Health...

Goldens are often very profitable to breeders, including puppy mills and backyard breeders. As a result of careless breeding for profit they are prone to many diseases, both genetic and otherwise. Hip dysplasia is very common in the breed, and when buying a puppy make sure its parents have healthy hips and have been examined by either the OFA or PennHIP. The diseases common in the breed include:

• Hip dysplasia
• von Willebrand's disease
• Cataracts
• Epilepsy
• Allergies particularly skin allergies
• Various congenital heart defects, including Subvalvular aortic stenosis, and Cardiomyopathy
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Entropion
• Ectropion
• Trichiasis
• Distichiasis
• Hypothyroidism
• Bloat
• Arthritis
• Various forms of Cancer