Sussex Spaniels are typically calm and friendly but can be notably vocal (“giving tongue,” baying or barking)—owners may describe groans or “talking” when excited or stressed rather than pain. They’re long, low, and heavy-boned with a rolling gait, so slippery floors and rushed handling can amplify anxiety; slow approaches, non‑slip footing, and body‑supported lifting help. Like many spaniels with pendulous ears, they may be touch‑sensitive around ears; front desk should note reports of head‑shaking, ear odor, or reluctance to have the head handled. Food rewards and quick rooming generally reduce stress. If a caller reports sudden collapse, open‑mouth breathing, blue/gray gums, or extreme distress, mark as EMERGENCY and alert the medical team immediately.
Front desk script: “Thanks for the details—Sussex Spaniels can be very chatty when excited, and some are sensitive about their ears. We’ll get you straight into a quieter room and use treats and a non‑slip area to keep them comfortable. Please tell me right away if you’re seeing nonstop panting, collapse, or trouble breathing so we can mobilize the medical team immediately.”
Sussex Spaniels show several breed‑linked risks to flag at intake: orthopedic hip dysplasia; intervertebral disc disease (long, low build) with potential for sudden back pain or hind‑end weakness; recurrent ear infections due to pendulous ears; and a higher‑than‑average rate of heart issues noted as murmurs or heart enlargement. A rare inherited metabolic disorder (PDP1 deficiency) occurs in this breed and can cause profound exercise intolerance or collapse in affected dogs. Escalate immediately if the owner reports sudden hind‑limb weakness/paralysis, severe back or neck pain, collapse/fainting with activity, labored breathing, blue/grey gums, or rapidly worsening cough.
Front desk script: Just so you know, Sussex Spaniels can be prone to hip and back problems (disc disease), ear infections, and some heart conditions. If you’ve seen sudden hind‑end weakness, severe back pain, collapse after activity, or trouble breathing, please tell me now so the doctor can see your dog urgently. During today’s visit, we’ll note these breed risks so the veterinarian can check the hips/spine, ears, and heart closely.
Sussex Spaniels are gentle, slower‑paced sporting dogs that do best with daily, moderate walks and close family time; expect weekly brushing and routine ear checks because long, heavy ears can trap moisture. Health notes to know: they’re prone to ear infections, hip dysplasia, back problems such as intervertebral disc disease, and occasional heart murmurs; the breed also carries a known inherited condition (PDP1 deficiency) that responsible breeders DNA‑test for. Ask breeders for PDP1 results and any hip/heart screening. Book a same‑day visit for ear odor, head‑shaking, or persistent scratching; seek emergency care now for sudden back pain or hind‑limb weakness/paralysis, collapse, trouble breathing, or a hard, swollen belly.
Front desk script: They’re calm, family‑oriented spaniels that need daily walks and regular grooming. Because of their long ears and long back, we watch for ear infections and occasional spine issues; reputable breeders often screen for the PDP1 gene and may share hip/heart evaluations. If you’re noticing ear odor, head‑shaking, or skin redness, we can see you today. If there’s sudden back pain, hind‑limb weakness, collapse, or trouble breathing, please go straight to the emergency hospital and call us on the way.
Front-desk teams most often hear from Sussex Spaniel owners about: ear discomfort (head shaking, odor, discharge) linked to pendulous ears; mobility or back concerns (new limping, stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump, crying when moved) given this breed’s higher rates of hip and spinal issues; and heart-related concerns noted as coughing, tiring easily, fainting, or a newly detected murmur. Escalate immediately if the caller reports non-productive retching with a tight/bloated abdomen, severe trouble breathing, blue/pale gums, collapse, or a sudden inability to use the back legs.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling about your Sussex Spaniel—this breed commonly presents for ear discomfort, new limping/back pain, or cough/exercise intolerance. Before we book, is there unproductive retching with a firm belly, severe breathing trouble, blue/pale gums, collapse, or sudden loss of use of the back legs? If yes, this is an emergency—go to the nearest emergency hospital now. If no, let’s arrange a same-day exam and note these signs in the appointment.
Sussex Spaniels have an abundant, flat-to-wavy double coat with ample undercoat and feathering on ears, legs, and between toes—this traps debris and mats easily, so owners should expect routine brushing at home and periodic professional grooming to keep feathering and feet tidy. Their pendulous, heavy ear leather plus moisture (bathing, swimming, humidity) increases ear-issue risk; advise regular ear checks and to keep ears dry. Front desk should flag red-flag signs for a same-day veterinary appointment: head shaking, foul ear odor, redness/swelling, discharge, obvious pain, or a rapidly spreading, moist, painful skin patch (“hot spot”) that may hide under mats. Seasonal shedding can require extra grooming time and may warrant referrals to groomers experienced with spaniels.
