How long do Golden Retrievers live?
The Golden Retriever has an average lifespan of 10–13 years. The breed is generally healthy but predisposed to certain medical conditions, including:
Bone and Joint Problems
The Golden Retriever breed can develop various bone and joint disorders, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
Whilst these conditions can be caused by environmental factors; they can also be passed on through genetics. These conditions may cause pain and eventually lameness if they are not properly treated.
Goldens with elbow and hip dysplasia can be cured through medications, supplements, therapy, and in severe cases, surgery. Treatment for osteochondritis dissecans is comprised of strict rest and activity restrictions. Medications are prescribed as well to reduce inflammation.
Bloat
The Golden Retriever breed can be affected by bloat or gastric dilatation-volvulus. It is a rare but extremely fatal condition in dogs. It is a result of excessive gas accumulation in the stomach, causing it to expand.
Bloat can restrict blood flow to the stomach lining and heart, prevent proper airflow, and tear the stomach lining wall.
The Golden Retriever and other large breeds and giant breeds are more likely to develop this condition than smaller breeds.
If your dog starts drooling too much, vomiting, and has a swollen stomach, he may be experiencing bloat. Take him to the vet right away, as delays will only put your dog in danger of losing his life.
Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
The Golden breed can potentially develop Von Willebrand Disease. It is a hereditary bleeding disorder that is very prevalent in the Golden Retriever breed. VWD hinders the blood's clotting ability, which causes the bleeding.
Some Goldens may have the VWD but will have no bleeding tendencies. Serious cases of VWD often result in excessive bleeding of the mouth, nose, digestive tract, and reproductive and urinary organs.
Golden Retriever puppies with VWD will have uncontrollable bleeding if they are teething or declawed. Blood, plasma, and cryoprecipitate transfusion is the most common treatment for this disease. The vet may advise surgery for dogs that have severe VWD.
Prospective Golden Retriever owners are advised to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder. Assured breeders screen their breeding stock for typical breed-related health issues.
Health screening reduces the chances of your Golden Retriever puppy inheriting the breed's common health problems, such as progressive retinal atrophy. Suggested health tests for Golden Retrievers are cardiac, thyroid, elbow, hip, and eye evaluations.
The Golden Retriever dog was bred as a gun dog. He has high energy levels and requires plenty of exercise. This can be 40–60 minutes of vigorous exercise per day. You may divide it into two 30-minute bouts. If a Golden Retriever is unable to release his energy, he may develop behavioural issues.
Consider including running, hiking, free time in a fenced yard, retrieving games, and swimming in his exercise regimen. Include mentally stimulating activities as well such as obedience and agility training.
However, Golden Retriever puppies should be restricted from strenuous activities, unlike their adult counterparts.
Golden Retriever puppies start to develop quickly at the age of 4–7 months and are highly at risk of bone disorders. Do not allow your puppy to play on very hard surfaces like concrete pavements, putting pressure on his joints.
Running and playing on the grass and puppy agility classes are safe for him to do. Once your Golden Retriever puppy is about 2 years old and has fully formed joints, he can have regular exercises.
As a fully-fledged Golden Retriever loves to carry something in his mouth. With this in mind, give him a newspaper, ball, or soft chew toy to play with.
The Golden Retriever excels in a wide variety of dog sports, including agility, dock diving, freestyle, fly ball, obedience, rally, and tracking. The breed loves water, so he will enjoy swimming on the beach, lake, or pool. Outdoor family activities will bring great joy to this breed.