The Golden Retriever Online Wellness Care Guide
The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. But as with all dogs, Goldens require a certain amount of care and attention to stay healthy, strong and vibrant. Regular veterinary visits, along with proper nutrition and exercise are important, as is understanding the underlying health issues associated with this breed.
The Use of Supplements: A Natural Rx for a Healthier Golden
Supplements containing vitamins, rich minerals and other antioxidants have a positive impact on the lives of Golden Retrievers. That's why more veterinarians are recommending their use as part of a proactive approach for managing the long-term health and well-being of Golden Retrievers.
Some of the benefits supplements may provide for your Golden Retriever include:
- Help alleviate certain types of cancers, in addition to heart disease, diabetes, cataracts caused by diabetes, and glaucoma.
- Ease chronic hip, joint, and muscle pain and help animals suffering from arthritis.
- Support an active and healthy lifestyle that can prolong your dog's life.
- Be an important tool to fill the nutritional gaps in your dog's diet.
- Help save money by limiting costly treatments and surgeries.
- Ease suffering in older animals and help improve their quality of life.
- Help alleviate certain types of cancers, in addition to heart disease, diabetes, cataracts caused by diabetes, and glaucoma.
- Ease chronic hip, joint, and muscle pain and help animals suffering from arthritis.
- Support an active and healthy lifestyle that can prolong your dog's life.
- Be an important tool to fill the nutritional gaps in your dog's diet.
- Help save money by limiting costly treatments and surgeries.
- Ease suffering in older animals and help improve their quality of life.
The golden retriever was crossbred in the late 1800's to be a super hunting dog for the wet and rugged terrain of the Scottish Highlands. They share bloodlines with a variety of sporting dogs including Red Setters, Yellow Retrievers, Bloodhounds and a Tweed Water Spaniel that has long been extinct. The Golden, as it is commonly known, was officially recognized as a breed in the U.S. by the American Kennel Club in 1927.
The breed established its presence in the 1930s and '40s, as hunting dogs and at field trials and shows, then also in obedience trials. While the early dogs in North America were mostly darker shades of golden, lighter shades have also become popular in later years.
Friendly and affectionate, the Golden Retriever has been called the perfect family pet because of its playful nature, and desire to be around people, especially children.
Some Fun Facts about Golden Retrievers
Their strength and willingness to work hard makes them ideal search and rescue dogs.
Loyal, patient and forgiving, Goldens are one of the best service and guide dogs. They are the preferred AKC breed of the Autism Service Dogs of America.
The Golden Retriever was once known as the "Golden Flat Coat" breed.
The Golden Retriever is one of the smartest breeds, ranking only slightly behind Border Collies and Poodles in intelligence.
Eye Disease
Golden Retrievers are prone to significant eye problems, most of which are genetic such as cataracts and Pigmentary Uveitis (PU), the latter often causing glaucoma, which causes both blindness and migraine-like pain. Pigmentary Uveitis is a serious disease becoming increasingly more common in this breed.
Joint Disease
Golden Retrievers are prone to a painful genetic hip deformity known as hip dysplasia. The breed can also have genetic elbow deformities and rupture of the cruciate ligament in the knees. These conditions can lead to crippling arthritis and require surgery.
Cancer
Goldens are prone to lymphosarcoma (cancer of white blood cells) and hemangiosarcoma (cancer of blood cells).
Heart Disease
Sub-aortic Stenosis (SAS), common in Golden Retrievers, is a narrowing of the aorta - the great vessel that carries blood away from the heart. It often shows up first as a slight heart murmur, cause sudden death, even in younger dogs. The breed is also prone to cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
Obesity
Golden Retrievers are prone to obesity, especially in dogs with hypothyroidism. Obesity causes widespread inflammation of tissue through release of pro-imflammatory adipokines, and aggravates other diseases such as joint pain.
Immune-mediated Disease
The immune system commonly attacks the thyroid gland in Golden Retrievers, causing hypothyroidism. It has been estimated that 1 in every 4 Goldens have this disease.
Golden Retrievers are prone to significant eye problems, most of which are genetic such as cataracts and Pigmentary Uveitis (PU), the latter often causing glaucoma, which causes both blindness and migraine-like pain. Pigmentary Uveitis is a serious disease becoming increasingly more common in this breed.
Golden Retrievers are prone to a painful genetic hip deformity known as hip dysplasia. The breed can also have genetic elbow deformities and rupture of the cruciate ligament in the knees. These conditions can lead to crippling arthritis and require surgery.
Goldens are prone to lymphosarcoma (cancer of white blood cells) and hemangiosarcoma (cancer of blood cells).
Sub-aortic Stenosis (SAS), common in Golden Retrievers, is a narrowing of the aorta - the great vessel that carries blood away from the heart. It often shows up first as a slight heart murmur, cause sudden death, even in younger dogs. The breed is also prone to cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
Golden Retrievers are prone to obesity, especially in dogs with hypothyroidism. Obesity causes widespread inflammation of tissue through release of pro-imflammatory adipokines, and aggravates other diseases such as joint pain.
The immune system commonly attacks the thyroid gland in Golden Retrievers, causing hypothyroidism. It has been estimated that 1 in every 4 Goldens have this disease.
Care Information for a "Golden Life"
Some important ways to keep your dog in top shape and mentally fit is to make sure its needs are looked after in the proper manner. This is more than just a routine; it's a healthy lifestyle that will reap great rewards for both you and your dog for years to come.
