The Golden Retriever is an ideal dog for active families. This sociable and cheerful breed becomes the ideal companion for children and adults. Its high intelligence makes it a fast learner and it is a very easy dog to train. He has a lot of energy and will enjoy exercising and taking long walks with his family.
The Golden Retriever is a strong and healthy dog that does not require very specific care. Next, we are going to analyze the most outstanding characteristics of this breed.
Care of a Golden Retriever puppy
If you have children, teach them to treat the puppy correctly. Don’t pull his tail or ears and don’t be brusque with him. If they learn to treat him with respect, he’ll be a tireless playmate and willing to share any mischief with them.
After weaning, you’ll need to feed your puppy a quality feed that’s right for him. Whether you’re using homemade food or feeding your puppy homemade food, consult your vet to ensure a well-balanced diet. As long as it’s a puppy, you should feed it 3 or 4 times a day.
Brush his hair regularly to keep him healthy and when he’s fully vaccinated, take him for a walk somewhere where he can run and exercise.
This is a very healthy breed, but it has a tendency to develop some problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, skin allergies, vision problems or subvalvular aortic stenosis. Your vet will know how to prevent and treat them if they occur.
Golden Retriever Care
To feed your Golden Retriever, choose a quality feed that meets your needs. Consult your veterinarian to make sure you provide the correct feed and also use the right Brush for Dogs. As a very active breed, it will need a high protein and low fat intake. Keep in mind that Golden Retriever has a tendency towards obesity, so you should make sure you provide the right diet in the right dosage twice a day. In the case of a Golden Retriever Senior, the amounts will decrease, as you will exercise less.
Like all dogs, it should only be bathed when it is very dirty, as the bath removes the protective sebaceous layer it has. Use a specific shampoo for dogs.
The daily brushing will last longer clean time, has a double coat of hair. Make sure to remove dead hair and any knots that may form and you will have a Golden Retriever with a healthy and lustrous coat.
Take it for a walk every day for exercise. Take advantage of these walks to socialise your dog with people and other dogs. In addition to city walks, be sure to provide long walks. This is a very active dog that will enjoy a lot on family outings.
Visit your vet regularly to give him all the vaccinations and make sure his health is perfect. Follow your vet’s guidelines, as he’s the professional who can best guide you through everything your dog may need.
The health problems of the Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever has a tendency to suffer from hip or elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, skin allergies, vision problems or subvalvular aortic stenosis.
- Hip dysplasia. It is the most common cause of hind leg limp in dogs. The hip is a spheroid-shaped joint into which the head of the femur fits. In a dysplastic hip, it is not well supported and can loosen and destabilize, moving freely and wearing down the joint. The condition is irreversible, but lameness can be improved with a chondroprotector. Horsetail and turmeric are very good for this. Add a little to your diet and you’ll see how it improves. In case of severe dysplasia, surgery may be required. To prevent it, avoid the overweight of your Golden Retriever and the undue strain on the hips. Don’t make him jump high up on his hind legs. See your vet for appropriate guidelines.
- Osteochondritis dissecans. It usually appears between four and eight months of age. This disease is caused by a defect in the cartilage calcification process, which calcifies irregularly, creating decalcified areas at the ends of the bones. The process is accompanied by joint pain and swelling. In the Golden Retriever it is more frequent in the elbows. It is also known as elbow dysplasia. It is treated with analgesics and chondroprotectors, in addition to reducing activity. Surgery may be required.
- Epilepsy. Epilepsy is a recurrent seizure disorder in which seizures become more frequent over time. It is important that you take note of the frequency of seizures and observe your dog’s behavior before and after. This information will be very useful for your vet. It is treated with drugs.
- Hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland produces thyroxine, which controls the metabolic rate. Dogs with hypothyroidism have lower-than-normal metabolic rates. It is an endocrine skin disease. Skin and hair changes are bilateral and symmetrical. You will notice that there is little hair growth after the fall or it loses through the neck, chest, sides, thighs or the top of the tails. The skin is dry and inflamed and may have seborrhea. It can also cause weight gain, lethargy, intolerance to cold and other symptoms. It is diagnosed by a blood test. It is a permanent disease but is effectively treated with the L-Tiroxin supply.
- Skin allergies. Currently there is an increase in dogs suffering from allergies. Some breeds, such as Golden Retriever, are more prone to them. An allergy is a reaction caused by exposure to a food or inhaled substance, called an allergen, to which our dog’s immune system reacts with hypersensitivity. The main symptom is intense pruritus. You will notice that your dog is constantly scratching and may be feeling down or prone to bite. Consult your vet for a suitable antihistamine.
- Eye problems. Cataracts, retinal atrophy, entropion and ectropion are among the most common eye ailments of Golden Retrievers.
- Cataracts consist of the loss of the transparency of the lens. If visible, a milky grey film is seen in the eye. Some are spontaneously reabsorbed. Sometimes they require surgery.
- Entropion consists of the inversion of the eyelid inwards and requires surgery.
- Ectropion is a condition in which the eyelid separates from the eye, leaving it exposed to irritants. In most cases it requires surgical treatment.
- Progressive retinal atrophy is due to the destruction of retinal cells, resulting in vision loss. The initial symptom is night blindness and deterioration progresses to complete blindness in a matter of months. There is no treatment.
- Subvalvular aortic stenosis. This is a condition caused by a narrow aortic valve that makes it difficult for blood to flow from the left ventricle. The dog will show signs of fatigue and wheezing due to fluid in the lungs. See your vet for appropriate treatment.
Conclusions
- The Golden Retriever is a very fun dog that needs a lot of exercise.
- He brushes his hair well on a regular basis.
- Give him a well-balanced diet with a good protein load.
- This is a breed with a tendency to obesity.
- It is a dog that will enjoy long walks.
- The most common diseases of this breed are: hip or elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, skin allergies, vision problems or subvalvular aortic stenosis.
- See your vet to prevent or treat them if they occur.