La Tribu des Airaudes · Vendée, France
Golden Retriever health: hips, elbows, eyes and DNA
Understanding Golden Retriever screening: official hip and elbow assessments, eye examinations, ichthyosis and relevant DNA results.
Hips and elbows
Radiographs and official scoring provide information on hip and elbow dysplasia. Ask for the reports for both parents and distinguish a veterinary opinion from an official reading. Joint scores are one part of selection and do not guarantee the outcome for every puppy.
Eyes, skin and genetic tests
Eye examinations and DNA tests give complementary information. Retinal conditions, ichthyosis and other breed-relevant variants each have their own test and interpretation. A clear result for one variant says nothing about an untested condition.
Consider the clinical findings, family history, age, welfare and genetic diversity together.