DFW Golden Retriever Breeders - Dallas Fort Worth Texas

HEALTH CLEARANCES

THE most important thing to consider when you acquire a Golden Retriever puppy is the health clearances on BOTH parents. The following is the minimum you should receive from a breeder. If the breeder cannot give you copies of the following clearances, please walk away. Don't let them tell you "my vet checked them out and they are very healthy." That is totally insufficient and should be a huge red flag for any puppy buyer. Either the breeder didn't want to spend the money to get the clearances done, or the breeding pair could have health problems. Protect yourself!

DOGS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO HAVE FINAL HIP AND ELBOW CLEARANCES UNTIL THEY ARE TWO YEARS OLD. BREEDERS BREEDING DOGS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD ARE DOING SO WITHOUT FINAL HIP AND ELBOW CLEARANCES. BUYER BEWARE!

a. Hips — appropriate report from Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; PennHip; Ontario Veterinary College; BVA/KC Hip Score (Great Britain) or at least a written report from a board-certified veterinary radiologist (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists). The certificate should have a rating of "Fair," "Good," or "Excellent." (Dogs must be at least 2 years of age to get a final hip clearance.)

SAMPLE OF OFA HIP CLEARANCE

(Click on form for larger picture)

* * * * *

b. Eyes — appropriate report from a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ACVO) or from a BVA/KCapproved ophthalmologist (Great Britain). A certificate and number from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) evidences a clear eye examination. The eye exam must be done every year. Do not buy a puppy from a breeder whose parents haven't had eye clearances in at least the last 18 months.

SAMPLE OF CERF CERTIFICATE

An examination sheet from a Board Certified Canine
Opthamologist is also acceptable, as long as both
eyes are marked "Normal"

(Click on form for larger picture)

* * * * *

c. Heart — appropriate report from a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Medicine, Cardiology Specialty. A certificate with a finding of “Normal” from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals evidences a clear heart examination.

SAMPLE OF OFA HEART CLEARANCE

An examination sheet from a Board Certified Canine
Cardiologist is also acceptable, as long as it is
marked "Normal"

(Click on form for larger picture)

* * * * *

d. Elbows — appropriate report from Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals; or at minimum a written report from a board-certified veterinary radiologist (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists).

SAMPLE OF OFA ELBOW CLEARANCE

(Click on form for larger picture)

Consideration will also be given also to other disorders that may have a genetic component, including, but not limited to, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, skin disorders (allergies), and orthopedic disorders such as osteochondritis.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The people who are associated with this web site, strongly recommend that you buy a Golden Retriever puppy only from a reputable breeder who, as a minimum, provides copies of hip, elbow, eye, and cardiac health clearances for both sire and dam of the litter. The articles and links on this site should provide you with information about those clearances and other important information about the Golden Retriever and types of breeders to look for. We encourage puppy/dog buyers to thoroughly evaluate health and temperament of any puppies/dogs offered for sale or placement.

A reputable breeder will give you a copy of hip, eye, and heart clearances on both the sire and dam of their litters. Information on health clearances can be found here.

ASK FOR A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATES ON BOTH THE SIRE AND THE DAM. DO NOT accept a report from a veterinarian.

The maker / keeper of this web site and all breeders listed herein, take no responsibility whatsoever for any puppies/dogs that you may acquire through this web site. The maker / keeper of this web site and all breeders listed herein (other than the breeder from whom you acquire a puppy or dog) are not responsible for any breeder’s sale practices and sales contracts, nor will the maker / keeper of this web site or any breeders listed herein (other than the breeder from whom you acquire a puppy or dog) be involved in any manner in contract disputes between puppy buyers and breeders. Availability of puppies and conditions of sale are at the sole discretion of the individual breeder. Buyers are encouraged to take as much time as necessary to locate a reputable breeder from whom they feel comfortable purchasing a puppy, and to investigate breeders and their puppies thoroughly before committing to a purchase. You are not obligated to purchase a puppy from the breeders listed herein.

BUYER BEWARE! Protect yourself.

This is a privately-owned web site and not under the authority or auspices of any organization, and as such, participation on this web site is strictly at the discretion of the web site owner, and other breeders listed herein.