Can golden retrievers live to 13
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live?
We all want our Golden Retrievers to live a long, healthy life. But how long should we expect our Goldens to live on average? Here we discuss the average life expectancy, and what you can do to help your dog increase their odds of a long life.
Golden Retrievers are one of the most loved dogs in the United States. The breed is a medium-large type dog which is lovable, goofy, sociable and affectionate. When you have a Golden Retriever, you would want to try to keep them alive and healthy as long as you can.
How Long Do They Live?
On average, Golden Retrievers live 10-12 years. Within the last fifty years, the life expectancy has dropped by five or six years. Back in the 1970s, Golden Retrievers lived for 16-17 years.
Golden Retrievers are great dogs, and people do want them to live longer. With all the things that could go wrong, being educated on how to prolong the life of your Golden Retriever is extremely helpful.
Remember, 10-12 years is just the average, your dog could live much longer!
Golden Retrievers Life Expectancy
Golden Retrievers were bred during the 1920s as aretriever dog when hunting. In the 1920s, this type of dog was adopted veryquickly in the United States, and people fell in love. Golden Retrievers areloyal animals that like to be around their owners.
Golden Retrievers, when they were first bred, had a higherlife expectancy. After generations of breeding and genetic issues being passeddown, Golden Retrievers life expectancy started to fall. There was a huge dropoff between the 1970s until now. The Golden Retrievers life expectancy fell to10-12 years instead of 16-17 years.
Issues That Affect Life Expectancy
Several different things go into the life expectancy for aGolden Retriever. Most of these issues are genetic or health issues. There isalso an exposure issue with toxic materials that could cause cancer.
The genetic health issues that have been passed down areusually heart disease, cancer, hypothyroidism, skin disease, ear infections,gastrointestinal illness, urinary diseases, joint dysplasia, epilepsy, andchest condition issues.
The most common issue that Golden Retrievers have when itcomes to health issues is cancer. Golden Retrievers are more prone to cancer,and their owners should be aware of that.
Cancer In Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are far more susceptible to cancer. This decreases their life expectancy. Cancer can be in several different forms for Golden Retrievers and manifests at different times in their lives.
To learn more about cancer in Golden Retrievers check out our recent article. We go more indepth on the subject there.
Cancer Odds
According to Havon (2006), approximately 60 percent of Golden Retrievers will die from cancer. It is the leading cause of death in Golden Retrievers now. Previously, heart disease was the leading cause of death. Golden Retrievers get many different types of cancer, but there are two that are the most common.
The following types of cancer make up over half of the cases that are found in Golden Retrievers:
- Hemangiosarcoma: Cancer in dogs thatpresents from the cells in the blood vessels.
- Lymphoma: Type of cancer in dogs thatpresents from where the lymphoid tissues are located, such as bone marrow:thymus, lymph nodes, or spleen.
Why Are Golden Retrievers Prone To Cancer?
So, why are Golden Retrievers prone to all these differenttypes of cancer? There are several reasons for this question. Studies are beingdone on the actual question as this article is being written. However, we dohave to wait for years before the data can truly tell us all the answers.
Genetics
One way that Golden Retrievers get cancer is genetic. Golden Retrievers have genetic issues that stem from breeding and their genes being passed down from generation to generation.
Due to those already pre-existing conditions being bred into the Golden Retriever, they are prone to cancer at a much high rate. Their other complications (heart disease, hypothyroidism, etc.) makes them more vulnerable as well.
Environment
Another way that Golden Retrievers are more prone to cancer is because of the environment in which we live. Some things can not only give Golden Retrievers cancer, but can also cause us cancer as well. Some of these environmental causes are the sun, environmental toxins, or radiation.
Some believe that animals risk of cancer goes up tremendously once their reproductive years are complete. Some call this natural selection.
Prolonging the Life Expectancy
There are ways that Golden Retriever owners can help the life expectancy of their dog. Some suggestions are obvious, while others may never have crossed your mind.
Exercise
Golden Retrievers are active dogs. Exercise plays an important role in their lives. A Golden puppy needs about 5min of exercise per month that they have been alive. An adult Golden needs anywhere from 1 to 2 hours of exercise per day depending on the dog. More active working dogs would need closer to 2 hours.
Exercise will help their body remain healthy, and help them to avoid obesity, an all too common problem in many dogs.
Limit Exposure
The first thing you can do is limit the amount of exposureto environmental toxins as you can. There are so many different things that cancause cancer in this world, but the ones that Golden Retriever owners shouldfocus on are below.
