Golden retriever medical problems

Retriever pet care guide

All dogs just as adults can have medical problems and the golden retriever breed is no exception, although the conditions listed below are for the golden retriever most of them also apply to other retriever breeds. The most common medical problems the golden has are hip dysplasia, eye problems, skin problems and epilepsy, though of course this does not mean that your retriever will suffer from these just that they are common to the breed.

However if you bought your puppy from a reputable breeder then they will have been well aware of these conditions and only used stud dogs that have been tested and are in the best of health to their knowledge.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia means poor development of the hip joint and is a disease that is inherited, problems with the hip joints are common in many breeds and they can be a big problem especially when the dog gets older or if they are working dogs. A reputable breeder will have had her dogs x-rayed for hip problems prior to using them for breeding, hip problems will show up on x-rays in dogs around the age of one year.

Eye problems

Golden retrievers can inherit the gene for central progressive retinal atrophy this is a progressive disease, which affects the light receptive area of the eye known as the retina. Dogs affected by this problem may end up completely blind at a very young age. The retriever is also prone to cataracts and this too can be hereditary, again a reputable breeder will have had her dogs tested for this problem and as the problem can develop at any stage, testing on a regular basis is advisable.

Epilepsy

If the seizure is an isolated event then it will not usually cause concern, however some retrievers are prone to seizures and if this is the case then the dog should not be used for breeding.

Hypothyroidism

This condition affects the thyroid gland and produces symptoms of lethargy, obesity and problems with the coat. The disease is treatable by daily administration of an oral thyroid supplement and if treated correctly prognosis is excellent. Hypothyroidism is known to be linked to causing epilepsy in the retriever and the seizures have stopped once medication for hypothyroidism has been started.

Allergies

Skin allergies in the golden retriever are very common and numerous including mold, dust, pollen and food allergies. Symptoms due to allergies usually manifest as constant scratching, biting or licking, if you think your dog might be affected by allergies then consult your vet for treatment.