Front desk script: This breed’s dense, feathered coat and floppy ears need consistent upkeep. We recommend routine at‑home brushing and scheduling periodic professional grooming; we’re happy to refer groomers experienced with spaniels. If you notice head shaking, a strong ear odor, redness, discharge, or a sudden wet, painful skin patch under the coat, please call us for a same‑day vet visit.
Sussex Spaniels (a drop‑eared, chondrodystrophic spaniel) commonly present with ear issues and are predisposed to intervertebral disc disease and hip/orthopedic problems; ask about head‑shaking/odor, back pain or reluctance to jump, lameness, and any prior heart murmur notes. Breed‑specific PDP1 deficiency can cause exercise intolerance or post‑exercise collapse in young dogs—flag this history for the DVM. Route painful ear signs, new back pain, head tilt/balance changes, or exertional weakness for same‑day evaluation; escalate immediately if the pet is non‑ambulatory, cannot urinate/defecate, has severe uncontrolled pain, trouble breathing, or collapses.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling about your Sussex Spaniel. Because this breed often has ear and back concerns, are you seeing head‑shaking/ear odor, reluctance to jump or back pain, or any weakness or collapse with exercise (especially in a young dog)? If there is severe pain, inability to walk, loss of bladder/bowel control, trouble breathing, or collapse, this is an emergency—please go to the nearest emergency hospital now. Otherwise, we’ll arrange a same‑day appointment for painful ears, new back pain, or exercise‑related weakness; for mild itch without pain, we can book the next available visit.
Lifecycle notes for Sussex Spaniels: Puppies (to ~12 months) need visits every 3–4 weeks through ~16 weeks for core vaccine series and early heart/ear checks; confirm breeder PDP1 (pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase 1) genetic test results or note if testing is requested. Adults (1–7 years) typically do annual wellness with weight, skin/ear checks (pendulous ears), and screening for back/joint issues and heart murmurs. Seniors (7+ years) benefit from twice‑yearly exams with labs and mobility/cardiac monitoring. Escalate immediately if owners report collapse, profound exercise intolerance, sudden hind‑end weakness/back pain, or breathing distress.
Front desk script: For a Sussex Spaniel puppy, we schedule checkups every 3–4 weeks until about 16 weeks for vaccines and early heart/ear assessments; please bring any PDP1 genetic test paperwork from the breeder. For adults we book yearly wellness with an ear and back check; for seniors 7 and older we recommend visits every 6 months with screening labs. If you’re seeing collapse, sudden severe back pain or weakness, or trouble breathing, we’ll route you to emergency care now.
For Sussex Spaniels, set expectations that the veterinarian will ask about ear odor/itching, changes in mobility (hesitation to jump, stiffness), exercise tolerance or any fainting/collapse, and any cough or breathing changes. This breed has documented tendencies for ear disease, back/hip issues including intervertebral disc disease, some cardiac concerns, and a breed‑specific PDP1 genetic condition linked to post‑exercise collapse—so invite owners to share any prior records, breeder screening paperwork, or DNA results. If a caller mentions current collapse, trouble breathing, sudden hind‑end weakness, or severe back pain, clearly escalate as an emergency.
Front desk script: “Because Sussex Spaniels can be prone to ear issues, back/hip discomfort, certain heart conditions, and a rare PDP1 genetic concern, I’ll ask a few quick screening questions.” “Have you noticed ear odor or head shaking, stiffness or trouble jumping, coughing or breathing changes, reduced stamina, fainting, or any collapse after activity?” “If you’re seeing collapse, difficulty breathing, sudden hind‑end weakness, or severe back pain right now, this is an emergency—I recommend going to the nearest emergency hospital; I can help coordinate.” “For puppies, do you have PDP1 DNA results or breeder heart/hip screening paperwork we can add to the chart?”
For Sussex Spaniels, front-desk priorities are routine ear checks at every visit (pendulous ears predispose to infections), annual cardiac auscultation (murmurs/enlargement noted more often than average in this breed), and vigilance for orthopedic/spinal issues (hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease). Promptly book rechecks if owners report head shaking, ear odor/pain, or recurrent infections; treat severe head tilt, loss of balance, or continuous vomiting with ear signs as urgent. Escalate immediately if owners report sudden back/neck pain, reluctance to jump, hind‑limb weakness, or inability to walk—advise emergency care. For puppies/young dogs, ask whether a PDP1 genetic screen has been done; marked exercise intolerance or collapse warrants immediate emergency triage.
