Whenever you spot a Golden Retriever, health does not seem to be an issue.
What you usually see is a friendly, happy, and at times boisterous dog, showing no signs of ill health.
This is in fact true of the vast majority of Golden retrievers, but this breed does seem to be susceptible to more than its share of health problems.
When you go down the list of dog breeds, there are many individual breeds which seem to be bothered by a particular disease or illness, more so than for other breeds.
If you've ever owned an English Bulldog, a Doberman Pincher, a Dalmatian, or even a Basset Hound, you're aware that there are some very specific illnesses associated with each of these breeds, and these illnesses are for the most part genetic.
Most Golden Retriever health problems are also primarily the result of genetic disorders.
The top breeders of Golden Retrievers take great pains to breed out some of these disorders, or at least not breed dogs that have them.
These dogs is to some degree a victim of its own popularity.
Being one of the most popular breeds in this country, largely because of its even temperament and generally happy disposition, such a high number of Retrievers have been placed on the market by so many breeders, amateur as well as professionals, that the presence of genetic abnormalities has become more and more difficult to avoid.
While the list of diseases the Golden retriever is prone to is somewhat lengthy, most are not serious, and most are rather rare.
Some however are fairly common, and some of these can be very serious.
We'll take a look at the most serious ailments affecting Golden Retriever health, noting again that with proper breeding, the chances of a dog contracting one of these is considerably lessened.
Golden Retrievers are more susceptible to cancer than to any other disease.
In fact cancer causes just over 60% of all Golden Retriever deaths, and as such is the major killer.
Incidences of cancer, primarily cancer of the blood and of the lymphatic system, keep the average life span of the dog to around 10 1/2 years, which is still not too bad for a medium to large sized dog.
Next to cancer, the most common affliction faced by the Retriever is a malformation of the hip joint.
Called Canine Hip Dysplasia, this condition is usually genetically caused, but can also be caused in later years by environmental conditions.
The disease can be crippling, or simply manifest itself as arthritis in a dog's later years.
Many dogs having this disease do not display any symptoms whatsoever.
Two other types of diseases affecting Golden retriever health are heart disease and various immune system problems.
Heart and immune system problems actually affect many breeds, some more so than Retrievers are affected, but these are noted here as they fall within the top half-dozen or so diseases most often experienced by the Golden Retriever.
It's worthwhile repeating that many breeders of the Golden retriever are amateurs, and some even run puppy mills.
It is from these breeders, particularly the puppy mill breeders, that you're most apt to get a dog that, though a genetic defect or abnormality, is apt to contract one of these serious diseases.
A professional breeder will not sell you such a dog if there is any suspicion that such a problem may exist.
Golden Retriever health may seem then to be a fragile thing, but in reality, with a little care and caution, you can easily purchase a pet having an excellent chance for a long and healthy life.
What you usually see is a friendly, happy, and at times boisterous dog, showing no signs of ill health.
This is in fact true of the vast majority of Golden retrievers, but this breed does seem to be susceptible to more than its share of health problems.
When you go down the list of dog breeds, there are many individual breeds which seem to be bothered by a particular disease or illness, more so than for other breeds.
If you've ever owned an English Bulldog, a Doberman Pincher, a Dalmatian, or even a Basset Hound, you're aware that there are some very specific illnesses associated with each of these breeds, and these illnesses are for the most part genetic.
Most Golden Retriever health problems are also primarily the result of genetic disorders.
The top breeders of Golden Retrievers take great pains to breed out some of these disorders, or at least not breed dogs that have them.
These dogs is to some degree a victim of its own popularity.
Being one of the most popular breeds in this country, largely because of its even temperament and generally happy disposition, such a high number of Retrievers have been placed on the market by so many breeders, amateur as well as professionals, that the presence of genetic abnormalities has become more and more difficult to avoid.
While the list of diseases the Golden retriever is prone to is somewhat lengthy, most are not serious, and most are rather rare.
Some however are fairly common, and some of these can be very serious.
We'll take a look at the most serious ailments affecting Golden Retriever health, noting again that with proper breeding, the chances of a dog contracting one of these is considerably lessened.
Golden Retrievers are more susceptible to cancer than to any other disease.
In fact cancer causes just over 60% of all Golden Retriever deaths, and as such is the major killer.
Incidences of cancer, primarily cancer of the blood and of the lymphatic system, keep the average life span of the dog to around 10 1/2 years, which is still not too bad for a medium to large sized dog.
Next to cancer, the most common affliction faced by the Retriever is a malformation of the hip joint.
Called Canine Hip Dysplasia, this condition is usually genetically caused, but can also be caused in later years by environmental conditions.
The disease can be crippling, or simply manifest itself as arthritis in a dog's later years.
Many dogs having this disease do not display any symptoms whatsoever.
Two other types of diseases affecting Golden retriever health are heart disease and various immune system problems.
Heart and immune system problems actually affect many breeds, some more so than Retrievers are affected, but these are noted here as they fall within the top half-dozen or so diseases most often experienced by the Golden Retriever.
It's worthwhile repeating that many breeders of the Golden retriever are amateurs, and some even run puppy mills.
It is from these breeders, particularly the puppy mill breeders, that you're most apt to get a dog that, though a genetic defect or abnormality, is apt to contract one of these serious diseases.
A professional breeder will not sell you such a dog if there is any suspicion that such a problem may exist.
Golden Retriever health may seem then to be a fragile thing, but in reality, with a little care and caution, you can easily purchase a pet having an excellent chance for a long and healthy life.
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