Second Hand Smoke
Secondhand smoking around Golden Retrievers is harmful totheir bodies. Golden Retrievers already have problems with their chest cavitiesand sometimes with their lungs. Secondhand smoke could increase their risk oflung or other forms of cancer.
Pesticides
Pesticides are known exposure problems for cancer not only in humans, but Golden Retrievers as well. Pesticides are the chemicals that are put on (usually sprayed) plants to limit the bug exposure to that particular plant. Pesticides have been long ridiculed as dangerous to breathe in and also to be ingested.
Herbicides
Herbicides are another exposure problem for cancer in Golden Retrievers. Herbicides are the chemicals that are put on plants to kill them. These have been used for years in peoples gardens as well as in fields where produce is being grown. Herbicides are again harmful to not only humans, but also Golden Retrievers.
Stress Reduction
Reducing the stress in your Golden Retriever will allowtheir bodies to be more relaxed and operate properly. Think about when you arestressed and the havoc that stress does to your body. It is the same in GoldenRetrievers.
When a Golden Retriever is stressed, the hormones and body chemistry can be thrown off. This can allow the dog to be vulnerable to illness. Also, stress could cause more heart issues in Golden Retrievers.
Some tips for stress reduction is training your Golden Retriever how to de-stress, as well as teaching them that being alone is okay. Most of the Golden Retrievers stress does stem from separation anxiety. Helping relieve that stress can keep your Golden Retriever healthier and live longer.
Health Precautions
The recommendation for Golden Retrievers is to have annualcheck-ups at their Veterinarian office. During these visits, they will checkfor cancer, illness, and infections. This could help with early detection. Spayand neutering your animal is also recommended by certain veterinarians.
Another recommendation is to give your Golden Retriever supplements and vitamins that will help their bodies stay healthy. These suggestions should come directly from a trained professional on Golden Retrievers, such as your veterinarian.
Brushing your dogs teeth and hair can help with keepingyour Golden Retriever healthy. Making sure that the Golden Retrievers teethare not having plague issues could prevent any gum diseases or teethinfections. Brushing their hair is recommended to keep their skin conditions atbay.
Sunscreen
Lastly, sunscreen is recommended to be put on your Golden Retriever. Many Golden Retrievers are light in color, which allows the sun to penetrate the dogs coat. That would allow the sun to be in direct contact with the dogs skin, and could cause a burn. This could cause issues to the dogs skin and possibly cause cancer.
Conclusion
Not all news about Golden Retriever health is bad. There are also many studies being done to help reduce the risks of cancer and other life ending issues that our dogs may face.
While the life expectancy of a Golden Retriever has fallen over the years, our knowledge has grown. This allows us to take more precautions and adjust our raising of our dogs. Be sure to do your part in helping to increase your Goldens life.
To help with the costs of keeping up with veterinarian bills, be sure to check out our list of Recommended Pet Insurance Providers to get a FREE quote!
7 Crazy Facts About Golden Retriever Lifespans (And 7 Tips To Increase It)
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase the item. This comes at no extra cost to you.
Want to know how long golden retrievers live?
In this post, youll learn the average lifespan for golden retrievers.
And not only that, but Im also going to share with you 7 tips to help your golden live a long and happy life and hopefully increase that life expectancy!
Ready to give your golden the longest, healthiest life possible?
Lets dive in!
Fact #1: Golden Retrievers Live An Average Of 10-12 Years
The average golden retriever lifespan is 10-12 years, which is about the same as other breeds of dogs their size.
For comparison, German shepherds live between 7-10 years, and labradors live between 10-12 years.
Smaller breeds typically live longer lives (Yorkies live an average of 11-15 years), while larger breeds typically live shorter lives (Great Danes live an average of 7-10 years).
Of course, these are just averages, and many dogs live longer or shorter lives than these ranges.
Fact #2: The Oldest Golden Retriever Is 20 Years Old
Augie, a golden retriever who lives in Tennessee, is currently the oldest golden retriever at 20 years old.
She was born on April 24, 2000.
Learn more about Augie here.
Fact #3: 60% Of Golden Retrievers Are Impacted By Cancer
One of the biggest causes of death for golden retrievers is cancer.
According to the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, 60% of golden retrievers are impacted by cancer.
This is about double the rate of any other breed of dog.
