Golden retrievers are carefully bred for strength, agility, intelligence, obedience and a water-resistant coat. Though responsible breeders try to breed out genetic health defects like cancer, von Willebrand's, canine hip dysplasia and subvalvular aortic stenosis, breeders intent only on cashing in on the golden retriever's popularity as a pet may not be as careful. Careless breeding, or lack of knowledge, often leads to shortened lives and painful conditions for this hunting and retrieving breed.
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Cancer
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Cancer of all types is the number one cause of golden retriever deaths. A predisposition to cancer is transferred genetically throughout generations of dogs. Cancer, especially hemangiosarcoma and lymphosarcoma, can shorten the lifespan of goldens from 12 to 16 years down to 10. According to Gaylan's Goldens breeders, cancer is difficult to breed out of goldens because there is no screening test for it. Great care must be taken to breed animals from lines where males and female goldens have lived cancer-free for at least 11 years.
Von Willebrand's Disease
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According to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 30 percent of golden retrievers are afflicted with von Willebrand's Disease. This disorder causes immediate bleeding from wounds, which then take much longer to clot. Golden retrievers with VWD have either an absence of the von Willebrand factor or the VWF they do have does not work properly. VWF helps blood to clot and bleeding to cease, so a low VWF may lead to excessive bleeding in the case of surgery, injury or tooth extraction.
Canine Hip Dysplasia
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Canine hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip joints are formed improperly or too loosely, causing either crippling from birth or painful arthritis in later years. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals reports that 20 percent of golden retrievers are born with CHD, though a Penn State study says the actual number may be much higher. The only way to detect CHD is through X-rays, and both the OFA and PennHip offer programs for this screening. Since the cause of CHD comes from a combination of genetic factors, it is difficult to breed out.
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis
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Subvalvular aortic stenosis is a genetic defect, an obstruction of the aortic heart valve that causes a detectable heart murmur. Golden retrievers with severe SAS can develop intolerance to exercise, fainting spells, fluid in the lungs, weakness in the back legs or sudden death. Sophisticated testing is required to diagnose SAS. but the absence of a heart murmur usually means a dog is unaffected. SAS puts golden retrievers at a higher risk of heart infection when other infections are present. Treatment for severe cases is surgical.
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