Golden Retriever Care

From time to time your Golden Retriever can be affected by some common health problems. In general these problems are not usually anything too serious as long as you know how to treat and prevent them properly. In order to keep your dog healthy you need to take the proper steps to protect them from the most common Golden Retriever health problems.

The distemper virus an airborne disease is the first of these Golden Retriever health problems. Getting your Golden Retriever their three vaccinations when they are between the age of six and sixteen weeks and then maintaining the booster shot every year is the best way to prevent this disease. Fever, cough, diarrhea and vomiting are some signs you should watch for if your dog has never been vaccinated against distemper. Any Golden Retriever with these signs should be taken to the vet right away so that treatment can be started. Parasites such as heartworms and tapeworms are another area of common Golden Retriever health problems. Heartworms develop in the heart and lung arteries of dogs and can sometimes grow up to twelve inches long. Heart failure, decrease of blood circulation and death in extreme cases can result if heartworms are left untreated. A simple heartworm medicine can help you prevent heartworms from happening in the first place, which is best since heartworm symptoms are typically not noticed until the condition has progressed to the severe stage.

Tapeworms result from fleas and some symptoms you should watch for include weight loss, diarrhea and a biting of the rectal area. Using a rigid flea control can help you to prevent tapeworms in your Golden Retriever. Take your dog to the vet right away if you notice signs of either parasite. You dog can live with either condition through medications or actually be treated but only if you take them to the vet before it is too late. When it comes to Golden Retriever health problems the most serious is rabies. Rabies is serious because it can have an adverse affect on your dog's nervous system. The bite of an infected animal is the typical method of transmission for this disease. To prevent the disease you need to maintain your dog's yearly vaccination. Some symptoms you should be aware of for rabies include seizures, aggression and foaming at the mouth. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your Golden Retriever has rabies for any reason.

These are just a selected few of the Golden Retriever health problems, but there are also many other ailments that can affect your dog. If you suspect any signs of ailments, diseases or health problems then you should contact your vet right away and set up an appointment since there is a better chance of treating medical conditions if they are caught early rather than waiting until the conditions as progressed too far.

Carol Matthews has much experience dealing with Golden Retriever health problems. You can prevent common health problems by using proper Golden Retriever care. It is also beneficial that you know what you need to seek emergency care for your Golden Retriever.