Golden Retriever health: what owners should know

Goldens are predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia, some inherited eye and heart conditions and, notably, several cancers such as hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma, which appear more often in this breed than in many others. Skin allergies and ear infections are also frequent complaints. None of this means your dog will be affected, but it shapes the checks worth doing.

Good breeders hip and elbow score both parents, arrange yearly eye exams with a veterinary ophthalmologist and have hearts checked by a cardiologist; ask to see the certificates rather than being told the parents are healthy. At home, keeping your dog lean is the single most useful habit. See a vet promptly for any lump that grows over a few weeks, sudden weakness or pale gums, a limp lasting more than two days, or constant head shaking and ear scratching.