The Golden Retriever is a great family pet. But like all breeds of dog, they require a certain amount of care and attention to stay healthy, strong and vibrant. Regular veterinary visits plus a good nutritional diet and proper exercise are important.
To be sure that you are keeping your Golden Retriever happy and healthy, there are a number of things that must be part of your Golden Retrievers lifestyle.
Veterinary Visits
After you bring home your Golden Retriever puppy make an appointment to visit a veterinarian to get your puppy the vaccinations and other treatments he needs.
The first year will require a few visits.
- Heartworm medication starting at eight weeks. Then periodically thereafter.
- Lyme disease vaccinations at nine and twelve weeks
- Rabies vaccination at twelve weeks.
- Spay or neuter at six months.
- Annual examination and vaccination starting at one year of age.
- Twice yearly examinations starting at eight years of age.
Use of Supplements
My husband and I are big on taking supplements for ourselves. As a member of the family, why not give supplements to your pet. We gave Buddy vitamins every day and a supplement for his bones when he got older.
Supplements containing vitamins rich in minerals and other antioxidants have a positive impact on the lives of Golden Retrievers.
Many veterinarians are recommending supplements as a way of being proactive in managing the long-term health and well-being of Golden Retrievers.
Supplements may provide the following benefits for your Golden Retriever
- Help in alleviating certain types of diseases.
- Ease hip, muscle and joint pain and help dogs suffering with arthritis.
- Fill nutritional gaps in your Golden’s diet.
- Help keep your Golden Retriever active and healthy which can prolong your dog’s life.
- Ease suffering in older dogs and help improve their quality of life.
As your Golden Retriever ages, its joints stiffen causing pain. A supplement that has proven beneficial for aging Golden Retrievers is glucosamine. Glucosamine acts as a lubricant to help joints move freely. Supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin have shown a positive effect in dogs with osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia. Chondroitin sulfate is proven to help keep cartilage within the joints supple, support the reduction in pain and renew cartilage.
Fatty acids and methylsulfonylmethane helps repair cartilage and fatty acids can reduce inflammation. A mix of antioxidants including Vitamin C also helps repair cartilage.
Nutrition
One of the most important ways to keep your Golden Retriever happy and healthy is a nutritional diet. Your Golden Retriever’ diet should be rich in protein and vitamins. The nutritional value of your dog’s diet should be relative to its size, amount of exercise and help reduce risk of heart disease.
You may want to consider breed specific food. It should also consider your dogs age when choosing a food. If you have a puppy, he will need puppy food and a senior dog would need senior food.
Foods with Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids help fight inflammation inside and outside of the body.
As physical energy slows down in an older Golden Retriever, its diet must be adjusted to prevent obesity.
As your Golden Retriever ages, incorporating more antioxidants in its diet may be beneficial.
Exercise
Golden Retrievers are very active. They love be outside running and playing. Exercise is important to their mental health and physical well-being. Daily exercise also is good for weight control.
Buddy and I would go for long walks every evening.
A dog run is a great place for your Golden to run off leash and play with as other dogs.
Playing a game of fetch is a great form of exercise. Golden Retrievers love to fetch and retrieve things. After all, they are retrievers.
Swimming is another favorite exercise of the Golden Retriever. Running in the water and fetching a ball or a stick makes your Golden a happy dog. Exercise your Golden Retriever 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Younger Goldens Retrievers will need more exercise than older ones.
Grooming
Grooming your Golden Retriever is a wonderful bonding experience. Grooming your Golden, not only maintains its beauty, but gives you an opportunity to check its coat, nails eyes, ears and teeth for signs of problems.
Because Golden Retrievers shed a great deal, they should be brushed daily. Daily brushing will not only control shedding, but also help to prevent matting of the fur.
Because having floppy ears, Golden Retrievers are susceptible to ear infections. Clean and inspect your dogs ears regularly.
Brush and clean your Goldens Retriever’s teeth regularly. Starting when your dog is a puppy will make the process a lot easier.
Because Golden Retrievers love any interaction with their caretaker, grooming your Golden will be a loving experience for both of you.
Housing
Golden Retrievers love being outside. They love running and playing. What they actually love more than being outside is being with people. Take your Golden Retriever outside for walks, playtime and to go to the bathroom. Provide him with a bed and keep him indoors with you.
They are part of your family and love being with your family. That what makes them happy.
Happy, Healthy Golden Retriever
By making sure your Golden Retriever has the mental and physical well-being it deserves, he needs to be cared for properly. Your Golden Retriever needs to have a nutritional diet, be groomed property, have veterinary visits and the exercise it needs. Getting the proper care will result in a happy healthy Golden Retriever. In turn, you and your Golden Retriever will benefit with a lifetime of love and joy.
