There are numerous health conditions that will affect your Golden Retriever dog in the course of a lifetime. There is no way of knowing for certain which will end up affecting your dog, and which won’t. Many of these health conditions are really nothing to worry about as long as the pet owner is aware of their existence and the required proper treatment for each. Lets take a look at a few of the most common ailments affecting Golden Retriever dogs and how to treat them.
Distemper Virus
This virus is airborne, and can present a high risk for your dog. The way to fight this virus is by applying three different vaccinations to your puppy retriever between the ages of three and sixteen weeks. A booster shot administered once a year complements this treatment against the distemper virus. Symptoms to look for related to this virus are vomiting, diarrhea and fever. You are best advised to consult your veterinarian if your dog where to show any of these three symptoms at any given time.
Heartworms
Heartworms are a common health problem, not only for Golden Retrievers, but for dogs in general. These worms can grow up to twelve inches long, within the heart arteries. Their presence can lead to heart failure, poor blood circulation, and even cause a fatal heart attack. Heartworms are difficult to detect, and are usually noticed when it is too late. Special medications for this condition exist in the retail market, which should be administered to the dog on a regular basis. This is no dog game; prevention is you best ally against these creatures.
Heatstroke
Another ailment affecting retrievers in the summer months is something called a heatstroke. This condition is characterized by reaching high temperatures in the animal’s organism. It can be prevented by always having enough drinking water available to the dog, avoiding excessive sunlight, and limiting the amount of exercise during hot summer days. Give your dog a break every now and then, let him catch his breath. Symptoms associated with this condition are a glazed sight, drooling, dark gums and even vomiting. If the temperature outside match any of these symptoms it is indicative that a heatstroke may be present and you should consult your veterinarian immediately..
Rabies
Rabies is a condition affecting the nervous system, and it is one of the most serious and dangerous afflictions that may affect your dog. More often than not, rabies is transmitted through the bite of another animal already affected by rabies. A vaccination for rabies does exist, and it is the responsibility of the dog owner to administer these to the dog. Dogs are popularly known to have rabies by the foaming of the mouth, however, an aggressive behavior, dizziness and seizure are also symptoms to look out for. Rabies are should never be taken lightly, they are no dog games. You could be made legally liable for damages caused by a dog with rabies, including the death of another human being.
These are just some of the health conditions, commonly affecting Golden Retrievers and other dogs in general. For additional help and information visit your veterinarian on a regular basis, and remember prevention is the best treatment.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")