Swiftly Golden Retrievers
Common Health Topics
Why Wait to Spay/Neuter?
Dogs have growth plates around their joints that - in larger breeds such as Golden Retrievers - don't usually close up until around 18-24 months. Recent studies are showing that for Golden Retrievers it's better not to alter them at all if possible, otherwise waiting until the 18-24 month mark or longer to alter your dog, in order to keep the hormones their body needs to assist in the closing of the growth plates. This decreases the chance of your dog developing arthritis, dysplasia, or even certain types of cancers such as lymphomas or hemangiosarcoma.
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Car Safety
A common debate amongst dog owners is how to travel safely in the car. It's so cute to see dogs with their head out the window feeling the breeze, or a tiny dog sitting in the driver's lap, or dogs riding unsecured in the back of a pickup truck. The fact is that all of those things are unsafe for both the dog and the humans in the car. A dog riding unrestrained can be a source of distraction for the driver, increasing the likelihood of an accident. A dog sitting in the passenger seat, or worse, in your lap, is at risk of being hit by the airbag in the event of a collision. A dog riding in the seat with the window down or loose in the back of a pickup truck could jump or be thrown from the vehicle. Those are just some of the risks involved with improper safety measures regarding dogs in vehicles. The absolute safest way to travel with your dog is by having a crash-tested car crate. If that is not possible, an adequate alternative is a crash-tested harness.
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Grain-Free Diets
In recent history we've seen a lot of dog food labeled "grain-free". These formulas replace rice or corn with potatoes and legumes as a source of carbohydrates. However since the feeding of grain-free diets became more popular, veterinarians throughout the country had seen a significant upswing of cases of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Thus began the studies to determine the cause. The discovery was made that grain-free diets may lead to a taurine deficiency which can cause DCM. Golden Retrievers are not generally prone to DCM, but they are prone to taurine deficiencies. Therefore, unless your dog has a specific allergy to grains, it is recommended to not feed grain-free diets.
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Tennis Balls
Tennis balls are probably one of the most common toys used for dogs, but a lot of people don't realize that tennis balls can be dangerous! Chewing and swallowing the rubber can cause choking and/or intestinal blockages. Even if a dog does not ingest the rubber, the material on the outside of the tennis ball can actually file down a dogs' teeth, leading to pain and difficulty eating. Both issues could lead to your dog needing expensive surgeries. Goldens have a natural instinct to retrieve, so can be trained to play 'Fetch' with virtually any object! A common alternative is using a paint roller or a bumper to start off with, rather than a ball. This can be helpful in training for performance sports or hunting, as well.
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Dewclaws
Many breeders choose to remove dew claws because of concerns about dew claws getting caught and torn off while a dog is running or swimming. However, there is a significant amount of research that shows that it actually does more harm than good to remove them. Here are some of those studies.
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