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How to Keep Your Golden Retriever Happy and Healthy
The most important thing you can do to keep your Golden
Retriever healthy and happy is to help build up his immune system. A strong,
well-functioning immune system will enable your dog to avoid many of the
diseases common to Golden Retrievers.
And what is the best way to strengthen his immune system? Remember the old
saying, "You are what you eat"? That goes for dogs just as much as for human
beings! You need to know what the optimum diet is for a Golden Retriever, puppy
or adult, and to provide that diet for your own dog.
Surprisingly, the very best diet for a Golden Retriever is real food. We may
think of this as "people food," but are people the only beings who deserve
excellent nutrition? We’re not recommending "table scraps," or leftovers from
your own plate, as the healthiest diet for your Golden Retriever.
We are, though, recommending that you consider offering foods like real turkey,
chicken, and beef. However, be careful not to include chicken bones, which can
break easily and be very damaging to your dog’s mouth, throat, and stomach.
Include fresh, lightly-steamed vegetables; cooked oatmeal and brown rice; eggs,
yogurt, and cottage cheese. Don’t forget about fruits, as well -- not citrus
fruits, but berries, bananas, soft fruits like peaches or plums, and chopped
apple.
If you insist on providing commercial dog food for your Golden Retriever, be
sure it is a premium-quality food labeled "human-grade ingredients." The first
two ingredients listed should be real meat. You can mix a high-quality canned
dog food (like Wellness or Old Mother Hubbard) with real food.
Don’t make dry kibble the mainstay of your Golden’s diet: how would you like to
eat nothing but dry, processed chunks of something-or-other? If you do offer
some kibble, be sure it, too, is premium quality. (Wellness is a very good
brand, containing only human-grade ingredients, and no additives.)
You do need to guard against overfeeding, as Golden Retrievers tend to get hip
dysplasia, which can be triggered by very rapid growth in puppies. An overweight
dog also is more susceptible to diseases like diabetes, as he gets older.
Give your dog spring water, rather than tap or faucet water. You should change
the water in his bowl at least twice a day, and make sure he has extra water in
hot weather.
To help your dog develop strong, clean teeth, you’ll want to give him a dog
treat or a raw bone each day. Bones for a dog should be large beef bones, not
poultry bones that can break and harm him. A good-sized bone with some meat on
it will give him plenty of chewing exercise for teeth and gums. Chew toys and
rawhide toys are good for developing strong jaws as well as healthy teeth.
Golden Retrievers are susceptible to a variety of diseases. Keeping your dog
healthy means knowing something about possible health problems, so you can
recognize their symptoms and consult your veterinarian. Most commonly, Golden
Retrievers may have skin problems like eczema or allergies to fleas or certain
foods. Epilepsy is also relatively common in Golden Retrievers. If your dog has
a seizure, take him to the veterinarian immediately; epilepsy can be
well-controlled with medication.
Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid production, can cause obesity in your dog, but
can be controlled with supplements from your vet. Poor formation of the hip
joints, called "hip dysplasia," is, unfortunately, very common in Golden
Retrievers. It does not show up until a dog is a year or so old. As the dog
ages, hip dysplasia can make him very uncomfortable, and predispose him to
arthritis in old age.
If you are not planning to breed your dog, you should have him neutered at a few
months of age. A female that will not be bred should be spayed at the same age.
Golden Retrievers often have problems with the reproductive organs, and spaying
or neutering will help avoid these.
The average lifespan of a Golden Retriever is about 11 to 13 years. An excellent
diet, regular medical care, plenty of exercise, and constant opportunities for
interactions with the people he loves will keep your dog happy and healthy
throughout his lifetime.
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