|
Health Issues in Golden Retrievers
Hip and/or Elbow Dysplasia and Hereditary eye conditions are known to occur in many dogs, including Golden Retrievers.
- The parents of any puppy bred by Inniscroft Golden Retrievers have been assessed by X-ray and are presented for an annual eye examination by a Canine Ophthalmologist to be cleared for breeding purposes.
- This means that the risk of a puppy developing hip or elbow dysplasia or a heritable eye condition is reduced. No breeder can guarantee that their puppies will not develop these conditions. Breeders when keeping a puppy for themselves, take the same risk as the family who purchases a litter-mate.
- Defects with the hip and elbow joints are influenced not only by inheritance but even more so by environmental factors. As the BREEDER has no control over the environment the puppy goes to, it is extremely important that the NEW OWNER has listened to and followed the BREEDERS instructions about diet and exercise. The BREEDER has the responsibility to breed from screened breeding stock but the next step, i.e. making sure that the environment causes no harm to the growing puppy, belongs fairly and squarely in the hands of the NEW OWNER.
- As already stated, the degree of heritability is statistically much lower than environmental factors
Factors that can influence Hip Dysplasia
- In the first 12 months, make sure that your puppy is not over fed, or over weight causing
- excessive and rapid growth.
- Restrict high protein and fat foods.
- Prevent over exercise or the puppy being taken on LONG walks on a lead.
- [Free playing in your backyard/or beach or a lead walk around the block is sufficient]
- Do not allow jumping up and down stairs/steps or out of cars
- Playing with older heavier dogs and rough handling from excited children or thoughtless adults, should all be avoided. (My puppies are never allowed to play freely with my older dogs until they are around a year old).
- If you are unlucky enough to have a concern about your puppy’s Hips or Elbows,[perhaps a bit of stiffness or sometimes a bit lame] we recommend that you take your young dog to be x-rayed at about 12 months of age.
- The x-rays must be read by either the NZVA or Dr Wyburn in Western Australia. (Of course if your puppy is in pain or actively limping it must be seen immediately by your Vet). The Veterinarian taking the xrays will be able to express an opinion as to the condition of the hips or elbows, but the actual reading and subsequent assessment of the radiographs MUST be made by a SPECIALIST in this field. Surgery for correction of any perceived problems must only be performed after scrutiny and consultation by an experienced Orthopaedic Specialist Veterinarian. In other words, if you or your children needed specialised surgery, you would not expect your GP to do it and you would be referred to a Specialist.
WHAT HIP JOINT SCORES MEAN: - The scale for hips is 0 to 106. 53 for each hip.
- The lower the better----0/0 is free from H.D. This is very rare. (Most dogs show some degree of H.D. on x-ray but it is unlikely to affect them throughout their life).
- We have rehomed dogs with high hip scores and considered not suitable for breeding and they have lived perfectly normal lives with no sign of hip problems.
- The GOLDEN RETRIEVER breed average for UK/Europe is around 19 Total. [International BVA 01/01/06]
WHAT ELBOW JOINT SCORES MEAN: - 0/0 to 3/3 Again the lower the better. Elbow dysplasia is more heritable than H.D.
- 3/3 should not be bred from.
- In conclusion, the hips /elbow scores are a guide to a breeder and cannot be used in isolation.
- [except when scores are well over the average] The dog as a whole must be assessed on all merits when deciding to breed or not to breed.
|
