Your Healthy Golden Retriever

You love your golden retriever. He/she is a member of the family. Maybe, your favorite member of the family! The health of your family is a priority, and that includes golden retriever health. This article will help you get started with keeping your dog healthy and happy.

Let's start with the basics. The first step in keeping your golden healthy is the veterinarian. Make this a regular event; take your golden to the vet once a year. This is a great time to ask those health questions that you've been wondering about. Make a list. When you accompany your golden during the check up, ask a few questions. This is the difference between a good vet and a bad one; the good vet will answer your questions. This is the time your golden should be vaccinated and receives de-worming treatment. Cliff Claven would want to know the names of the vaccinations. Generally, there are 4 core vaccinations: canine distemper, canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus-2, and rabies. There also may be other situational vaccines. Generally, your dog should be revaccinated at 1 year of age, then every three years afterwards with the core vaccines.

Your golden retriever, like any family member, loves his/her food. Don't hold back when feeding your growing puppy. However, adult goldens can easily become obese. Make sure your dog gets enough exercise, and use a regular feeding schedule. Don't fill up the food bowl, and leave it there all day. There are two kinds of dog owners; those who feed their dog commercial dog food, and those who feed their dog a 'special' diet. If you wish to be a member of the latter club, your golden's diet should be primarily raw or cooked meats. This is a natural diet for a dog. It is also O.K. to mix in some healthy vegetables and grains; if your golden will eat them, of course. Vitamins and health supplements won't hurt your dog either. Try grinding them and mixing them in dog food, or something like peanut butter. I must warn you. Goldens have very talented noses, and this may require some trial and error.

The catch to that gorgeous golden coat, is a requirement for grooming. Goldens will shed some hair periodically. If you have sensitive allergies, this may be the wrong dog. Brush your golden twice per week. Fix any matted hair. Make sure you brush and clean around the ears, to prevent infection. Keeping your golden clean with a regular bath is also a must, especially if you have an inside/outside dog. Hopefully, you got your dog used to regular baths as a puppy. Introduce your golden to the bathtub little by little until he/she is comfortable taking baths. Try rewarding your dog with a treat for getting in the bathtub at bath time.

Goldens are active and energetic dogs. Exercising once a day is generally recommended. Remember goldens thrive on human companionship. Without exercise and human interaction, a golden's health may suffer. They love exercising, swimming, playing games, and being given tasks. Goldens are great for families, and an active person looking for an exercise partner. This is also why they make great guide dogs, service dogs, and hunting companions. It is no surprise they do well in agility and obedience competitions. If you don't have a big yard, be prepared to make regular visits to the park.

If the mosquito is your worst enemy, then you can sympathize with your dog's loathing of fleas and ticks. Fleas can even be carriers for diseases and parasites. However, your dog's skin is harmed more by constant scratching than by the flea itself. Even after the fleas are poisoned and gone, your dog can still be itching and scratching. If your golden starts to scratch a lot, look over his/her coat thoroughly for fleas. If you site a flea, treat your dog as soon as possible. Also, make sure you treat all of your pets at the same time. A disadvantage of the dog park, is your golden may be more likely to pick up fleas. Walking through tall grass and vegetation will make your dog more likely to pick up ticks. After your golden gets a tick, take him/her to the vet. Ticks can carry serious diseases, such as Lyme Disease.

What if you are buying or adopting a golden retriever? What do you need to know? The most common serious ailments that afflict goldens are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye problems such as cataracts, and cancer. Occasionally, goldens can also develop heart problems. These problems are all related to genetics, and are often caused by bad breeding. Generally, these problems show up in older dogs, and can be difficult to detect when dogs are young. The best way to prevent these illnesses is to test a breeding pair, and their ancestors, for these health problems before breeding. Good Breeders can provide the right paperwork for this testing: OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certification for hips, knees, and the heart. Also inquire about CERF eye certification.

Laurence Burrows is a golden retriever lover, and trainer. For more great tips on Golden Retriever Care, visit http://www.loyalgoldenretriever.com.