Can A Golden Retriever Live For 15 Years?

According to American Kennel Club, the average Golden Retriever’s lifespan is 10 to 12 years. At best, a Golden Retriever’s life expectancy can be extended to thirteen years with extensive care. This is applicable for any medium to large-breed dog.

However, there has been a considerable decrease in Retriever’s lifespan in the last decade. Back in the 80s, their lifespan on average was about 16 years. Fast forward to 2023, and Golden Retrievers now live for just 10 to 12 years.

History has it that August, the oldest Golden Retriever, lived for 20 years. This is the longest any Golden Retriever has ever lived. She was 14 years old when she was adopted. Over the years she lived, her loved ones kept a watchful eye on her health.

August was also put on a supplemental diet as she grew older. She crossed the rainbow bridge quietly after enjoying her life to the fullest for 20 years and 11 months.

Also Read: How Many Puppies Do Golden Retrievers Have?

The General Lifespan of a Golden Retriever: Insights

The Golden Retriever is the most popular dog in the United States. That is why it is also known as the “American Dream Dog” at times. Surprisingly, this breed is a Scottish husky mix with both physical beauty and the power of a strong dog.

There have been reports of Golden Retrievers lasting longer than the standard lifespan. However, if we look back at the history of this dog breed, these statistics have been decreasing. This was confirmed by The Morris Animal Foundation’s lifespan survey of 3000 purebred Goldens.

It was determined that the Golden Retriever’s lifetime is reducing with time for a variety of causes. Cancer is becoming the leading cause of premature death. Every year, around 60% of Goldens in the United States die from cancer. In Europe, the number is close to 40%. The cause of so widespread cancer is considered to be a genetic mutation, although this has not been proven.

Goldens had an average lifetime of 16-17 years in the 1970s, but this has since decreased to 5 years on average.

Also Read: Which Dog Is Calmer Golden Retriever Or Labrador?

Factors That Reduce a Golden Retriever’s Life

There’s a lot more to keeping a healthy dog than just having fun and looking for company. When you bring a dog home, you are suddenly promoted to “dog-parents” status. Being a parent involves just doing what is best for your dog. No goldbricking allowed here!

You’ll agree with me that some habits should be avoided since they are a deal breaker when it comes to keeping your Golden healthy. The good news is that it is not too late to change these behaviours.

Also Read: 10 Fun Facts About Golden Retrievers

Keep scrolling for more reasons:

1. Obesity

Period! You should not overfeed your Golden Retriever. Being overweight in this breed promotes all kinds of health problems.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over 63% of Golden parents believe that their fat doggo is at the ideal weight. Obesity in most Golden Retrievers is associated with diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and other conditions.

2. Ignored Dental Care

Neglected dental care has an indirect effect on Golden’s general health, lowering its lifetime. A buildup in the tooth can cause gum and tooth infections. It can lead to chronic diseases that can shorten one’s life by three years. That is significant. So put your dog’s dental health on your first priority list.

3. Ignoring Vet Visits

“I will not skip vet checkups,” repeat until you get the hang of it. Skipping regular vet visits is the most dangerous thing you can do for your dog. Your Golden may appear normal on the surface, but you have no idea what’s going on within its body. This is where a veterinarian comes in. A quarterly or semi-checkup might save you a lot of trouble.

4. Poor Food Quality

Don’t feed low-quality dog food to your Golden. These manufactured dog food products are bad since they have little to no nutritional value. Because Golden’s transformation from puppy to adult dog is rapid, it needs nutritious dog food for proper growth. High-protein raw meat is optimal for muscle growth and energy in a healthy dog. It improves digestive and oral health while strengthening the immune system.

5. No Physical Activity

The dangers of physical inactivity are enormous. Mental stimulation, weight control, and muscular development are some of the health benefits that your dog may lose if you don’t take them out for regular exercise.

Playtime, training, running, or simply strolling; whatever you do, don’t make it a habit.

Also Read: 11 Secrets Of Golden Retriever

Common Golden Retriever Health Problems

It is well-accepted that bigger and purebred dogs are more prone to health problems than the general population. Because Goldens fit squarely into the aforementioned group, they are prone to a variety of health complications. The illnesses connected with Golden’s health are listed below. Read with caution.

Cancer 

Such a pain for Golden parents, but it’s real – regrettably, this awful sickness affects Goldens more than any other breed. The most common forms include bone cancer, lymphoma, and mast cell tumours. There was a lot of interbreeding to increase the fertility of this breed due to its popularity. In the long term, this tampering with nature messed up the DNA. The outcome is the spread of cancer. Just make sure your ideal dog gets screened for cancer regularly. Keep an eye out if your dog exhibits any of these signs.

• Loss of appetite
• Lumps in the skin
• Swelling
• Mouth odour
• Bleeding, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Unhealed wounds

Skin Disorders

A thick furry coat mixed with moisture creates a paradise for microorganisms. Many skin problems, such as seborrhea, environmental allergies, or sebaceous cysts, might occur.

These signs might help you figure out what’s going on in the plush world.

• Unusual scratching or biting

• Skin that is lumpy and flaky

• Paw licking

Heart and Kidney Problems

Heart and renal disorders are the most common in golden retrievers. Renal abnormality is also inherited and can show as early as puppyhood. Heart troubles, on the other hand, develop when the aortic valve of the heart decreases, pushing the body and heart to pump harder and stress out more. Among the symptoms are:

• Excessive drinking and irregular urine output are symptoms of kidney disease.

• Coughing, trouble breathing, gasping for air, and weakness are symptoms of heart disease.

Conclusion

Golden retrievers are the epitome of love and kindness. They are considerate, tolerant, gentle, and so forth. The day you accept them, they begin to take over your heart, inch by inch, until they rule it.

So it’s a “punched-in-the-gut” feeling to understand that your pet won’t be with you forever.

All wonderful things don’t stay forever, so make the most of them while you can. The years you have with a healthy Golden may be wonderful.

However, this breed comes with several  maintenance requirements that should not be missed.