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Common Health Problems
There are many common health problems that your Golden
Retriever will experience from time to time. Most of
these ailments are nothing serious, providing you know
how they should be treated and prevented. Below, we will
take a look at the most common ailments, and tell you
how to prevent your Golden from getting them.
Distemper virus
The distemper virus is an airborne disease that poses a
high risk. This virus can be prevented by getting your
Golden 3 different vaccinations when he is between 6 and
16 weeks of age, along with his regular annual booster
shot. The symptoms from this virus include fever, cough,
diarrhea, and vomiting. If your Golden Retriever has
these symptoms, you should immediately take him to see
the vet.
Heartworms
Heartworms are among the most common ailment with all
dog breeds. They can reach lengths of up to 12 inches in
the heart and the lung arteries, leading to heart
failure, a decrease in blood circulation, and even death
in some cases. The symptoms with heartworms may not
appear until it is too late, so you are better off
preventing them with the correct heartworm medicines.
Heatstroke
During the summer months or hot days, your Golden
Retriever can get a heatstroke. You can prevent this
from happening by giving your dog plenty of water, and
never leaving him in direct sunlight. If you are playing
together on a hot day, you should give him plenty of
time to rest so he doesn’t overdo it. The symptoms
indicating a heatstroke include a lot of panting or
drooling, dark gums, a glazed expression, rapid pulse,
and even vomiting. If your dog starts to show any of
these symptoms, you should immediately take him to the
vet.
Rabies
Rabies is one of the more serious ailments that your
Golden Retriever can get, as it has an adverse affect on
your dog’s nervous system. Normally, dogs get rabies
through a bite of another animal that is infected with
the disease. There are rabies shots that helps to
prevent the disease, and your dog should get them at
least once a year. The symptoms of rabies include
seizures, aggression, and foaming at the mouth. If you
suspect your Golden has rabies, you should call the vet
immediately.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are normally caused by fleas, and affect your
dog’s stomach. The symptoms for tapeworms include a loss
in weight, diarrhea, and even biting of the rectal area.
You can easily prevent your Golden from tapeworms by
using a rigid flea control. If your Golden Retriever
exhibits symptoms for tapeworms, you should take him to
the vet immediately. If the vet catches them in time, he
may be able to kill the tapeworms with an oral medicine.
Hookworms
Hookworms result from your Golden coming in contact with
feces, his mother, or the worm simply burrowing under
exposed skin. You can prevent your dog from getting
hookworms by cleaning his living area and keeping his
skin clean. The symptoms that accompany hookworms
include a dry coat, weight loss, weakness, and blood in
the stool. As with all other ailments, you should
immediately contact your vet if your Golden Retriever
starts to show any of these symptoms.
Although these are just some of the most common ailments
for Golden Retrievers, there are other ailments and
health problems that your dog can get. If your Golden
starts to show any signs of ailment, disease, or health
problem, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact your vet and
set up an appointment. Some of these diseases and
ailments can be pretty serious - although they can be
treated if you catch them in time.
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