.5 inches tall. Female Cocker Spaniels typically weigh 20-25 pounds and are 13.5-14.5 inches tall. Their life expectancy is between 11-15 years.

Read on to find out what our recommendations are for the best dog foods for Cocker Spaniel.

Why Quality Food Matters for Your Cocker Spaniel

A diet that promotes a healthy coat is especially important to a Cocker Spaniel. Their long coats are a beautiful trademark that requires a little extra attention, grooming, and nutrition to stay healthy. They are prone to some allergies and skin problems underneath that lustrous hair.

Foods with all-natural ingredients and free of artificial fillers are always a top choice. This is especially important if your Cocker Spaniel has a food allergy.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR DOG FOODS FOR COCKER SPANIELS

Best Dog Foods For Cocker Spaniels

With so many dog food brands and recipes on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one is best. To help you narrow it down, here’s a roundup of some of the best Cocker Spaniel dog foods.

What Is The Best Dog Food For Cocker Spaniels?

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food
2. American Journey Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe
3. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula
4. Ollie Fresh Pet Food
5. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
6. Grandma Lucy's Artisan Pork Freeze-Dried Dog Food
7. Nutro Puppy Chicken & Sweet Potato in Gravy Recipe
8. Instinct Raw Boost Puppy Grain-Free Recipe
9. Nulo Freestyle Trout & Sweet Potato Senior Recipe
10. Blue Buffalo Basics L.I.D. Turkey & Potato Recipe Senior

 

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food Delivery

Nom Nom dog food makes it so you can feed your dog, fresh, organic ingredients without actually cooking the meals yourself. It's almost as if you have a private chef for your dog that delivers, custom food, perfectly portioned for them, right to your door regularly.

Once you answer a few questions regarding your dog's breed, age, weight, and dietary restrictions, they'll whip up some recipes that are perfect for your pooch.

All of their ingredients are fresh and restaurant grade. You can store the food in your fridge if you’re ready to serve it or your freezer. The food comes portioned in a recycled container on a regular schedule.

This is ideal for dogs with food sensitives or allergies because you can fully customize the ingredients.

First Five Ingredients: Ingredients vary by recipe

Pros:

• Real, fresh food
• Portioned
• Delivered on a schedule
• Custom recipes

Cons:

• Hard to store if you don’t have freezer space
• You have to thaw it before you serve it

2. American Journey Lamb & Sweet Potato

American Journey provides a quality dog food at an affordable price. With real meat, fresh vegetables and fruit, you can feel confident you're giving quality food to your dog.

The lamb recipe is great for dogs with gastrointestinal issues or food sensitivities. Lamb is easy to digest and full of protein.

Salmon oil is also included which is great for your Cocker Spaniel’s coat and skin health. Because they are prone to coat and skin issues, having the essential oils included in this recipe is a huge benefit for this breed.

The chick-peas and sweet potatoes in this recipe provide a nice amount of fiber that will help give a proper energy boost to your active friend.

First Five Ingredients:

• Deboned lamb
• Chicken Meal
• Turkey meal
• Peas
• Chickpea

Pros:

• Great price point
• Supports coat health
• 32% crude protein

Cons:

• Despite this being a lamb recipe, it includes chicken, so it isn’t for a dog with a chicken allergy
• The bag doesn't reseal

3. Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Formula

A taste of the wild is exactly what your Cocker Spaniel will taste when it wharfs down a bowl of Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food.

Taste of the Wild High Prairie dog food is formulated to mimic the diet of the wolf, the ancestor to all dogs. As the name states, this dog food contains zero grain.

Instead this product is loaded with roasted red meat, healthy fruits, vegetables and legumes that support a happy and healthy K9 diet.

Taste of the Wild High Prairie supports a high energy diet, which is perfect for boxers who have more energy than the majority of dog breeds.

This product also contains vitamins, antioxidants, and prebiotics to support a healthy digestive tract and improve overall health.

When you feed your Cocker Spaniel Taste of the Wild food you are also providing them with healthy omega fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6.

Marine-sourced omega-3 is found in salmon oil, and tuna while omega-6 is derived from plant sources. Together the fatty-acids maintain your boxers’ healthy skin and coat and to support overall health and wellness.

