How long do Sussex Spaniels live?

The median lifespan of the Sussex Spaniel is 13.5 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

What health problems do Sussex Spaniels have?

Commonly reported conditions in the Sussex Spaniel include Hip dysplasia, IVDD, PDH deficiency, Otitis externa, Heart murmurs.

Is the Sussex Spaniel a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the Sussex Spaniel scores 81 out of 100 (grade A), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

81/ 100

Sussex Spaniel Grade A

Median lifespani 13.5 yr · medium · 16-20 kg

⇆ Compare Sussex Spaniel

The Sussex Spaniel is a medium breed with a median lifespan of 13.5 years, which places it among the longest-lived third of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Hip dysplasia, IVDD, PDH deficiency, Otitis externa. Its overall Breed Health Score is 81/100 (grade A), against an average of 71/100 across all breeds.

Score breakdown

Longevityi 65%

Conformationi 20%

100

Hereditary burdeni 15%

Higher is healthier. See methodology.

Common & hereditary conditions

Hip dysplasia IVDD PDH deficiency Otitis externa Heart murmurs

Red marks a life-threatening or major-welfare condition. Click a condition to see which breeds it affects. This list reflects commonly reported conditions, so better-studied breeds may show more; hereditary burden is the lightest-weighted part of the score. Source: RVC VetCompass / AKC / PDSA (indicative).

Thinking of a Sussex Spaniel? A breed's health profile affects insurance cost. Comparing pet insurance early, before any conditions become pre-existing, usually gets the best cover.

Compare with similar-size breeds

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<div style="font:12px -apple-system,Segoe UI,Roboto,sans-serif;margin-top:4px"><a href="https://breedhealthscore.com/breed/sussex-spaniel/">Sussex Spaniel health score on Breed Health Score</a></div>

Data & citation. Median lifespan: McMillan, K.M. et al. (2024) "Longevity of companion dog breeds", Scientific Reports (584,734 UK dogs). Data CC-BY 4.0. Source. Machine-readable: developer API. These are independent estimates for comparing breeds, not veterinary advice. Photo: Christopher Welsch Leveroni via Pexels.