Most golden retrievers are he althy dogs with a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. However, there are some hereditary diseases to which they can be prone and that can reduce the life expectancy of those affected specimens.
Whether your golden retriever is still a puppy or has already reached adulthood, knowing the most common diseases that this breed of dog can develop is essential to prevent them and to know how to act in the event of presenting them. first symptoms. If you notice that your dog is limping, is listless or may have vision problems, don't think twice and go to the vet as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the specialist should always be in charge of examining your dog, determining what is happening and stipulating the treatment.
Continue reading this article on our site to learn all the details about the diseases of golden retriever dogs and follow closely routine visits to the vet.
Hip dysplasia in the golden retriever
Hip dysplasia is an inherited disease in which the hip joint (hip joint) is malformed and has a tendency to dislocate. This pathology frequently affects medium and large dog breeds, including the golden retriever.
It is considered a multifactorial genetic disease, so the environment also plays an important role in the manifestation of hip dysplasia. In this way, intense exercise and overfeeding can develop the disease more quickly, especially if these causes occur during the dog's childhood or adolescence. Once it has evolved, if the affected dog is properly cared for, he can lead a comfortable, peaceful and long-lasting life.
Hip dysplasia is not evident in puppies, as it is a disease that develops with age. It can also go unnoticed in adult Golden Retrievers who are resistant to pain and therefore do not limp or show other obvious symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, the dog becomes lame for no apparent reason.
It is important to rule out the presence of hip dysplasia in golden retrievers in time through an X-ray of the dog's hip from its first year of life. Radiographic plates made before that age may present false negatives and, therefore, are not recommended. Some vets recommend doing the x-ray when the dog has reached two years of age for more reliable results.
Although not all canine societies or golden retriever clubs require the hip plate, it is always advisable to have it done to rule out or confirm the presence of this disease. Whether you plan to submit your dog to a contest or not, his he alth is always the most important thing.
Treatment and prevention
Sick dogs can be treated with medication and/or by restricting their exercise, in addition to a veterinarian-recommended diet. In this way, both affected dogs and goldens with cases of hip dysplasia in their bloodline should not engage in activities that may intensify or manifest the disease, such as intense exercises, very high jumps, agility, etc. Of course, to notice the results, offer the golden retriever with hip dysplasia a better quality of life, or prevent this pathology from developing, the indications must be made from when the dog is young, since the dysplasia progresses throughout the life of the animal and many dogs do not show any obvious symptoms until they are eight years of age or older.
It is advisable to take a first radiographic film of the hips between six and 12 months for all dogs that will compete in demanding dog sports, such as agility. This plate does not eliminate the need to take a second X-ray when the dog exceeds one year of life, but it allows to know if canine training of exercises that demand a lot of physical effort can begin and decide the intensity and frequency of the games that will be used. as reinforcers.
Finally, it is important to bear in mind that descendants of dogs without hip dysplasia can also have it, although with less probability than descendants of diseased dogs. Therefore, it is essential to x-ray adult golden retrievers.
Elbow dysplasia in the golden retriever
Elbow dysplasia can also affect the golden retriever. It is a disease in which the elbow joint does not form well, with the consequent propensity for dislocations. It is not as common as hip dysplasia, but it is quite common in the golden retriever. It is estimated that around 10% of golden retrievers have elbow dysplasia, although not all of these cases are disabling.
It is also a multifactorial disease, so environmental factors influence the development of elbow dysplasia. Intense exercise and overeating can trigger or intensify the disease. Therefore, dogs affected with elbow dysplasia should not be subjected to strenuous exercise or demanding dog sports.
As with hip dysplasia, golden retrievers should be X-rayed to rule out or confirm the presence of this disease.
Dogs affected by elbow dysplasia can live a calm and happy life, since the disease is not usually as severe as hip dysplasia. Of course, there are clinical and surgical treatments to improve the quality of life of dogs affected with this disease. It is the veterinarian who must decide what treatment should be carried out in each particular case.