First Five Ingredients: 

• Buffalo
• Lamb Meal
• Chicken Meal
• Sweet Potatoes
• Peas
• Potatoes

Pros:

• Grain-free recipe
• Contains vitamins and antioxidants
• Supports digestive health
• Made with real buffalo as the first ingredient
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Poor bag design
• Picky eaters may not like it

4. Ollie Fresh Pet Food

Ollie is a pet food company that was founded in 2016 by Gabby Slome, Alex Douzet, and Randy Jimenez. This New York-based pet food company set out to turn the pet food industry on its head by offering fresh, custom meals for dogs similar to meal-prep services like Maple and Sprig for humans.

If your dog's ready for some sheep thrills, we suggest this meal centered around lamb and butternut squash. Perfect for pups with allergies, this feast also contains nutrient-dense cranberries and kale.

Ollie’s fresh food is made and hand-packed in the USA. They are partners with a veterinary nutritionist to formulate their nutritionally-balanced recipes in accordance with AAFCO standards. All of their food is cooked in small batches in their USDA-regulated kitchen.

They carefully source their ingredients from reputable farms in the U.S and Australia. Each partner must go through an extensive certification process to become a supplier. All of their food is made only with whole, fresh ingredients.

First Five Ingredients:

• Lamb
• Lamb liver
• Butternut squash
• Kale
• Chickpeas

Pros:

• Each recipe is vet-formulated
• Made from fresh, natural ingredients
• Met AAFCO nutritional standards
• Improved oral/dental health
• You can customize your subscription

Cons:

• Price a bit expensive
• Fresh pet food has a shorter shelf life compared to kibbles and canned goods

5. Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

Honest Kitchen makes a human-grade dehydrated dog food that you only need to add water to. When food is dehydrated it maintains all of the minerals and vitamins from the original sources.

This recipe is made with free-range, real chicken, vegetables and fruits. You’ll find green beans, bananas, apples and pumpkin in this recipe.

The food is made in a human-grade facility, so you know your Cocker Spaniel is receiving the top of the line. One 10-pound box will make 40 pounds of food.

First Five Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Flaxseed
• Potato
• Celery
• Sweet Potato

Pros:

• Organic ingredients
• Made in the U.S.
• Dehydrated whole foods
• One 10-pound box makes 40 pounds of food

Cons:

• Has an odd appearance
• Strong smell

6. Grandma Lucy's Artisan Pork Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Based on its ingredients alone, Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Dog Food looks like an above-average dry pet food product.

The guaranteed analysis displays protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.

Crafted with the belief that your precious pup deserves the same great quality of food as you, Grandma Lucy's Artisan Grain-Free Pork Freeze-Dried Dog Food is made using the highest quality ingredients from trusted restaurant suppliers.

Every single ingredient is chosen with a specific benefit in mind, inspected for quality and prepared in small batches at their family-owned California facility.

From anti-inflammatory properties to maintaining a healthy digestive system and heart, it’s the easy way for your dog to eat his way to better health.

This all-natural, grain-free recipe is an ideal choice for the pooch with food allergies or sensitivities.

First Five Ingredients: 

• USDA Pork
• Potatoes
• Flax
• Sweet Potatoes
• Carrots

Pros:

• Features pork as the very first ingredient
• With specially chosen fruits and vegetables
• Ideally suited for the dog with food allergies or sensitivities
• Help maintain healthy skin, coat and joints
• Grain-free, freeze-dried recipe

Cons:

• Contains minute amount of garlic
• Finicky eaters may not like it

 

Best Food For Cocker Spaniel Puppies

Puppies need a special diet designed for their growing bodies. Puppies are active and busy, and they need food that will deliver the energy and nutrients they need.

Your puppy Cocker Spaniel needs the right amount of protein, good sources of fiber and vitamins and minerals to promote healthy bone growth.

You’ll want to start transitioning your puppy on to adult food around 10-12 months. Start slowing by mixing in small amounts of adult kibble and gradually increase it day by day.

Nutro Puppy Chicken & Sweet Potato In Gravy Recipe

The chicken and sweet potato recipe from Nutro is a great starter food. Chicken is easily digested and will sit well with your puppy's sensitive stomach. There's plenty of good protein and fat sources to promote healthy development.

Nutro has been around long enough to know what makes a high-quality premium dog food. They do not skimp on the protein sources, and their gravy mix is full of flavor that all puppies will eagerly enjoy.

This food also promotes healthy skin and coat which is vital for your snuggly Cocker Spaniel. This recipe is free from soy or corn and only natural ingredients are used from trusted farmers. Nutro is made in the United States without preservatives or chicken byproduct.

