HEALTH
Golden Retrievers usually live to be about 10-12 years old, and are quite healthy dogs. I had a Golden that lived to be 14, and I met a Golden Retriever this summer, who was 17 years old. There are a few health problems that are common in Golden Retrievers. Two of these conditions found in Goldens are hip dysplasia & elbow dysplasia (bad hips and elbows, sometimes leads to cancer). Also, studies have found that 1 in every 2 Goldens develop some type of skin condition, and 1 in every 2 Golden Retrievers die of cancer. Ear infections are also common, because they have floppy ears that don’t “breathe” easily, and because of all the hair inside the ears. Many Golden Retrievers turn white around their nose and mouth at a pretty young age, which is normal for this type of dog. Also, make sure your Golden gets lots of exercise to keep it healthy.
