Archive for the ‘ABOUT GOLDEN RETRIEVER HEALTH’ Category

Golden Retriever Pregnancy – Symptoms, Risks and Ways to Minimize Them by Archie Right

Golden retriever pregnancy is a very special condition for your dog so you need to know the basics of it. Let’s have a look at what to expect from it, the risks and the stages of golden retriever pregnancy.

Pregnancy in all dogs (and Golden Retriever is not an exception) lasts for 63 days. This term may vary by 5 days and Golden Retrievers actually tend to give birth earlier. It is important to note the date you were breeding your Golden to provide veterinarian with valid information and to be prepared for whelping.

At the fists stage your Golden might become more affectionate than usual — she may start following you wanting to be petted all the time. However, some dogs on the contrary are happier to be left alone. Loss of appetite and the dog equivalent of the “morning sickness” are other signs of pregnancy.

However, after the first several weeks these symptoms go and Golden becomes playful like always. The main symptom here is an appetite. She does not only regain her appetite but starts eating really a lot. There is no need to introduce puppy food or vitamins in her diet. Actually you shouldn’t do it under any circumstances! Changes in diet are very dangerous because they may lead to development of milk fever — potentially fatal disorder that develops very rapidly.

Just feed her with regular high quality adult dog food and give her as much food as she wants. If you still feel you need to add some other type of adult dog food, mix it gradually with a regular food during the week to avoid upset stomach. It’s a good idea to grant your pregnant Golden Retriever unlimited access to her food. She really needs to eat a lot and her stomach just can’t hold enough food at once because of her pregnancy. So it’s better if she eats less but more often. And don’t worry if she has tendency to overeat — in pregnant dogs this habit normally goes away.

Until the last two or three weeks there is no need to limit your Golden Retriever in physical activities. The only thing to avoid it is long walks and long distance running. However in last two weeks you need to be very careful not to let her bump her belly. Otherwise pups may be knocked off the uterus wall and their development will stop. As a result you’ll have stillborn puppies.

It is interesting that the size of the belly depends on the position puppies are situated. Sometimes you won’t be able to tell if the dog is pregnant until the last ten or twelve days. In the last days before the birth she might start throwing up the water she’s just drunk. You may also feel or see milk coming from her nipples. However, that’s normally not the case with the first-time mothers.

Worming and vaccinations are highly not recommended during the Golden Retriever pregnancy. If it’s time for the annual vaccination — just wait till she gives birth, it’s safe to do when she’s nursing. If you still need to do worming you should consult with your vet for the pregnancy safe medicine.

Archie Right is a Golden Retriever expert. For more information on Golden Retriever pregnancy, visit http://goldenretrieverdoginfo.com/

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Your Healthy Golden Retriever by Laurence Burrows

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.

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Golden Retriever Health Tips by Michael Corben

Raising a golden retriever means enjoying a good time with them. Considering them as a part of your family, you have to learn the basics so that you can give your pet the best he deserves. One of the most important thing that you should consider are the golden retreiver health issues. Maintaining your dog’s health is not easy and may even be costly, but its worth your every penny.

First things first, seek a good veterinarian. Do not just randomly pick any veterinarian along the yellow pages on the phonebook. Choose someone that you trust to take care of your golden retriever when medical advice is being sought for.

Knowing the proper grooming for your pet is a good start. This would not only make your dog attractive but it also promotes his health. Giving him a regular bath and brushing their coat will make their skin healthy and nice to look at.
Right food your retriever also plays a vital role of keeping his health at an optimum. Of course, along with the food, your pet also needs water. Water composes three-fourth of his body. Lack of it will cause dehydration, bad blood circulation, excretory problems and among other complications. This is because water transports nutrients throughout his body through his blood circulation reaching those vital organs. Thus, insufficient water would make your golden retriever malnourished.

Vaccination for your golden is also important. This would enhance their immune system and fight off the common canine diseases that he might encounter. Giving them anti-parasite would also keep them from having those annoying hookworms, ringworm, roundworms and all the other worms and parasites that would harm his health.

Golden retriever allergies are another thing to consider.Most of the dog allergies come from flea bits and those allergens that they inhale. Another source of allergy comes from the food that they eat. Symptoms of these allergies are excessive scratching, licking or chewing. Some even develop hot spots. Sadly food allergies are difficult to diagnose. You have figure out the ingredients in his dog food that causes his allergies. Taking him to a veterinarian so that he would be given a medication to relieve the symptoms of his allergy would be the very best thing to do.
As vital as medical health, emotional health of your golden retriever should be taken care of. Your golden pet’s presence is not merely for fun. They should be treated as part of your family. Thus giving them love, care and attention is also very important. Just like what you do with your kids, spend some time with your pet. Walking with him every morning not only makes you both fit but it is also a good way of bonding with him. If you have a leisure time, you can play with them. If your pockets are full , give them their best day at a doggie spa or pamper them with stylish outfits and gifts.
It’s true that raising a golden retriever would be costly but taking one would also mean taking full responsibility of keeping them healthy and beautiful at the same time. Pretty much like us.

About the Author

Michael Corben has been in the golden retriever business for more than 20 years. If you’d like to learn more on golden retriever puppies, visit http://www.mygoldenretrievertips.com

Golden Retriever Adoption Guidelines by Michael Corben

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Dealing with a Golden Retriever Pregnancy by Michael Corben

These days more and more people are breeding golden retrievers. This is because the dog’s fun, affectionate, loyal, and friendly features have encouraged a lot of consumers into actually owning one for their household. Golden retriever puppies are very saleable in any pet shop because no customer can resist the cute and chubby faces.