First Five Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Pork broth
• Chicken broth
• Sweet potatoes
• Chicken liver

Pros:

• Wet puppy food
• Chicken recipe
• Made in the U.S.
• Easy to digest
• Made with non-GMO ingredients
• Contains no chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives

Cons:

• Not for pups with a poultry allergy
• Wet food has a strong smell

Instinct By Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Puppy

Nature's Variety, Instinct recipe is grain-free and contains freeze-dried meat within the kibble.  The freeze-dried meat contains the concentrated protein your growing pup needs. There is raw nutrition, free-range chicken, and DHA packed into every bowl.

This recipe is free of grains, potato, byproduct, soy and what. Nature’s Variety is made in the United States and you won’t find any artificial colors or preservatives.

First Five Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Chicken Meal
• Turkey meal
• Peas
• Chickpeas

Pros:

• Great source of protein
• Raw bits included
• Made in the United States
• Grain-free

Cons:

• Some customers felt the freeze-dried pieces are too small
• Not suitable for puppies with chicken allergies

Best Senior Cocker Spaniel Food

Your senior Cocker Spaniel still has a lot of life left in him. You want to give him the proper nutrients to keep him going for many years to come.

You should start to feed your Cocker Spaniel a senior food around 10 years old. Since they may have slowed down at this age, a senior food will have a better calorie count for their metabolism.

You also want to look for a senior food that contains calcium for bone health.

Nulo Freestyle Trout & Sweet Potato Senior Recipe

The trout and sweet potato combination by Nulo is a great recipe for your aging Cocker Spaniel. This recipe is grain free and contains 30% crude protein.

This formula is full of the lean protein your senior need. Deboned trout, turkey meal and salmon meal are among the first three ingredients listed.

There is also L-Carnitine to boost their metabolism and vitamins and minerals to help with joint and hip health.

First Five Ingredients:

• Trout
• Turkey meal
• Salmon Meal
• Yellow peas
• Sweet potatoes

Pros:

• Promotes a healthy metabolism
• Helps with hip and joints
• 30% crude protein
• Grain-free

Cons:

• Strong fish smell
• Contains turkey so it isn’t suitable for dogs with a poultry allergy

Blue Buffalo Basics L.I.D. Turkey & Potato Senior Recipe

This recipe from Blue Buffalo contains limited ingredients to help keep food sensitivities at bay. It contains real turkey, potatoes, vitamins, and antioxidants. The vitamins included help promote a healthy metabolism, immune system, joint health, and hip health.

There’s no chicken, byproduct, eggs, soy, corn or wheat included in this recipe.

First Five Ingredients:

• Deboned turkey
• Oatmeal
• Brown rice
• Potatoes
• Peas

Pros:

• Promotes joint and hip health
• Limited ingredient for senior sidekicks with food sensitivities
• Contains real turkey
• With Taurine which helps support heart health
• Crafted with BLUE’s exclusive LifeSource Bits

Cons:

• Kibble size may differ
• Contains turkey so it isn’t made for dogs with a poultry allergy

Common Health Issues In Cocker Spaniels

Although a healthy Cocker Spaniel’s average life expectancy is 14 years, the breed has a few common health issues they are prone to. Here are a few common ailments typically found in Cocker Spaniels.

Cataracts – Cocker Spaniels have the most adorable brown eyes. Their expressions are part of their signature look and they'll often have you giving them whatever they desire. If your dog has cataracts, you'll notice a cloudy spot in their eye.

This is a genetic condition that is fairly common in Cocker Spaniels. Because it's hereditary, it can sadly make an appearance on fairly young dogs, sometimes under the age of four. With routine eye exams and a close watch, you and your vet can typically spot Cataracts quickly.

It can be very progressive if it’s left untreated. Surgery is a complicated option, but it can stop the disease from progressing quickly. Older dogs or dogs with a non-hereditary form of Cataracts aren’t good candidates for surgery.

Allergies – While allergies can be found in all dog breeds, Cocker Spaniels may have a tendency to have certain food allergies. When a Cocker Spaniel is allergic to an ingredient in their food or treats, their immune system tries to combat this.

This is when your dog will show symptoms of a food allergy. Your Cocker Spaniel may start itching their feet and ears and the skin can be swollen and irritated. Vomiting or diarrhea can be a sign of an allergy or food intolerance in their gastrointestinal tract.

An elimination diet is the best way to weed out what is causing the reaction if your dog. Once you pinpoint the ingredient you can switch over to foods and treats without it.