Front desk script: Sussex Spaniels benefit from annual exams that include a focused heart listen, spine/orthopedic check, and an ear check because this breed is prone to ear disease, back issues, and heart murmurs. If you notice sudden back pain, trouble walking, a persistent head tilt/loss of balance, collapse, or severe exercise intolerance—please call us now or go directly to the emergency hospital. Has your Sussex had the PDP1 DNA screen? We can note it and make sure we’re scheduling the right follow-ups.
Calm, affectionate, and sometimes stubborn, the Sussex Spaniel is a long-and-low, often vocal spaniel that generally warms quickly to gentle, positive handling. Approach slowly with treats, avoid crowding, and if lifting is needed, support both chest and hindquarters to protect the back. Front-desk priorities: note ear odor or head-shaking (pendulous ears predispose to infections); reluctance to jump/climb, back pain, or wobbliness (breed predisposed to intervertebral disc disease); and coughing or reduced exercise tolerance (heart issues reported more than average). If a caller/client mentions sudden severe back pain, hind-limb weakness or paralysis, loss of bladder/bowel control, collapse, or fainting, alert the medical team immediately—this is an emergency.
Front desk script: “Sussex Spaniels are usually easygoing but can be a bit stubborn, so we’ll use a calm, treat-based approach and support his chest and hips if we need to lift him. For check-in today, have you noticed ear odor or head-shaking, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, or any coughing or tiring more easily? If you see sudden back pain or weakness at any point, please tell me right away—we’ll bring you straight to the medical team.”
Rare, low-set sporting spaniel; typically gentle and people-oriented but may be reserved at first and quite vocal. For intake and placement, plan moderate daily activity and calm housing; check ears for debris/odor (pendulous ears predispose to otitis) and avoid repeated stairs/jumping to reduce back strain, as the breed has noted risks for intervertebral disc disease and hip/elbow dysplasia. Be alert for exercise intolerance or collapse (breed-linked PDP1 deficiency), sudden hind-limb weakness or severe spinal pain, or labored breathing—treat these as emergencies and contact the veterinarian/ER immediately. Because congenital or genetic heart issues are reported, ask about any prior cardiac screening or murmurs, and loop in the Sussex Spaniel Club of America rescue network for identification or placement support.
Front desk script: This breed is calm and people-focused but can be vocal; steady daily walks and quiet housing usually suit them well. During intake/foster, avoid lots of stairs or jumping and do a quick ear check for debris/odor. If you see collapse with exercise, sudden hind-end weakness, severe back pain, or labored breathing, this is an emergency—call the veterinarian/ER immediately. For placement help or breed contacts, we can reach the Sussex Spaniel Club of America.
Typically calm, people-oriented, and affectionate, Sussex Spaniels may be a bit reserved with new staff at first and some individuals can be vocal—especially if separated from their person or in stimulating areas. For check‑in and waiting room flow: greet slowly, allow brief sniff time, seat in a quieter spot away from doors/windows, and room promptly if arousal or barking increases. Keep the owner nearby during handoffs when possible; use a slip lead and low‑key handling. They are low‑slung but solid (often 35–45 lb), so escort on non‑slip paths and use safe lift assistance with chest and hindquarter support if a lift is needed. If the pet arrives with sudden weakness/collapse, marked exercise intolerance (especially in a puppy/young dog), or trouble breathing, alert the medical team immediately.
Front desk script: Sussex Spaniels are usually calm and friendly but can be a little reserved at first. We’ll seat you in a quieter area and room you quickly if [Pet Name] gets vocal or stressed, and we’ll keep you together during handoff when possible. If you’ve noticed sudden weakness, collapse, or trouble breathing today, please tell us right away so our medical team can respond immediately.
Front-desk red flags for Sussex Spaniels: treat breathing distress (rapid/labored or open-mouth breathing, blue/pale gums), collapse, ongoing seizures, or loss of consciousness as emergencies—direct immediately to the nearest ER. Suspect gastric dilatation-volvulus if there is unproductive retching, a rapidly distended/painful abdomen, excessive drooling, restlessness, pale gums, or collapse—this is an emergency. Given the breed’s long, low build and known IVDD risk, sudden severe back or neck pain, yelping on movement, hindlimb weakness, inability to walk, or new loss of bladder/bowel control require same‑day escalation (ER if nonambulatory). Heatstroke signs in this heavy-coated sporting breed—excessive panting, hypersalivation, confusion/disorientation, vomiting/diarrhea, weakness or collapse—are emergencies and warrant immediate ER referral.
Front desk script: Based on what you’re describing, this is an emergency. Please proceed to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital now; I can provide the address and call ahead. If your dog cannot walk or is collapsing, keep movement to a minimum during transport and go directly to the ER. For back pain without weakness, we will arrange a same‑day clinician evaluation—call us if signs worsen en route.