Health concerns

Health Concerns in Golden Retrievers: A Literature Review

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds in the world. However, like many pure-bred dogs, golden retrievers are prone to breed specific and non-breed specific health problems. This review aims to summarize some of the most prevalent health concerns in Golden Retrievers.

A) Breed specific:

1. Hip Dysplasia: A common concern in many larger dog breeds, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket. Over time, this can lead to arthritis and pain.
   Reference: Smith, G. K., Mayhew, P. D., Kapatkin, A. S., McKelvie, P. J., Shofer, F. S., & Gregor, T. P. (2001). Evaluation of risk factors for degenerative joint disease associated with hip dysplasia in German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, and Rottweilers. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 219(12), 1719-1724.
   
2. Elbow Dysplasia: This is a condition affecting the elbow joint and can lead to pain and lameness in affected dogs.
   Reference: Burton, N. J., & Owen, M. R. (2008). Elbow dysplasia in the dog: pathophysiology, diagnosis and current treatment recommendations. Veterinary Journal, 175(2), 149-162.
   
3. Cancer: Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers have a higher incidence of cancer compared to many other breeds. Common cancers include hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and lymphoma.
   Reference: Priester, W. A., & Mantel, N. (1971). Occurrence of tumors in domestic animals. Data from 12 United States and Canadian colleges of veterinary medicine. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 47(6), 1333-1344.
   
4. Eye Disorders: Cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and retinal dysplasia are some of the eye-related issues that Golden Retrievers may face.
   Reference: Gelatt, K. N., & Mackay, E. O. (2005). Prevalence of primary breed‐related cataracts in the dog in North America. Veterinary ophthalmology, 8(2), 101-111.
   
5. Cardiac Issues: Golden Retrievers can suffer from subvalvular aortic stenosis, a congenital heart condition.
   Reference: Stern, J. A., Meurs, K. M., Nelson, O. L., Lahmers, S. M., & Lehmkuhl, L. B. (2012). Familial subvalvular aortic stenosis in golden retrievers: inheritance and echocardiographic findings. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 53(4), 213-217.
   
6. Allergies: Skin allergies resulting from environmental triggers or food allergies can be a common issue.
   Reference: Griffin, C. E., & Hillier, A. (2001). The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (I): incidence and prevalence. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 81(3-4), 147-151.
   
7. Ear Infections: Their floppy ears make Golden Retrievers more prone to ear infections.
   Reference: Saridomichelakis, M. N. (2007). Advances in the pathogenesis of canine otitis externa. Veterinary dermatology, 18(5), 300-306.
   
8. Thyroid Disorders: Hypothyroidism is a concern in Golden Retrievers, leading to various symptoms like lethargy, weight gain, and skin problems.
   Reference: Dixon, R. M., & Mooney, C. T. (1999). Canine hypothyroidism: a review of aetiology and diagnosis. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 47(2), 47-52.
   
9. Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD): This is a condition wherein the cartilage in a joint grows improperly and can lead to painful bone spurs. It typically affects the shoulders.
   Reference: Olsson, S. E. (1982). Osteochondrosis in domestic animals. Acta Radiologica. Supplementum, 358, 299-306.
   
10. Von Willebrand's Disease: This is a blood disorder that affects the clotting process. It can cause excessive bleeding in dogs after surgery or injury.
    Reference: Brooks, M. B., Erb, H. N., & Foureman, P. A. (1992). von Willebrand's disease in the golden retriever: a heterogeneous group of disorders. British journal of haematology, 80(2), 251-257.
    
11. Epilepsy: Some Golden Retrievers can suffer from epilepsy, a neurological disorder that can cause seizures.
    Reference: Berendt, M., Farquhar, R. G., Mandigers, P. J. J., Pakozdy, A., Bhatti, S. F. M., De Risio, L., ... & Haagsman, A. N. (2015). International veterinary epilepsy task force consensus report on epilepsy definition, classification, and terminology in companion animals. BMC veterinary research, 11(1), 1-9.
    
12. Pyometra: Being a common issue in many breeds, pyometra is an infection in the uterus that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
    Reference: Hagman, R. (2017). Pyometra in small animals. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 47(4), 783-805.
    
13. Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (GDV or bloat): This is a serious condition where the stomach fills with gas and then twists. It can be fatal if not treated immediately.
    Reference: Glickman, L. T., Glickman, N. W., Schellenberg, D. B., Raghavan, M., & Lee, T. L. (2000). Incidence of and breed-related risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 216(1), 40-45.
    
14. Skin Disorders: Apart from allergies, Golden Retrievers can also be prone to various skin disorders, including hot spots or acute moist dermatitis.
    Reference: Scott, D. W., Miller Jr, W. H., & Griffin, C. E. (2001). Muller & Kirk's small animal dermatology. Elsevier Health Sciences.
    

B) Non-breed specific

1. Heartworms: Golden Retrievers, like all dogs, are susceptible to heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and death in pets, mainly dogs, cats, and ferrets. It is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis. The worms are spread through the bite of a mosquito.
   Reference: Atkins, C. E. (2003). Comparison of results of three commercial heartworm antigen test kits in dogs with low heartworm burdens. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 222(9), 1221-1223.
   
2. Dental Diseases: Like other dogs, Golden Retrievers can suffer from periodontal disease, gingivitis, and other dental problems.
   Reference: Harvey, C. E. (1998). Management of periodontal disease: understanding the options. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 28(5), 1129-1147.
   
3. Infectious Diseases: These dogs can be affected by various infectious diseases, such as parvovirus, distemper, and leptospirosis.
   Reference: Decaro, N., & Buonavoglia, C. (2012). Canine parvovirus—a review of epidemiological and diagnostic aspects, with emphasis on type 2c. Veterinary Microbiology, 155(1), 1-12.
   
4. Parasitic Infections: Intestinal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms can affect Golden Retrievers.
   Reference: Bowman, D. D., Montgomery, S. P., Zajac, A. M., Eberhard, M. L., & Kazacos, K. R. (2010). Hookworms of dogs and cats as agents of cutaneous larva migrans. Trends in parasitology, 26(4), 162-167.
   
5. Cushings Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism): This endocrine disorder, where the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, can affect Golden Retrievers among other breeds.
   Reference: Galac, S., Kars, V. J., Voorhout, G., Mol, J. A., & Kooistra, H. S. (2005). ACTH-independent hyperadrenocorticism due to food-dependent hypercortisolism in a dog: a case report. Veterinary Journal, 169(3), 419-422.
   
6. Diabetes Mellitus: Not exclusive to Golden Retrievers but still a concern for many dog breeds.
   Reference: Catchpole, B., Ristic, J. M., Fleeman, L. M., & Davison, L. J. (2005). Canine diabetes mellitus: can old dogs teach us new tricks?. Diabetologia, 48(10), 1948-1956.
   
7. Panosteitis: An inflammatory bone disease, sometimes referred to as "growing pains", can affect rapidly growing large breed dogs like Golden Retrievers.
   Reference: Bennett, D., & May, C. (1995). Joint diseases of dogs and cats. In Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Vol. 2, pp. 2032-2074). WB Saunders Co.
   
8. Renal Failure: Chronic kidney disease can affect older Golden Retrievers, though it's not exclusive to the breed.
   Reference: Polzin, D. J. (2011). Chronic kidney disease in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 41(1), 15-30.
   
9. Liver Disease: Canine liver diseases can manifest in various ways and may affect Golden Retrievers.
   Reference: Center, S. A. (2007). Diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tree. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 37(3), 537-552.