5 Essential Summer Safety Tips for Cocker Spaniels

The cocker spaniel puppies is a lively, intelligent breed that thrives with active families who enjoy the outdoors. Their cheerful nature means summers are an ideal time to bond and exercise, but warmer months introduce specific care needs for their health and safety.

Understanding how to best protect your cocker spaniel in summer ensures they stay happy and healthy. Below are five essential tips based on current UK vet advice for 2025, covering heatstroke prevention, grooming, water safety, and disease control.

1. Protect Against Heatstroke

Heatstroke poses a serious threat to cocker spaniels during hot weather but is entirely preventable. Avoid walks during the hottest parts of the day; early mornings or evenings are best when temperatures are cooler. Always provide plenty of fresh, cool water, and consider offering ice cubes or frozen lick mats to help your dog cool down.

Access to shaded, well-ventilated areas is vital when outside, and never leave your dog unattended in cars or conservatories, where temperatures can rise quickly. Cooling vests or mats designed to dissipate heat can also be helpful, particularly given the breed’s thick coat.

Watch for signs such as excessive panting, drooling, weakness, or lethargy, which indicate heat distress. If you suspect heatstroke, act quickly by moving your dog to shade, offering water, and contacting your vet immediately.

2. Manage Summer Grooming Challenges

Cocker spaniels’ dense, feathered coat can collect burrs, grass seeds, and debris, especially during summer months when they enjoy roaming bushes and undergrowth. Groom your dog daily to prevent tangling and matting, focusing on ears, chest, and leg feathering.

Professional grooming every few months helps maintain a manageable coat, with owners of show-line dogs typically requiring more frequent trims. Bathing with dog-safe shampoos can be more frequent in summer but avoid over-bathing to preserve skin health.

Pay attention if your dog is repeatedly scratching paws or shaking their head, as this may signal burs or grass seeds causing pain or infections. Prompt removal and vet consultation help avoid complications.

3. Be Vigilant Around Water

As retrievers, cocker spaniels usually love water and swimming. However, supervise all water activities to ensure they do not get tired or inhaling unsafe water. Some pools or open water may be dangerously cold or contaminated by toxins such as blue-green algae, which can be fatal.

Check local warnings and speak with experienced dog owners before allowing your pet in natural water bodies. In gardens, paddling pools and sprinklers offer refreshing fun but dry your dog's ears thoroughly afterward to prevent infections common in spaniels.

4. Prevent Disease Risks

Summer brings increased risks of parasites like ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes that can transmit diseases. Keep your cocker spaniel on a vet-recommended parasite prevention routine year-round.

Avoid walking in long grasses or dense woods where ticks thrive, and check your dog daily for debris and parasites after walks. Maintain optimal hydration and sun protection to reduce skin irritations and stress that can compromise the immune system.

5. Avoid Injuries From High-Impact Play

Cocker spaniels are agile and energetic, enjoying games like fetch that involve running and jumping. However, summer’s dry and hard ground surfaces increase the risk of strains or injuries.

Limit intense activity on hard surfaces and choose shaded, grassy areas for exercise when possible. Monitor your dog for limping, soreness, or unusual behaviour and consult your vet if you suspect injury.

Following these expert-backed, responsible care tips will help your cocker spaniel enjoy the summer months safely and comfortably. Prioritising their health, hydration, grooming, and exercise safeguards them from common seasonal risks.