Breeding goldens are not as carefree as it sounds. It can be very challenging especially when you do not have the skills to do so. It is a business that should be taken seriously.

So how do you deal with a golden retriever pregnancy?

It all starts from the day of studding and making sure to count 60 to 62 days onwards. The pregnancy will usually lasts between 60 to 62 days. After a few days from the time of the mating, you should be able to see some transparent discharge from its vulva. However, if the discharge is cloudy or if it bears another color, or if you could see some blood on it, it is important to take the dog to the veterinarian to have it checked. The cloudy or tainted discharge may be a sign of infection that needs to be taken cared of immediately.

During the time of your dog’s pregnancy, be constantly on the lookout for any signs that you think may have gone wrong. It is normal for the dog to feel lazy during the first few weeks and this could be also accompanied by morning sickness. However, if you notice the dog has gone unnaturally weaker, cannot move on its own, or has an elevated temperature higher than the normal, then it is wise to see a veterinarian immediately to have her condition assessed.

Just like a pregnant woman, your dog’s appetite may also change. She may appear to be constantly hungry all the time or she may be picky on certain foods. If she turns out to be picky, it is best to find the right food for her to eat. The first thing a pregnant golden retriever needs is adequate nutrition.

If you are unsure whether your dog is pregnant or not, then take her to the vet to get her tested. A veterinarian will usually order a blood test to check the presence of a pregnancy hormone. An ultrasound can also be performed to check for any sign of heartbeat.

At the time of your dog’s pregnancy you’ll notice that your dog will become more rounded or fatter. Her nipples will appear to be swollen as well. This is in preparation for the milk that the puppies will need when they are born. So don’t get overly concerned if you see your golden retriever start to get fat.

Another behavior that you may notice when your golden retriever is pregnant is it tends to become less affectionate. She may frequently want to stay in a quiet place. This is a mother’s natural reaction to the pregnancy, so leave her alone. It is also during this time that the mother is starting to explore other areas in your home where she think it is safe to give birth to her pups.

Caring for a pregnant golden retriever may not be as easy as it sound but after you have seen the pups and the mother after giving birth, it can be a rewarding feeling that you’ve finally made it.

Michael Corben has been in the golden retriever business for more than 20 years. If you’d like to learn more on golden retriever breeder, visit http://www.mygoldenretrievertips.com

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Eye and Heart Diseases Common In Golden Retrievers



Eye and Heart Diseases Common In Golden Retrievers

Author: Peter Finch

Like all pets, Golden Retrievers too are prone to diseases such as those of the heart and eye. Though Golden Retrievers are by and large a very healthy breed, there are some common health issues that affect them.

There are many diseases that can afflict the eyes and heart of the Golden Retriever. Nature-wise diseases contracted vary from hereditary/congenital, acquired through injury or environmentally induced.

Heart Diseases in Golden Retrievers

This breed can possibly be afflicted with SAS, which is restriction of the Aorta, the symptoms of which include having an enlarged heart enlargement and restricted blood flow. The younger ones have statistically proved more vulnerable to this dreaded malady that often ends in the pet dying prematurely.

In severe cases of the ailment, the victim can get severely debilitated and it is possible that they can eventually and consequently even die from this disease. This malady is thought of by cardiologists as being solely genetically transmitted. Apart from this, there are other minor issues that can crop up regarding the heart. Thus, it is always better to ensure that both parents did not suffer from any heart disease as far as possible.

Another heart problem seen in Golden Retrievers is Cardiomyopathy, which is essentially a disease of the muscles in the dogs heart either making them too thin or too thick.

Eye Diseases in Golden Retrievers

The common eye disorders which the Golden retriever may possibly suffer from are bilateral, juvenile-onset cataracts and abnormalities of the eyelids / eyelashes. Cataracts mostly appear quite small and virtually have no fatally debilitating effect. Aside from this, the breed may contract abnormalities such as inward rolling of the eyelid and extra eyelashes on the inside of the eyelid.

Please note that cataracts are not things to be taken lightly, and will require immediate attention to be discussed with your vet as soon as possible. Other eye disorders the Golden Retriever may possibly contract are progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia.

There is also a wide assortment of genetic or congenital infirmities in this breed to reckon with. In severe cases, this may deteriorate to permanent blindness. Cataracts among the younger lot are mostly congenital.

Restricted blood supply to the eye are mostly found among the young. This is clinically alluded to as Collie Eye Anomaly. Another commonly occurring eye disease is Entropion, which is an inversion of the eyelids. Progressive Retinal atrophy or PRA is a degenerative condition, which causes night blindness and inability to see in low light conditions.

Sadly, it ultimately stops the dog from being able to see in broad daylight as well. The incidence of this disease is common mostly among the young, but can affect adults as well. Glaucoma, which is caused by the imbalance of air pressure in the eyes often afflicts this breed. This is rare, but instances have been known to happen. In this case, there is no cure, but medication can control the onset of the disease if caught early.

Make sure you get a dog free of previous medical history of most or all of the diseases and health problems given here to save yourself from problems and heartache later.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/eye-and-heart-diseases-common-in-golden-retrievers-183196.html

About the Author

Don’t get ripped off. If you are looking for information on golden retrievers? or advice on buying a golden retriever or house breaking your golden retriever, visit us now. GoldenRetrieverAdvice.org is a goldmine for information on everything related to golden retrievers.


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