Fact #4: 3,000 Golden Retrievers Are Participating In A Study To Help Increase Golden Retriever Health
The Morris Animal Foundation launched the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study in 2012.
Together with veterinarians and the participating golden retrievers and their owners, theyre collecting data about their health, environment, and behavior to find potential risk factors for cancer and other diseases.
Fact #5: Golden Retrievers Suffer From These Health Issues Most Commonly
Here are some of the most common golden retriever health issues:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Sub-aortic stenosis (SAS)
- Eye disorders
- Mast cell tumors
- Seizures
- Lymphoma
- Osteosarcoma
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Skin problems
Dont worry, in the next section, well show you how to prevent these!
Fact #6: Golden Retrievers Are Puppies For Life
Most golden retriever owners say their goldens are puppies for life.
Their playful puppy attitudes often last well past their puppy years, so if you have a golden at home be ready for a lifetime of fun!
Fact #7: Golden Retrievers Faces Turn Gray Or White As They Age
Whenever you see a gray-faced golden retriever its fun to think about how many smiles theyve sparked, or how many happy faces theyve licked.
Although a gray face may give one indication of a goldens age, their playful demeanor usually says otherwise.
7 Tips To Increase Your Golden Retrievers Lifespan
This next section will cover seven tips to help increase your golden retrievers life expectancy.
Of course, they arent foolproof, but they will give your dog the best shot possible at having a long and healthy life.
Tip #1: To Have A Healthy Dog, Start With Healthy Parents
The best way for you to get a healthy dog is to purchase one from a good breeder.
Yes, you may pay more for a high-quality puppy, but it will be worth it.
Do your research on breeders, ask about their dogs health histories, their temperaments, and what theyre bred for.
Unfortunately, many people are breeding dogs with money as their #1 priority, not their puppies health.
Tip #2: Feed Your Dog A Quality Dog Food
Like choosing a breeder, dog food is definitely not something you want to go cheap on.
Plus, if you pay a little more upfront for food, youll likely save down the line in vet bills.
When trying to decide which food to feed your golden retriever, check out this article about puppy food and this article about adult food.
And read this to learn more about how much it costs to feed golden retrievers.
Tip #3: Groom Your Golden Regularly
Maintaining your golden retrievers coat, nails, paws, teeth, and ears can not only keep them looking sharp, but also keep them healthy.
By not brushing their teeth, they can be at a greater risk to develop dental diseases, and by not cleaning their ears, they can develop ear infections.
Grooming them also gives you a chance to check them for lumps or painful spots.
Tip #4: Exercise Your Golden Retriever Regularly
Like people, dogs benefit from regular exercise.
It keeps their bones, muscles, and heart strong, as well as keeps their potty habits regular.
Good forms of exercise include walks, swimming, playing fetch, and playing with other dogs.
It also helps a lot with tip #5
Tip #5: Keep Your Golden Retrievers Weight Under Control
Golden retrievers love to eat, so they do have a tendency to become overweight if theyre overfed.
Since theyre already susceptible to joint and heart issues, you definitely dont want them to gain too much weight.
To keep their weight under control make sure that they get enough exercise and are fed the proper amount.
For males, golden retrievers should weigh between 65-75 pounds, and for females, they should weigh between 55-65 pounds.
Tip #6: Have A Good Relationship With Your Vet
Having a relationship where you talk about whats going on in your dogs life will help them get to know your dog and care for them the best they can.
Theyll be able to tell you whats best for your pup so that theyre living up to their healthiest potential.
Tip #7: Fix Your Dog, But Not Too Early
According to this research article, dogs that are fixed may live longer than those who are not.
And, according to this article, dogs that are fixed a little later in life (after their first heat cycle for females and between 12-24 months for males) may be better off than dogs who are fixed too early (usually around 6 months old).
Interestingly enough, theres also evidence that suggests fixed men may live longer than intact men, if were using canine terms here.
Ill let you decide how you want to process that information!
Conclusion
Although the golden retriever life expectancy is between 10-12 years, this often varies and goldens can live longer or shorter lives.
To help them live as long as possible, follow these 7 tips:
- Choose a good breeder
- Feed your dog a high-quality food
- Groom them regularly
- Exercise them regularly
- Keep their weight under control
- Have a good relationship with your vet
- Fix your dog, but not too early
Have any more questions about golden retriever lifespans?
Have you had goldens before? How long did they live?
Let me know in the comments below!
And if you liked this article, youll love these 63 facts about golden retrievers!
Related articles:
