The Cockapoo is a mix of two pure breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle.
While pure breed dogs can have common genetic diseases due to their parentage, this is greatly reduced when diluting the pure breed lines through cross breeding.
However, either the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniel, or both can be affected by the conditions listed below.
PRA (Poodle and Cocker Spaniel)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an inherited condition that is seen in a number of different dog breeds and affects the rod and cone cells that make up the dog’s retina. In all the breeds that have been investigated in sufficient detail, the mode of inheritance has turned out to be a single recessive gene.
Different breeds of dogs actually suffer from different forms of PRA, but the end result is the same; the rod and cone cells eventually die and the affected dogs become totally blind. Owners of affected dogs usually first notice a loss of night vision, especially when the affected dog is in
unusual surroundings; the condition eventually progresses to produce a loss of vision under all light conditions. There is as yet no known cure for PRA.
There are broadly two different types of PRA in the dog: rod/cone dysplasia and rod/cone degeneration. Breeds like the Irish Setter and the Miniature Long-haired Dachshund suffer from rod/cone dysplasia. In this case the rod and cone cells develop abnormally and begin to degenerate even before they are fully mature, leading to a very early age of onset in affected dogs, usually within the first few months of life. In breeds that suffer from rod/cone degeneration, like the Labrador, the Golden Retriever and the Cocker Spaniel, the rod and cone cells develop normally and only begin to degenerate later in life leading to a much later age of onset of the disease, usually anywhere from 3 to 4 years of age onwards.
Prcd-PRA (Poodle and Cocker Spaniel)
The genetic disorder, prcd-PRA , causes cells in the retina at the back of the eye to degenerate and die, even though the cells seem to develop normally early in life. The “rod” cells operate in low light levels and are the first to lose normal function. Night blindness results. Then the “cone” cells gradually lose their normal function in full light situations. Most affected dogs will eventually be blind. Typically, the clinical disease is recognized first in early adolescence or early adulthood.
GONIOSCOPY (Glaucoma) (Cocker Spaniel)
Glaucoma is defined as an increase in pressure within the eye. The increased pressure is the result of a build-up of the intraocular fluid which is known as aqueous humour. In a healthy animal, aqueous humour primarily drains out through a circular filter at the junction of the clear cornea and white sclera, called the iridocorneal angle. Animals with glaucoma have an abnormality in the filter which obstructs outflow, resulting in a build up of fluid within the eye. An analogy would be a kitchen sink - if the drain is open and the water is running, the sink is operating normally. However, the drain becomes clogged for some reason and the water continues to flow, then the sink fills up with water and overflows!
There are various causes of a defective filter. Dogs of some breeds are often born with abnormal filters and are therefore prone to getting inherited (genetic or primary) glaucoma in both eyes. Other breeds have a genetic predisposition to developing displaced (luxated) lenses, which block
the filters, obstructing the flow of fluid. In both dogs and cats, the filters can be clogged with inflammatory cells if inflammation inside the eye (uveitis) occurs. Intraocular tumours can also lead to glaucoma.
FN - Familial Nephropathy (Cocker Spaniel)
Familial Nephropathy (FN) is a recessively inherited renal disease that has been recognized in the English Cocker for more than 50 years . FN is a form of "hereditary nephritis" which refers to a group of glomerular diseases that are linked to genetic collagen defects.
Onset of renal failure due to FN typically occurs between six and 24 months of age. Clinical signs may include polydipsia (drinks more), polyuria (urinates more), weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhoea. These symptoms are commonly associated with any type of renal failure.
While pure breed dogs can have common genetic diseases due to their parentage, this is greatly reduced when diluting the pure breed lines through cross breeding.
However, either the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniel, or both can be affected by the conditions listed below.
PRA (Poodle and Cocker Spaniel)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an inherited condition that is seen in a number of different dog breeds and affects the rod and cone cells that make up the dog’s retina. In all the breeds that have been investigated in sufficient detail, the mode of inheritance has turned out to be a single recessive gene.
Different breeds of dogs actually suffer from different forms of PRA, but the end result is the same; the rod and cone cells eventually die and the affected dogs become totally blind. Owners of affected dogs usually first notice a loss of night vision, especially when the affected dog is in
unusual surroundings; the condition eventually progresses to produce a loss of vision under all light conditions. There is as yet no known cure for PRA.
There are broadly two different types of PRA in the dog: rod/cone dysplasia and rod/cone degeneration. Breeds like the Irish Setter and the Miniature Long-haired Dachshund suffer from rod/cone dysplasia. In this case the rod and cone cells develop abnormally and begin to degenerate even before they are fully mature, leading to a very early age of onset in affected dogs, usually within the first few months of life. In breeds that suffer from rod/cone degeneration, like the Labrador, the Golden Retriever and the Cocker Spaniel, the rod and cone cells develop normally and only begin to degenerate later in life leading to a much later age of onset of the disease, usually anywhere from 3 to 4 years of age onwards.
Prcd-PRA (Poodle and Cocker Spaniel)
The genetic disorder, prcd-PRA , causes cells in the retina at the back of the eye to degenerate and die, even though the cells seem to develop normally early in life. The “rod” cells operate in low light levels and are the first to lose normal function. Night blindness results. Then the “cone” cells gradually lose their normal function in full light situations. Most affected dogs will eventually be blind. Typically, the clinical disease is recognized first in early adolescence or early adulthood.
GONIOSCOPY (Glaucoma) (Cocker Spaniel)
Glaucoma is defined as an increase in pressure within the eye. The increased pressure is the result of a build-up of the intraocular fluid which is known as aqueous humour. In a healthy animal, aqueous humour primarily drains out through a circular filter at the junction of the clear cornea and white sclera, called the iridocorneal angle. Animals with glaucoma have an abnormality in the filter which obstructs outflow, resulting in a build up of fluid within the eye. An analogy would be a kitchen sink - if the drain is open and the water is running, the sink is operating normally. However, the drain becomes clogged for some reason and the water continues to flow, then the sink fills up with water and overflows!
There are various causes of a defective filter. Dogs of some breeds are often born with abnormal filters and are therefore prone to getting inherited (genetic or primary) glaucoma in both eyes. Other breeds have a genetic predisposition to developing displaced (luxated) lenses, which block
the filters, obstructing the flow of fluid. In both dogs and cats, the filters can be clogged with inflammatory cells if inflammation inside the eye (uveitis) occurs. Intraocular tumours can also lead to glaucoma.
FN - Familial Nephropathy (Cocker Spaniel)
Familial Nephropathy (FN) is a recessively inherited renal disease that has been recognized in the English Cocker for more than 50 years . FN is a form of "hereditary nephritis" which refers to a group of glomerular diseases that are linked to genetic collagen defects.
Onset of renal failure due to FN typically occurs between six and 24 months of age. Clinical signs may include polydipsia (drinks more), polyuria (urinates more), weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhoea. These symptoms are commonly associated with any type of renal failure.
