Bringing your Goldendoodle home is one of the greatest joys of your life. They bring so much light and happiness that you wonder how you ever got along without them. You’ve done all your research, and you think you have sufficiently prepared for this happiness. But, have you done you looked up health concerns? What health problems do Goldendoodles have? And how do we treat and prevent them? If your Goldendoodle develops these diseases, are you capable of handling it?
Hip Dysplasia
What health problems do Goldendoodles have? One of the most common Goldendoodle health problems is hip dysplasia. Dysplasia is where the hip sockets and bones don’t match up properly. So while your Goldendoodle is running and playing, the joints are shifting around. As they age, it becomes more and more painful.
Causes:
So what causes hip dysplasia? Mostly unlucky genetics causes dysplasia. But it can also occur from poor health and weight. Overweight dogs are more likely to develop hip dysplasia than dogs that stay active and fit. It’s also common for older dogs to develop it as they age.
Treatments:
Owners usually choose to control the pain with medication and light exercise. But in severe cases, there is surgery to fix the issue. But even with surgery, most dogs have reoccurring joint problems as they age.
Addison’s Disease
Another one of the health problems that Goldendoodles have is Addison’s disease. Addison’s is a deficiency of the adrenal gland that causes your dog to react to stress levels improperly. They also lose their appetite and lose weight as a result. Most Goldendoodles who have Addison’s disease have a steady decline in health unless treated.
Causes:
No one knows why Addison’s disease happens precisely. In most cases, doctors assume a tumor in the adrenal gland that causes the disease. But other conditions and medications can also cause Addison’s as your dog ages. As these diseases progress, other parts of the body start to deteriorate too.
Treatments:
Hormonal treatments are the most common ways of managing Addison’s. And if your dog is on other medications, those are usually changed as well. While there is no cure for Addison’s, your dog will live a long and happy life with these therapies and regular blood work.
Von Willebrands Disease
One scary trouble with Goldendoodles is the risk of Von Willebrands disease. When a dog has Von Willebrands disease, it means that they lack blood-clotting proteins. So if your Goldendoodle undergoes surgery or has a small knick, they bleed profusely. Your Goldendoodle might also have persistent bloody noses, bleeding gums, and blood in the urine.
Causes:
Goldendoodles almost always inherit Von Willebrands from the parents. If the Goldendoodle parents have Von Willebrands disease or carry the traits, the puppies are all at risk.
Treatments:
There are no medications to help cope with Von Willebrands. But if your Goldendoodle has this disease, there are precautions you can take. Keep your dog from hurting himself is the first task.
No rough play and removing all risks from the yard and house prevent injury. You also shouldn’t feed your dog hard bones and rawhides to protect the gums. And finally, you should also avoid any blood-thinning medications.
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
On top of hip dysplasia, another Goldendoodle back leg problems are cranial cruciate ligament ruptures. The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is the essential connector of the femur and shin bone. Without it, your joints won’t work correctly, and your shins will move freely around the joint. Can you talk about pain?
Causes:
The most common cause of CCL is from strenuous activities. It is prevalent in large dogs when running and changing directions suddenly. The sudden movements put a strain on the knees and tears the ligaments.
Treatments:
Treatments for a torn CCL include surgery to reconstruct the ligaments. Depending on the tear degree, your vet will decide between three different surgeries. But no matter what surgery your dog has, there is a long road of physical therapy ahead. And depending on the age of your dog, some may never have full movement again.
Another treatment is to use a brace for your dog. These braces are relatively new to the market and work a little differently than surgeries. And while they don’t fix the problem, it can help support your Goldendoodle. But if your dog is young enough, it could heal on its own.
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis
If you are looking up what health problems do Goldendoodles have, heart problems might come up. More commonly referred to as a heart murmur, this disease is present at birth. Subvalvular aortic stenosis is when the heart valves are smaller than average.
