Golden Retriever: Learn Correctly 9 Diseases Affect The Health

Most are healthy golden retriever dogs reaching a life expectancy between 10 and 12 years. However, there are some hereditary diseases that may be prone dogs of this breed, and that can reduce the life expectancy of those individuals affected.

These diseases should not be common in a breed of hunting dogs, as selective breeding seeks to develop strong and resilient dogs.

However, the huge popularity of the breed has led to the indiscriminate and irresponsible breeding, since it can be a profitable business.

 

Thus, diseases of golden retriever dogs are more common in puppies that come from farms dogs (usually sold in pet stores and fairs) and litters of so-called “backyard breeders” (casual breeders who do not select specimens they are crossing).

That’s why, generally, it is preferable to purchase a puppy from a responsible kennel or adult dog that is known to be healthy.

The most common hereditary diseases in the golden retriever are: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye diseases and subvalvular aortic stenosis. Also occur, although less frequently epilepsy, hypothyroidism and skin allergies.

 

Hip dysplasia in golden retriever

Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip joint (hip joint) is malformed and has a tendency to dislocate. This malignant disease frequently affects the breeds of medium and large size, including of course the golden retriever.

 

It is considered a multifactorial genetic disease (many genes are responsible), so that the environment also plays an important role in developing the disease. So many dogs with hip dysplasia can live a comfortable and peaceful life if you do not perform strenuous exercise and are not overfed. Intense exercise and overeating can trigger the disease, especially when they occur in childhood or adolescence dog.

Hip dysplasia in puppies is not obvious because it is a disease that develops over age. You can also go unnoticed in those golden retriever adults who are resistant to pain and therefore no limp. However, as the disease progresses, your dog is limping for no apparent cause.

It is important to rule out hip dysplasia in the golden retriever, which is due to an X-ray of the hips when the dog is at least a year old. Radiographs made before that age can be false negative and therefore are not recommended.

Some veterinarians recommend doing the plate when the dog is two years old, for more reliable results, but the canine societies and clubs golden retriever that require this test plates made online yearling.

Not all companies or dog golden retriever clubs require plate hips. If the canine kennel club or society in your country does not require the hips to the plate golden retriever, like you should do adiograph your dog on your own to rule out or confirm the presence of this disease. So you can take the necessary precautions if your golden has hip dysplasia, assuring good quality of life.

Sick dogs can be treated with medication and / or restricting the exercise you do, in addition to the diet recommended by your veterinarian. However, this should be done since the dog is young, as dysplasia progresses throughout the life of the dog and many dogs do not show any obvious symptoms until eight years or more.

To reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia in the breed, should not be used with dysplasia golden retriever dogs for breeding. Affected dogs should not do activities that can express or intensify the disease, such as intense exercise, certain very high jumps, competitive obedience and agility tests meaningless, etc..

It is advisable to take a first image plate hips between six and 12 months for all dogs to be demanding compete in dog sports such as agility. This board does not remove the need for a second plate when the dog more than a year old, but lets see if you can start dog training exercises that require much physical effort and decide the intensity and frequency of the games that will be used as enhancers.

The pedigree can be used to tell if the ancestors of a puppy you want to buy had hip dysplasia or not. If the pedigree does not indicate anything about it, then hip plates that puppy’s ancestors were. However, it is important to note that the descendants of dogs without hip dysplasia can come to have it, even less likely that the descendants of sick dogs. It is therefore important to adult dogs radiographed.

The Golden Retriever is aSpecial Friend a Good Pet for Children apart from being a Great Family Dog

 

Elbow dysplasia in the golden retriever

Elbow dysplasia can also affect the golden retriever. It is a disease that is not well form the elbow joint, with consequent propensity for dislocations. Not as common as hip dysplasia, but is quite common in the golden retriever.

It is estimated that about 10% of golden retrievers have elbow dysplasia, though not all such cases are disabling.

It is also a multifactorial disease, so that environmental factors influence the development of elbow dysplasia. Intense exercise and overfeeding can trigger or intensify disease. Therefore, dogs with elbow dysplasia should not be subjected to intense exercise or demanding dog sports.

As with hip dysplasia, the golden retriever should be radiographed to rule out or confirm the presence of this disease.

Dogs affected by elbow dysplasia can live a peaceful and happy life, because the disease is usually not 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. Is vet to decide what
treatment should be performed in every case.

