Health Information
The health of our dogs and your puppies are of greatest importance to us !
Breed Background
The Golden Retriever is a large-sized dog bred as a gun dog to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties and were named 'retriever' because of their ability to retrieve shot game undamaged. Golden Retrievers have an instinctive love of water, and are easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards. They are a long-coated breed, with a dense inner coat that provides them with adequate warmth in the outdoors, and an outer coat that lies flat against their bodies and repels water. Golden Retrievers are well suited to residency in suburban or country environments. Although they need substantial outdoor exercise, they should be housed in a fenced area because of their instinctual tendency to roam. This breed sheds, particularly at the change of seasons, and requires fairly regular grooming.
The Golden Retrievers' intelligence and exuberance makes them a versatile breed and allows them to fill a variety of roles – common ones being guide dog for the blind, hearing dog for the deaf, hunting dog, detection dog, and search and rescue participant. Golden Retrievers are rarely choosy eaters, but require ample exercise (of two or more hours a day). The breed is fond of play but also highly trainable.
Genetic Conditions
Goldens are subject to a number of heritable defects including eye, heart, hip, elbow, blood and thyroid disorders. To reduce the occurrence of these abnormalities, ethical breeders have all breeding stock screened by veterinary specialists before their dogs are bred. A dog with a "clearance" has been tested negative for evidence of a heritable abnormality by a specialist and is given written certification.
Eye examinations must be performed annually by a certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist to detect cataracts and other eye disorders.
Sub Aortic stenosis (SAS) is a condition affecting blood flow from the heart. A report of normal heart function is issued by a veterinary cardiologist.
A hip or elbow certificate of examination is issued by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) at 24 months of age to any dog who's x-rays indicate no evidence of hip or elbow dysplasia (arthritis).
Hypothyroidism is a heritable condition and is detected through a blood test. It is treated with hormone therapy.
It is important to remember that breeding clear dogs does not guarantee that puppies will be unaffected, however there is no doubt that breeding non-affected animals greatly increases the chance of producing non-affected offspring.
Integrative Veterinary Care
The Integrative Veterinary approach uses both traditional medicine and holistic care in a framework that has the potential to transform illness to health, by providing the support the body needs to heal itself. Integrative Veterinary Medicine also respects the body by not over-vaccinating or over-medicating thus rewarding us with optimal health.
Vaccine Guidelines
Two options:
8 weeks – Modified live virus DAP 8 weeks – Modified live virus DAP
12 weeks – Modified live virus DAP 12 weeks – Modified live virus DAP
16 weeks – Modified live virus DAP 20 weeks – Killed Rabies vaccine & DP Titre
20 weeks – Killed Rabies vaccine 17 months – Revaccinate Killed Rabies & possibly
17 months – Revaccinate Rabies recheck titre based on results of your pup’s previous titre
3 years – DAP booster and every 3 years responses.
4 years – Rabies vaccine and every 3 years thereafter 4 years – Rabies vaccine and every 3 years thereafter
Kennel Cough (intranasal) vaccinate boarding etc. Kennel Cough (intranasal) vaccinate thereafter annually if needed for
annually if needed for training classes, training classes,
boarding etc.