In extreme cases, the puppy will have a hard time keeping up with the others. They might even have low weight gain and overall growth. In mild cases, you might not even notice until later in life. It doesn’t always slow down your growing pups but becomes more apparent as your dog ages.
Causes:
This heart disease is the result of bad genetics. If your Goldendoodle develops subvalvular aortic stenosis, it is because one or both parents carry the genes.
Treatments:
In severe cases, your vet might recommend surgery to fix the small aortic valve. Your Goldendoodle might even need medication to control blood pressure and cholesterol. Other than that, most Goldendoodles can live healthy lives by keeping their weight in check and eating a healthy diet.
Epilepsy
Goldendoodle health problems include having seizures. These episodes can get scary with larger dogs. But not all signs of epilepsy are the typical muscle spasms and shaking. Some dogs get into a “zone” where it seems like they are staring off into space. Nothing can snap them out of it, and it might take you a while to even realize what’s happening. But both of these epileptic episodes are a reason for concern.
Causes:
No one really knows what causes epilepsy. But it’s safe to say that some genetic marker seems to be the predominant cause of it. And it appears that epilepsy is a common F1B Goldendoodle health problems. In some cases, the sudden onset of seizures is the result of a brain tumor or cancer.
Treatment:
If a tumor is the cause of your Goldendoodle’s epilepsy, your doctor may discuss treating cancer. And with the removal, your Doodle should go back to normal. But the most common treatment for epilepsy is medication.
Patellar Luxation
Common Mini Goldendoodle health issues include everything already mentioned and patellar luxation. Patellar luxation is a condition that causes the knee cap to float and move around. Your Mini Goldendoodle might limp when running or moving too quickly.
Causes:
Most cases of patellar luxation are due to injury. But the reason so many Goldendoodles have this issue is that they have lousy joint genetics anyway. Being prone to weak joints makes them especially susceptible to this ailment.
Treatments:
The treatment for this disease depends on how severe the symptoms are. The worst-case scenarios include surgery and a long road of physical therapy to control pain. In mild cases, your Goldendoodle might need a change of diet and pain management medication.
How Do You Prevent Diseases?
Preventing all illnesses isn’t possible. Every dog will get sick at some point or another. But there are a few steps we can take to make sure that our furry friends live their best lives.
Breeding
Good breeding goes a long way with pets. A reputable breeder screens all of their dogs for genetic mutations that might cause disease. They check everything from bone growth and joint health to genetic disorders. And if you ask, you can see what all your breeder screens for in detailed DNA tests. But breeding can only go so far.
Diet
You know the saying, “You are what you eat?” The same is true for your Goldendoodles. Your Doodle needs a well-rounded diet with 10% or less in treats. But even the types of treats you give matters. Healthy treats are just as tasty to your dogs, and they don’t pose health risks like table scraps.
Exercise
Giving your Goldendoodle plenty of physical and mental stimulation is crucial for their wellbeing. Keeping your dog active keeps their weight in line, and their bodies feeling good. Goldendoodles are a little prone to becoming couch potatoes, so hyping them up for a hike is just what the doctor calls for.
And mental stimulation is just as important. If your dog isn’t feeling well, it will be harder to get them up and moving for physical activity. Giving your Goldendoodle lots of attention, toys, and training keeps their minds sharp. In fact, if you don’t keep up with this, it could cause Goldendoodle mental problems as well.
Vet Care
Let’s not forget the importance of vet care too. Taking your Goldendoodle to the vet every six months keeps them in tip-top shape. With regular check-ups, your vet can pick up on any abnormalities before they get out of hand.
But It Isn’t All Bad!
It might seem like there is a lot that can go wrong with your Goldendoodle. But in reality, they are a very healthy breed. The average Goldendoodle lifespan is 10-15 years. And some live even longer than that! If that’s not a testament to how great they are, we don’t know what is. What health problems do Goldendoodles have? Nothing that would stop us from owning one.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!
