A Cockapoo at 12 weeks.Health
Both poodles and cocker spaniels can suffer from luxating patellas (loose knees). An OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) exam is required to check for this problem before dogs are bred. Poodles and cocker spaniels can also suffer from a number of eye disorders, including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)[2]. A CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) exam and DNA test for PRA should be performed before breeding.[3]
Like many floppy-eared breeds, cockapoos can be subject to ear infections, and it's important to keep their ears clean and dry. It is also important to not clean their bodies so often. Their skin needs oils to protect them from bugs.
Although they can suffer from certain health problems, overall, cockapoos are healthy, happy dogs. As with a lot of smaller dogs they tend to be quite long-lived, and it's not unusual for cockapoos to live for 15–20 years.
Because cockapoos are a mixed breed, they may be less susceptible to genetic ailments than purebred dogs. Purebreds are more likely to share similar alleles, whereas mixed breeds such as the cockapoo have greater diversity in their genes and are less likely to inherit two copies of an undesirable recessive gene. Several studies suggest that mixed breed dogs are less prone to genetic illnesses