Eye diseases in the golden retriever
The main and most frequent eye diseases in the golden retriever are hereditary cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy and diseases of structures attached to the eye. For this reason, it is good for a veterinarian to evaluate your golden retriever to rule out these pathologies or give them the corresponding treatment. These eye conditions can appear at any age, so it is recommended to have your golden vet checked once a year, at least until the dog is eight years old.
Heritable Cataracts
They are opacities of the lens of the eye, and are a common problem in the golden retriever. They can usually be diagnosed early in life, and they don't always affect vision. However, they can lead to total vision loss and, therefore, annual veterinary check-ups are very important.
There are also non-hereditary cataracts, both in golden retrievers and in other dog breeds. To confirm or rule out the presence of cataracts, as well as to find out if they are hereditary and decide on treatment, the golden retriever should be evaluated by a veterinary specialist in ophthalmology.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy is a disease that gradually deteriorates the photosensitive area of the eye, with the consequent gradual loss of vision. It is not as frequent in the golden retriever as other hereditary diseases, but it is important to rule it out since it can occur.
It should be diagnosed as soon as possible by a veterinarian, since it can cause blindness at an early age. The corresponding treatment must also be indicated by a veterinary specialist in ophthalmology.
Diseases of structures attached to the eye
They are not diseases as frequent in the golden retriever as in other dog breeds, but it is important to rule out the presence of these pathologies. They can occur due to genetic or environmental causes.
These diseases modify the eyelids and eyelashes, affecting the eyes. The most frequent conditions of this type in the golden retriever are entropion, ectropion, trichiasis and dystrichiasis.
- entropion is a condition in which the eyelids turn inward. Then, the eyelashes scratch the cornea and can ulcerate it and leave the dog blind. Its symptoms may include: continuous tearing, constantly closed eyelids, conjunctivitis, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), corneal ulcers and blindness. Surgical treatment usually has a good prognosis.
- ectropion occurs when the eyelids roll outward, leaving the eyeball and conjunctiva poorly protected. Its symptoms include continuous tearing, conjunctivitis and poor distribution of tears on the surface of the cornea (with the consequent decrease in protection). In addition to chronic conjunctivitis, this disease can cause total loss of the dog's vision.
- trichiasis occurs when the hair on the eyelids or the hair on the dog's face come into contact with the eyeball, affecting directly to the cornea. It occurs due to irregular growth of hair in areas near the eyes, or due to irregular growth of structures near the eyes. For example, the bulging nasal folds in breeds with flattened snouts can cause the hairs covering the nasal folds to rub against the eyeball. This disease is not as frequent in the golden retriever as in other dog breeds, but it is important to rule it out due to the damage it can cause. The treatment is clinical or surgical, depending on the severity of the disease, and must be decided by a specialist veterinarian.
- Districhiasis, on the other hand, is a condition in which eyelashes grow from the openings of the Meibomian gland (a gland eyelid) or just behind it. Those extra lashes stick out from the edge of the eyelids, facing inward, and scratch the cornea. It is not a hereditary disease, but congenital, and can leave the golden retriever completely blind. Treatment can be clinical or surgical depending on the severity of the pathology and can range from hair removal (by different methods) to removal of the affected gland.
Subvalvular aortic stenosis in the golden retriever
Also known as hereditary heart disease or inherited heart disease, subvalvular aortic stenosis affects the Golden Retriever and should be diagnosed in all Golden Retrievers. However, but canine societies do not require the diagnosis of this disease.
In any case, you can check your golden with a veterinarian specialized in cardiology or, failing that, with a general veterinarian. Auscultation using a stethoscope can provide data for more detailed studies, but it does not always rule out this pathology.
Other hereditary diseases of the golden retriever
In addition to the pathologies mentioned above, within the most common diseases in the golden retriever we can also find hypothyroidism, allergies of the skin and epilepsy, all of which are hereditary conditions. Although the diagnosis for these diseases is not required by canine societies, it does not hurt to do it with a competent veterinarian.
In any case, whether you adopt a golden retriever puppy or an adult, the first thing you should always do is take it to the vet to have it examined, rule out the presence of any disease and start the deworming schedule and mandatory vaccinations.
