Golden Retriever lifespan usually ranges from 10 to 12 years. However, the oldest Golden Retriever lived for 20 years. Her name was Augie (officially named August) who lived in Tennessee. She was born on April 24, 2000 and left this world on March 31, 2021.
Until the 1970s, these intelligent, loyal, and friendly furry were living upto 16 to 17 years. The exact reason for the Golden Retriever’s lifespan reduction is not clear, but there are ways that can help in increasing their life.
60% of the Golden Retrievers suffer from cancer, which is the biggest cause of death among them. No other dog breed suffers cancer at this high rate. In addition to cancer, Golden Retrievers suffer from these health issues:
- Skin problems
- Seizures
- Eye disorders
- Hypothyroidism
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Lymphoma
- Subaortic stenosis (SAS)
- Osteosarcoma
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Mast cell tumors
Golden Retrievers reach adulthood at the age of 15 months. As they age, their faces start turning grey or white, but they never lose their playfulness. Golden Retrievers are puppies for lifetime.
How to Increase Golden Retriever’s Lifespan
There are 6 ways that can help you in increasing your Golden Retriever’s lifespan:
Healthy Parents
First of all, make sure that you bring home a puppy who belongs to healthy parents. Also, the COI (Coefficient Of Inbreeding) is an important factor. When you avoid getting a puppy born out of inbreeding, you reduce the chances of diseases that might come along from the parents.
Good breeders take care of such things. They may charge way more than others, but it will be worth it. Research for the best breeder in your reach, ask about the puppy’s ancestral history, discuss temperament, and most importantly: What they are bred for. Most breeders don’t care about the health of the puppy and just breed them for money. So, you need to be careful.
Good Food
Secondly, feed your dog a high quality meal. Cheap food may cause health problems later in life, which will eventually cost you more money in treatment.
Regular Grooming
Third is grooming. You need to groom the Golden Retriever’s coat, nails, teeth, ears, and paws on a regular basis. Grooming is not just about looking good, but also about health. Dental diseases might start to cause trouble if you do not brush their teeth. Regular ear cleaning keeps ear infections at bay. Brushing them regularly will help you in checking for any lumps or painful spots.
Regular Exercise
Fourth is exercise. If your dog is not getting his/her share of exercise, it is not good for the longer run. Regular exercise keeps the bones, muscles, and heart strong. Also, it helps in keeping potty-habit regular. Exercises include walks, swimming, playing fetch, and playing with other dogs.
Maintaining Weight
Fifth is maintaining a healthy weight. Of course, regular exercise also helps with weight. Golden Retrievers tend to overeat, which results in gaining weight. You need to watch their meals closely. Since they are already prone to joint and heart problems, weight can be more troublesome for them. A healthy male should weigh somewhere between 65 to 75 pounds, and a female must weigh around 55 to 65 pounds.
Delay Spaying/Neutering
Sixth is considering spaying or neutering a bit later in life. There is not much evidence to believe in this theory, so consider discussing it with your vet. You may consider doing it after the first heat cycle for females and somewhere between 12 to 24 months for males. Usually, people get it done when the pup is around 6 months, which might not be a good idea.
Youngest Golden Retriever who was diagnosed with cancer was 10 months old and the oldest one lived for 20 years before leaving this world in March 2021. This tells us that we can increase the lifespan of Golden Retrievers. All we need is to be aware of their health and fitness.
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FAQs
Yes, if taken good care of, you can increase the lifespan of your Golden Retriever; otherwise they tend to live upto 10 to 12 years. The oldest one lived for 20 years before leaving this world in March 2021.
On average, Golden Retrievers live upto 10 to 12 years. As Augie (officially known as August) lived for 20 years. You can expect more years from them, if taken good care of.
12 years is equivalent to approximately 64 human years. So yes, this can be considered as old age.
Of course they can; but you need to take good care of their health.
Yes, Golden Retrievers are among the smartest breeds of dogs.
