Reviewed and fact checked by Bruce Whittle, DVM
Golden Retrievers are consistently one of the three most popular dog breeds. They are a larger breed of dog known for their intelligence and devotion. They are generally healthy but they may have some common health conditions that owners should be aware of.
Hip Dysplasia in Golden Retrievers
Hip dysplasia is a serious condition that is characterized by malformation of the hip joint(s) of affected dogs. According to statistics from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), an organization that evaluates dogs for certain skeletal defects as well as genetic conditions, the rate of hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers has decreased over the past 35 years to a level of approximately 15% between 2021 and 2025. Affected dogs often show progressive weakness and/or lameness in the hind legs. Diagnosis of this condition is made based upon radiographs of the hips. Mild cases may respond to joint supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine as well as anti-inflammatory medications. More severe cases may require a total hip replacement surgery. Fortunately, this condition is becoming less common due to more careful selection of dogs used for breeding.
Elbow Dysplasia in Golden Retrievers
Elbow dysplasia is another orthopedic condition affecting Golden Retrievers and is characterized by abnormal development of the bones of the elbow joint. According to the OFA, approximately 11% of Golden Retrievers examined from 2021 to 2025 had some degree of elbow dysplasia. Any of the three bones comprising the elbow joint, the humerus, the radius or the ulna, can be affected. Diagnosis requires the use of radiography or possibly computed tomography (CT). In some cases, arthroscopic surgery requiring only a small incision may be used to clean up bony defects. More extensive surgical options may be needed to treat more severe cases. Surgical treatment of elbow dysplasia has a high rate of success. Although total elbow replacement has been performed in some cases, the procedure is not as successful as other joint replacement surgeries at this time. Medical therapy to treat inflammation within the joint using anti-inflammatory medications and joint supplements can be used but these often only mask the symptoms and do not significantly slow down the development of arthritis. Maintaining the dog at a healthy weight is critical to reduce stresses on the joint.
Cataracts in Golden Retrievers
Cataracts are an eye condition that, according to the OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry, affected 14.6% of examined Golden Retrievers from the time period 2020 to 2024. Cataracts are defined as an opacity of the lens of the eye. An owner may notice a dog misjudging objects in its path but many dogs with visual impairment adapt well and owners are unaware their dog has a visual problem. Cataracts do not respond to medical therapies. However, surgery to remove the lens is possible, similar to cataract surgery in people. A process called phacoemulsification liquifies the lens so it can be removed. Unlike in humans, lens replacements are not necessary in dogs. Because cataracts are considered hereditary in younger dogs, affected dogs should not be bred.
Neoplasia (Cancer) in Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers, as a breed, are over-represented in multiple types of neoplasia, particularly hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma. One study from multiple veterinary referral centers showed that nearly 50% of Golden Retrievers died with a diagnosis of neoplasia. Hemangiosarcoma is a severe type of neoplasia that affects the blood vessels and disease is most commonly located in the spleen but it may also affect the heart, liver, muscle or skin. If the spleen is involved, surgery to remove the spleen is possible. Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery to slow the spread to other organs. Lymphoma is a type of neoplasia that affects the lymphatic system, causing enlarged lymph nodes in most cases but it may also affect the stomach or intestines or may be found within the chest cavity. If firm swellings are noted in a Golden Retriever, they should be examined by a veterinarian who will do testing such as a needle aspirate of the mass and examination of the collected cells under a microscope to look for cancerous cells. Other testing such as a serum chemistry and complete blood count, radiography to detect disease spread to other organs, and special tests such as immunochemistry or flow cytometry to determine the type and severity of disease is important to get a more specific diagnosis. Although lymphoma cannot be cured, treatment consisting of chemotherapy is often effective at achieving remission of the disease. Neoplasia typically results in very non-specific clinical signs, making diagnosis difficult. Although advancements in cancer treatment have been made, a diagnosis of many types of neoplasia is associated with a poor long-term prognosis. Despite these shortcomings, obtaining a diagnosis early in the course of disease usually results in the best response to treatment.
Hypothyroidism in Golden Retrievers
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid glands do not function normally. Thyroid hormone, which is normally produced by the thyroid glands, is important for regulating the body’s metabolism. Hypothyroidism is often diagnosed in middle-aged dogs due to autoimmune damage to the thyroid glands. The Golden Retriever Club of America estimates that up to 25% of Golden Retrievers may develop hypothyroidism over their lifetime. Dogs with hypothyroidism typically gain weight and may have hair loss. Though diagnosis relies on blood testing, results can be complicated to interpret in some cases because several other disease conditions may affect thyroid levels. Fortunately, treatment is straight-forward and consists of supplementation with a synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. Treatment is necessary for the rest of the dog’s life. Golden Retrievers that have gained weight or experienced hair loss should be examined by a veterinarian and screened for thyroid disease.
Heart Conditions – Subvalvular Aortic Stenois in Golden Retrievers
Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) is the most common heart condition of Golden Retrievers. SAS results from a narrowing of the left ventricle below the aortic valve. The aortic valve normally prevents flow of blood from the aorta backward into the left ventricle. The aorta, the largest artery in the body, sends blood out to the rest of the body. The narrowed portion of the left ventricle causes that chamber of the heart to work extra hard to push blood through the smaller opening. This results in the heart muscle becoming thickened. In milder cases, dogs may not show any signs and may live a normal life. In moderate to severe cases, dogs may have exercise intolerance, may collapse suddenly, or may even die suddenly. Examination of affected dogs reveals a heart murmur due to the abnormal blood flow. Doppler echocardiography (specialized ultrasound) is used, often by a cardiology specialist, to diagnose the condition and its severity. Medications such a beta-blockers may help decrease the workload on the heart. Most dogs are diagnosed when they are young since this condition is present from birth. Severely affected dogs rarely survive past 2 years of age. Subvalvular aortic stenosis is a heritable disease of Golden Retrievers with an autosomal recessive inheritance which means a puppy must receive an abnormal gene from each parent. Due to the severity of this condition, prospective breeding dogs should be pre-screened for this condition to prevent passing on these abnormal genes.
Summary
Golden Retrievers are the quintessential loyal family pet. They do have a number of potentially serious health conditions, several of which can be minimized through responsible breeding. Regular veterinary exams are important to diagnose conditions that are treatable as early as possible.
