Hi,

I posted before about the Cocker Spaniel pup we chose, but he had eye problems. Well we went to pick him up last week and he is fantastic. I have taken him to my vets, and he has problems with his eyes. The lens is fine but its behind the eye, and it makes everything look fuzzy. But he is doing really well, and only bumped into a few things. We are totally in love with him.

Anyway he has started to get very very nippy. We cant walk across the room without him biting my feet, or nipping anything he can get hold of. My son is scared of him not as all the pup does is nip. Is there any advice about how to try and control this? I know all pups nip, but I am worried.

Also he plays with all our other dogs in the family (They don't live with us!) he enjoys this, but then he starts to show his teeth and growl. Is this normal?? It sounds really bad, but is this just puppy play??? None of our other dogs have done this, but surely a 8 week puppy can't be agressive??

One more thing, we are feeding him on James Wellbeloved. Is this a good food for a Cocker???

Thanks in advance.

>surely a 8 week puppy can't be agressive??

No, you're right, he can't! This is normal for puppies, just as it's normal for children to shout and scream when they're playing. As for the 'nipping' this too is normal. This article should help you get that sorted out.

I'm very concerned, however, about his eye problem. Reputable cocker spaniel breeders are working hard to eradicate the eye problems in the breed and screen all their breeding stock every year to try to save owners the heartbreak of their loved pet going blind in its early years. Unfortunately there are also the not so conscientious breeders who don't bother. :( These eye conditions are progressive - if your pup is having vision problems at a few weeks of age the prognosis isn't good I'm afraid.

Jeangenie

Is this the same sort of thing as empty eye socket in Cockers.  There is a woman locally who is breeding Cocker/Tibetan crosses, yes for gain no thought for the pups, and I have just been told that one of the little mites has been born with an empty eye socket. Do you know if there is any information available as to whether the other eye could be affected a link may be.  It may add to the case to put people off buying from her.

No, I think that's a different thing. I found this regarding eye conditions in Cockers (it sounds as though the guest's poor puppy has PRA) - I think the missing eye condition is called anophthalmia and is linked to the merle gene - this is helpful (but suggests that, if the guest's pup does have PRA it could be blind by 8 months :( ).

(Where is Isabel when you need her? She's a cocker expert.)

>I think the missing eye condition is called anophthalmia and is linked to the merle gene -

I'd imagine this is correct, as in hamsters (!) if you mate 2 roans together (roan working differently in different animals of coruse so hamster roan may in fact be equal to dog merle ) 25 % of the resulting offspring will be anophtalmic white, wich means white without eyes.

It's highly unlikely to be PRA in a young Cocker - it is a late onset condition in our breed unlike the Irish Setter. The youngest I've heard of a clinical diagnosis of PRA in a Cocker is 18 months, although now with the Optigen gene test available, breeders can identify whether their dogs are genetically clear, carriers or afflicted at a very early age. We have a 5 year old Cocker bitch who is genetically afflicted with PRA but still has perfect vision & is unlikely to noticeably lose her sight for some years yet (thankfully). There are numerous other eye conditions (multiocular defects) which can affect Cockers from an early age but without further info, it's difficult to say what the problem is with this pup. I missed the earlier thread but presume the OP knew about the condition before taking the puppy - not sure though.

Doesn't solve my problem though.  Apparently the Tibetan is golden and the cocker also a golden brown.  No merle in there so its still a mystery.

Besides I think true anophthalmia generally results in both eyes missing, not just one. I've looked all through my books and can't find anything helpful. Sorry. :( I'll keep looking though. There must be something on the net.

All I can find about a single eye missing points to it being a congenital, rather than hereditary, situation. Some children born to fathers with Gulf War syndrome have had it ...

you're doing just fine JG ;) :D

:o Would not class myself as an "expert" JG :)  Back after 2 weeks hols and it has taken me a further week to catch up on all I have missed! So no time to pause to post anything up to now.
As Jane says (that is what I would class as an expert :)) I do not believe you would see a symptomatic case of PRA until 3/4 years old so I feel this must be something else perhaps even a genetic "accident" however if the poster was aware of what they were buying and the condition is not painful I suppose it does not matter too much as with care and understanding of the limitations many blind or poorly sighted dogs live a life of good quality. 

Guest, I'd be very interested to know what the vet actually said was wrong with your pup's eyes. I hope it's not PRA or any of the other hereditary progressive conditions, but it's very unusual for an 8-week puppy to be bumping into things. Perhaps you could register with us (it's free!) and tell us more?

Thanks for looking JG. I am trying too.