Eye diseases in the golden retriever

The main and most common eye diseases in the golden retriever are hereditary cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy and diseases related to the eye structures.

It is good that a veterinarian assess your golden retriever to rule out these diseases or treating them accordingly. These diseases can occur at any age, so it is advisable to make your golden veterinary examination once a year, at least until the dog is eight years old.

1. Hereditary cataracts

Son of the eye lens opacities, and are a common problem in the golden retriever. Usually can be diagnosed at an early age, and not always affect vision. However, they may fail to produce the total loss of vision and, therefore, is very important to the annual veterinary checkups.

There are also non-hereditary cataracts in both golden and other breeds of dogs. To confirm or exclude the presence of cataracts, as well as to whether they are hereditary and decide on treatment, the golden retriever should be evaluated by a specialist in veterinary ophthalmology.

Of course, hereditary cataracts sick dogs should not be used for reproduction. Instead, dogs that have no hereditary cataracts, can be used to reproduce

2. Progressive Retinal Atrophy

The progressive retinal atrophy is a disease which gradually deteriorates the photosensitive area of the eye, with the consequent gradual loss of vision. There is so prevalent in the golden retriever as other inherited diseases, but it is important because it can discard submitted.

Should be diagnosed as soon as possible by a veterinarian, as it may lead to blindness at an early age. The corresponding treatment should also be indicated by a veterinary ophthalmology.

3. Diseases related to the eye structures

There are so prevalent diseases in the golden retriever as other breeds, but it is important to rule out these diseases. May occur due to genetic or environmental causes. In the case of detecting genetic causes for these diseases, affected dogs should not play.

These conditions modify the eyelids and eyelashes, affecting the eyes. Diseases of this type are common in the golden retriever are: entropion, ectropion, trichiasis and distriquiasis.

Entropion is a condition in which the eyelids turn inward. Then, eyelashes scrape the cornea may reach or ulcers and let the dog blind. Its symptoms may occur: continuous tearing, constantly closed eyelids, conjunctivitis, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), corneal ulcers and blindness. Surgical treatment usually has good prognosis.

Ectropion occurs when the eyelid is rolled outward, leaving the eyeball and conjunctiva poorly protected.

Symptoms include continuous tearing, conjunctivitis and poor distribution of tears on the surface of the cornea (with the consequent reduction of protection) is presented. In addition to chronic conjunctivitis, this disease can cause total loss of sight of the dog.

Trichiasis occurs when the hair of the eyelids or the hair of the dog face contact with the eyeball, directly affecting the cornea. Occurs in irregular hair growth close to the eyes, or irregular growth of structures near the eye areas.

For example, nasal folds bulky breeds flattened snouts may cause friction between the hairs covering these folds and the eyeball.

This disease is not as prevalent in the golden retriever as other breeds, but it is important to discard the damage it can cause. Treatment in most of opportunities is medical or surgical, depending on the severity of this disease to present the dog, and should be decided only by a specialist vet.

 

 Most are healthy golden retriever dogs reaching a life expectancy between 10 and 12 years. However

 

The distriquiasis, meanwhile, is a condition in which eyelashes grow into the holes Meibomo gland (a gland in the eyelid) or just behind it.

Those extra lashes out over the edge of the eyelids, directed inward and scratch the cornea. There is a hereditary, but congenital disease, and can leave the golden retriever completely blind.

Treatment may be medical or surgical depending on the severity of the disease and can range from the removal (by different methods) to the removal of the affected gland.

The enfermeddad subvalvular aortic stenosis present in the golden retriever

Also known as hereditary heart disease or hereditary heart disease. Affects the golden retriever and should be diagnosed in all copies, but societies do not require canine diagnosis of this disease.

In any case, you can check your golden with a veterinarian specializing in cardiology or, failing that, with a general veterinarian.

Auscultation made using the stethoscope can provide data for more detailed studies, but not always rule out the disease.

Other inherited diseases of golden retriever

Other hereditary diseases common in golden retriever dogs include hypothyroidism, epilepsy and skin allergies. While diagnosis for these diseases is not it required by canine societies, it is worth doing a competent veterinarian.

By acquiring a Golden Retriever is good to consider these diseases, and consult with the breeder about the presence of these ancestors in the puppy you want.

If you buy an adult dog (either by purchasing or adopting it), you may have already detected or ruled out these diseases, so it is easier to know if the dog is healthy or not.

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