Health Of The Golden Retrievers - Their 6 Common Health Problems

A Golden Retriever might be very susceptible to a lot of health problems which it will experience very often. The problems do not get very serious, though, provided you know how well it has to be handled and treated. We will now take a look at most of the common ailments that attack a Golden Retriever and how we can prevent it.

1. Distemper virus

This virus is airborne and has a lot of risk involved. The distemper virus can be prevented from getting into your Golden Retriever by using three different vaccinations. This is done usually when it is 6 to 16 weeks old and it is accompanied with annual regular booster shots. The symptoms include cough, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. You should be immediately visiting a doctor if you find your dog having these symptoms.

2. Heartworms

Most of the dog breeds are attacked by this ailment named Heartworms. It leads to heart failures on reaching lengths of 12 inches or more in the lung and heart arteries. There is a decrease in blood circulation and can be even fatal sometimes. The symptoms of this Heartworm ailment don't come early and hence it's better to prevent them before it actually affects your dog.

3. Heatstroke

A heatstroke can affect a Golden Retriever usually in summer or some hot day. Give the dog plenty of fluids, fluid being water, and do not leave the dog in direct sunlight. Suppose you are playing with your dog, give it ample rest so that it doesn't get easily tired. Panting, dark sums, excessive drooling, rapid pulse, glazed expression and vomiting are the symptoms for heatstroke. Take your dog to the vet if any of these symptoms are seen in your dog.

4. Rabies

Rabies is a very serious and dangerous ailment a Golden Retriever can get. It has a direct effect on the nervous system of the dog. Rabies usually comes with a bite from another dog infected with rabies. Rabies shots are given in clinics to prevent this disastrous disease. The vaccination should be taken at least once a year. Aggression, seizures and foaming are the main symptoms. Call the vet immediately if you spot any of these above symptoms.

5. Tapeworms

Tapeworms affect the stomach of a Golden Retriever and are normally caused by fleas. Diarrhea, loss of weight and biting of rectal area are the major symptoms of this ailment. A rigid flea control can prevent tapeworms from affecting your dog. Take it to the vet as soon as you see your dog suffering. The vet might kill the Tapeworms early through oral medicines.

6. Hookworms

Contact with any feces or simply burrowing under the exposed skin can cause Hookworms in your Golden Retriever. By keeping the surroundings and your dog area clean, you can prevent this from affecting your dog it is very essential to keep the dog's skin clean. Weight loss, dry coat and blood seen in stool are the symptoms of this ailment. Just like any other ailment, this once seen must be immediately looked after. Take it to the vet and make sure you prevent this ailment from affecting your dog.

These are only a few ailments that can affect a Golden Retriever. There can be other ailments as well that can cause serious health problems. You should not hesitate or think to take your dog to the vet. Anticipate when you see your dog suffering from any of those mentioned symptoms as a few can be really dangerous if it is not treated early.