Skin Disease – Seborrhea is a skin disease that is commonly found in Cocker Spaniels. Your dog will suffer from both oily and dry patches of skin. When skin cells overproduce, you’ll see a combination of dry, oily skin.

Vitamins, baths and moisturizers and shampoos made to treat the symptoms of Seborrhea are treatments that have the highest rates of success. Skin problems can also arise due to a food allergy.

For Cocker Spaniels, you’ll usually see excessive itching in their ears and feet. It’s common for any number of skin problems to arise in conjunction with each other. If their immune system is down, they may be prone to bacterial infections on their skin as well.

It’s important to watch out for signs, feed them a high-quality diet and regularly wash and groom your Cocker Spaniel’s coat to keep skin issues at bay.

Ear Canal Infections – A Cocker Spaniel’s signature floppy ear needs regular grooming and care to stay healthy. Cocker Spaniels typically love the water, so it’s important to dry their ears thoroughly after a swim.

The underside of your Cocker Spaniel’s ears also needs to be brushed and cleaned regularly throughout the week. Because moisture can build up underneath their thick fur, the hair near their ears can attract dirt and even bacteria.

If your dog has an ear infection, you’ll notice inflammation or itching of their ears and skin. You may find a bad smell and discharge as well. Your vet can provide treatment and a safe cleaning regimen.

With proper care and grooming your Cocker Spaniel can quickly recover from an ear infection and you may be able to prevent future irritation.

What To Look For In A Quality Dog Food?

You always want to look for the best possible ingredients to feed your loving Cocker Spaniel. Your best pal deserves the best to feel their best.

With so many food brands and recipes out there, here are a few items to watch out for then shopping for your Cocker Spaniel’s food.

Note that the first five ingredients listed are the most important ones. These will have the highest quantity and make up the most of your dog's food.

From there they decrease in quantity. Real sources of protein should always be listed as the first few ingredients. Fruits, vegetables and good sources of fiber should follow.

 

Ingredients To Avoid In Your Cocker Spaniel’s Dog Food

There are some foods you should just always stay away from in your Cocker Spaniel’s Food. For example, always steer clear of dog foods using artificial fillers and preservatives. They don’t provide any nutrition and they are just used as fillers to replace more expensive ingredients.

While some dogs need a grain-free diet because of allergies, a grain-free food may not be right for all dogs. Some grain-free foods contain a lot of potatoes. Too many potatoes may be harmful for other reasons. The FDA recently conducted a survey on these foods. Read more about their findings on fda.gov.

Foods containing meat byproduct are other recipes to stay away from. A real source of protein should always be the first ingredient listed on your dog’s food. The Daily Dog Stuff talks about some of the worst foods on the market and what makes them so bad for your beloved Cocker Spaniel.

Worst Foods For Cocker Spaniel

If your Cocker Spaniel is prone to allergies or a skin condition. You may want to stay away from buying dog food that contains common allergens such as soy, wheat, eggs, chicken or grains. These are foods that dogs with allergies are typically most allergic to, so don.

Foods containing fillers and artificial ingredients are also harmful to your Cocker Spaniel. Stick to food with high-quality ingredients and your pup will be feeling their best.

Cocker Spaniel Feeding Chart

The food you feed your Cocker Spaniel will vary depending on their age. A puppy and a senior dog have very different nutritional needs and you should feed them accordingly.

A Cocker Spaniel puppy should be fed more frequently than an adult. Ideally, you’ll want to feed them three times per day. You should space out the feedings so that they eat first thing in the morning, again late morning, in the afternoon and then lastly around the time you eat dinner.

They should be fed puppy food from the time you bring them home until around 10-12 months when they are fully grown. You’ll want to feed them around 3 cups of puppy food a day.

Adult Cocker Spaniels don't need to eat that frequently. Once they start to reach their full size, you can start mixing adult food into their puppy food. You should do this for a week or two until they are acclimated with the new food.

Adult Cocker Spaniels should eat around two cups of food, twice a day. You can feed them once in the morning and once when you eat dinner.

Senior Cocker Spaniels won't need as many calories as they age. Dogs tend to slow down in their older years and may not be using as much energy.

You can keep them on the same food schedule and amount of food as they had as an adult, but you should switch to food designed for the needs of a senior dog.

Some dogs may also only eat once a day as they get older. Use meal mix-ins or food toppers to entice your dog to eat if you're worried, they aren’t eating enough.