Most people that go to a breeder to get a pure bred puppy do so because they want to have a clue what the dog will be like when it grows up. They also do it because they perceive the dog is less likely to have some unexpected ailment as it ages. The truth is this: there is no way to guarantee no problems but a purebred dog that is properly vetted really makes the odds much better. The key here is to assure the breeder properly tests their breeding animals to give you the best chances. Just because a dog is purebred and registered does not help you in this area. ALL dog breeds have potential issues as they grow that will not necessarily be visible as a puppy and the specific problems vary somewhat by breed. While no breeder can guarantee perfect health or the life of the dog, smart puppy buyers will hedge their bets and REQUIRE testing of the parents for known genetic issues in the breed to dramatically reduce the chances of problems as the puppy matures.
There are many other things that go into what qualifies a breeder as a “Good Quality breeder” so for this article I’ll narrow the down the discussion. Good Quality Breeders of any purebred dog should test the genetics of all their sires and dams and publish the results. The two main areas of concern are genetic defects (DNA) and hip/elbow health (which have a genetic component). I’ve discussed hip/elbow already in my article: “Canine Hip / Elbow Dysplasia” so in this article I will concentrate on genetics specifically for the Golden Retriever breed.
It is entirely possible that you can buy an untested purebred Golden Retriever that will live a long, healthy and happy life but why would you roll the dice? If a dog is “clear” for all the components I list below, they are clear. That means they will not experience any of those specific issues in their lifetime. Unlike Canine Hip / Elbow Dysplasia which has a genetic component and graded on a scale from X-rays, the following potential issues are either true or false and not expensive/difficult to test.
Usual disclaimer: The following information is based on our experience and extensive research. As always, you should do your own research and consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
The following is a list and description of genetic defects common to the Golden Retriever breed.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
This particular genetic issue is not all that common in the Golden Retriever breed but does happen. It is not part of the standard genetic “panel” for the our breed in some genetics labs but we at Texas TLC Goldens still test for it.
The Animal Genetics laboratory has this to say about DM:
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord of dogs. Dogs that have inherited two defective copies will experience a breakdown of the cells responsible for sending and receiving signals from the brain, resulting in neurological symptoms.
This genetic malady typically starts very late in the dog’s life and usually starts with a weakening of the back legs that eventually leads to the inability to walk. If not contained it can then work it’s way through the body and cause other issues such as bladder control and could eventually make the front legs unusable.
Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
Also referred to as “Muscular Dystrophy in Golden Retrievers (GRMD). The Animal Genetics Laboratory has this to say about this genetic malady:
GRMD is a mutation of the dystrophin gene that causes a deficiency of dystrophin proteins in Golden Retrievers. The lack of dystrophin proteins leads to the progressive degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles. The disease is similar to the human disease, muscular dystrophy.
MD presents itself with difficulty walking and/or swallowing and typically starts at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Life expectancy is roughly 6 months for affected pups.
Because this mutation is linked to the X chromosome, only male dogs are actually affected by it for female dogs can be a “carrier” and transmit the defect. Because a single parent can transmit the defect and cause the symptoms in any or all of it’s pups, any sire or dam with this defect should never be bred.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA, GR-PRA1 & GR-PRA2)
This is a severe defect that can affect the eyes of many different breeds. You will see them listed commonly as PRCD-PRA. Two golden Retriever specific variants have also been identified (GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2). While all three defects have the same or similar effects, they must be individually tested for.
Animal Genetics Laboratory has this to say about these defects:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a category of genetic mutations that cause vision loss and blindness. Photoreceptor cells in the retina begin to degenerate, typically progressing from a loss of night vision to complete blindness.
GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2 are inherited in an “autosomal recessive manner”. What this means is that it takes defective genes transmitted from BOTH parents for the puppy to experience symptoms which is referred to as “affected”. It is possible that the pups will be “carriers” with a single copy of the gene and pass on the defect later but they themselves will not be “affected” by the defect.
Ichthyosis-A (ICH or ICT)
ICH is a defect that can cause very scaly skin and hair loss. We have seen statistics that 30% to 60% of all Golden Retrievers have this defect. If there is any good news here it is that the defect is not fatal and it requires both parents to have the defect to actually make puppies “affected” (show symptoms). It is fairly common for Golden Retrievers to be a “carrier” and is common practice for breeders to carefully breed a sire or dam that is a carrier. A sire or dam that is “affected” should not be bred in our opinion. As far as we can tell this defect is specific to the Golden Retriever breed but do your own research.
Animal Genetic Laboratory has this to say about ICH:
Ichthyosis is an autosomal recessive genetic mutation that affects the skin of Golden Retrievers. The mutation prevents the outer layer of the epidermis from forming properly, resulting in skin that becomes darkened and thick and flakes excessively.
It is important that you verify the testing of BOTH parents. If only one parent is a carrier and you are not a breeder then you are fine as long as you spay or neuter your pet. As a breeder, it’s still manageable but requires special attention to breeding pairs. We at Texas TLC Goldens have thus far been able to assure that none of our breeding dogs do not have this defect but have not completely ruled out the possibility of dealing with it in the future since it is so very common in the breed.
For more information ICH, read the more detailed article I wrote on the subject.
Afterword
There are many different possible genetic defects that are possible in dogs but the list above are the most common in Golden Retrievers. The good news is they are easy and inexpensive to check and ANY breeder that provides good quality pups will test for them all and publish the results.
Testing is cheap, accurate and easy to do so we can think of no excuse for not providing them to customers. We don’t understand why ALL breeding dogs are not tested but it’s possible that the breeder can be sure their breeding dogs are clear “by parentage”. In that case you really should check the tests of both parents of their breeding dog and not take their word for it. For example: We know Emma is completely clear “by parentage” but we will actually test her before we breed her.
Do your research and know what you are getting. After all, you will have that dog for many years and why else would you want to spend the money to get a purebred dog?
About the Authors
Bryan and Terri Curry love all dogs in general, especially Golden Retrievers. They have had dogs for all but 6 months of their long lives and all have lived happy and much longer than average. Bryan and Terri are co-owners of Texas TLC Goldens; a small responsible breeder producing high quality Golden Retriever puppies.
Note to Webmasters and Facebook friends
Please consider sharing links to our blog posts if you find them interesting. It is a simple thing to do and sharing links not only spreads what we hope is good information, it helps our site.
If you are a webmaster and would like to post this article in it’s entirety, please contact us.
Thanks!!!