Eye And Heart Disease
Eye disease is very common with Golden Retrievers. Most
Golden’s will generally have hereditary cataracts, which
is a common eye problem. At an early age, with affected
Golden’s, one type of hereditary cataract will appear.
Even though it may not cause interference with the
vision of the Golden Retriever, some dogs will progress
into total and quite possibly severe loss of vision.
Sometimes, Golden Retrievers can get affected by non
hereditary cataracts, although an examination by a board
certified veterinarian can determine just how bad the
cataracts really are. If cataracts are indeed suspected
with a Golden Retriever, then breeding won’t be
recommended. Breeding a Golden who has this condition
can lead to serious problems, such as passing it on to
the pups.
Several families of the Golden Retriever breed have been
known to carry genes for CPRA (Central Progressive
Retinal Atrophy), which affects the retina, and can
result in permanent blindness for Golden’s at a young
age. There are other types of eye defects as well, such
as retinal dysplasia, which prevents a Golden from
breeding.
Trouble with both the eyelid and eyelashes are also a
possibility with Golden Retrievers, with some being the
result of hereditary factors. The eyelids rotating in or
out, or the eyelashes rubbing on or in the eye are both
common problems with the breed. Even though surgery can
help to fix these types of problems, dogs that are
experiencing this type of problem shouldn’t be allowed
to breed nor compete in shows under any type of AKC
rules.
You should always have your Golden Retriever checked
annually for eye disease, as it can develop during any
age. When you take your Golden to have him examined for
eye disease, you should have a veterinary
ophthalmologist do the exam. He has all of the necessary
equipment, and the proper training needed to make sure
that your dog gets the best examination possible.
Heart disease
SAS (Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis) is the most common and
widespread form of heart disease within the entire
Golden Retriever species. Before you breed your Golden
Retriever, you should always have him examined for heart
disease by a certified veterinary cardiologist. If the
cardiologist detects a heart murmur, he will recommend
additional tests for your dog.
In the event that the results prove negative, it doesn’t
necessarily rule heart disease out, as some milder forms
may still be present, although undetectable. If a Golden
Retriever is diagnosed to have any type of heart
disease, he should not breed. Breeding Golden Retrievers
who have heart disease can lead to serious and sometimes
fatal results. To be on the safe side, you should always
have your Golden tested for his disease before you plan
on breeding.
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