vet | - Part 12

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.

Eye And Heart Disease In Golden Retrievers courtesy of Dog Articles.

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Breeding dogs is very tempting if you’re a dog lover. You’ll get to spread your passion for the animals and you can even earn an income. Even so, there is a lot to think about before you get started.

The first thing you need to realize is that your dog might not fit the bill. You should breed dogs that are from the highest pedigree. It is also important to make sure they have an even temperament and are without any genetic defects.

For the good of the puppies, never breed a dog that has these problems. Even if you sense a problem with the uterus you should make sure your pup can cope with the litter and is at least two years old. If not, it’s not a good idea to breed.

If your bitch meets all the requirements you almost have a green light. Next, you need to consider the puppies that would come out of the breeding. It is important to be sure you have enough room for 12 puppies in a space that can handle the noise level.

It can be very stressful being there for the birth of these puppies and the process can take over 12 hours. Beyond that you need to be there to clean up after the dogs, wean them, and feed them. This food and other materials can end up costing a lot of money. Don’t forget about the vet bills either.

Beyond the first weeks of care you need to figure out what you’re going to do with the puppies. Whether they are mixed breed or pedigree you may want to sell or give them away. Obviously, a pedigree dog is worth a lot more money to prospective buyers than a mutt.

Make sure you don’t just give the puppies away to anyone that walks into your facility. You need to make sure they are going to a good home. If you find that they were taken to an undesirable location you might even need to take them back in.

If you’ve made up your mind that breeding is what you want to do then you can start to look for a stud dog. If your bitch is pedigree then you want to make sure the stud comes from the same quality background. You can also examine the female dog’s weaknesses and find a stud that will make up for those weaknesses. For example, one might not have a beautiful coat but you can make up for it with the other.

Just remember that money is not the ultimate goal here. Breeding quality animals and making sure they have a wonderful life is. You can have a very fulfilling time as a dog breeder as long as you follow these guidelines.

Dog Breed Tips courtesy of Dog Articles

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