Results from all clearance examinations should be placed in the public record on searchable databases by breeders.
The most widely used of such databases for hips, elbows, heart and eyes is provided by
the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals at OFA.org.
Records can be accessed by searching using the dog’s full registered name or registration number.
The most widely used of such databases for hips, elbows, heart and eyes is provided by
the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals at OFA.org.
Records can be accessed by searching using the dog’s full registered name or registration number.
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.
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.
Minimum Clearances for Golden Retrievers
Hips
Hip dysplasia refers to abnormal formation of the “ball-and-socket” hip joint. It is primarily inherited, and development is believed to be influenced by multiple genes. However, risk and severity of hip dysplasia may also be increased by environmental factors such as overfeeding that leads to rapid growth during early puppy hood, neutering prior to maturity, and possibly certain types of exercise.
Dogs must be 24 months of age to receive final hip certification, and screening hip x-rays should be sent to either the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or to PennHIP for diagnostic evaluation.
* How to Interpret the Results:
See "Hip Scoring Schemes" and "Sample Hip Clearance (OFA)" below.
Dogs must be 24 months of age to receive final hip certification, and screening hip x-rays should be sent to either the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or to PennHIP for diagnostic evaluation.
* How to Interpret the Results:
See "Hip Scoring Schemes" and "Sample Hip Clearance (OFA)" below.
Elbows
Elbow dysplasia often first appears as front leg lameness in young dogs, although symptoms can appear at any age. While not as common as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia is estimated to affect approximately 10% of Goldens. Like hip dysplasia, many affected dogs have no symptoms, yet can pass more serious disease to their offspring. For other affected dogs, symptoms range from mild stiffness to severe lameness.
Elbow dysplasia is primarily inherited and development is believed to be influenced by multiple genes. However, severity of elbow dysplasia may also be increased by rapid growth during early puppyhood as a result of over-feeding.
Dogs must be 24 months of age to receive final elbow certification, and screening elbow x-rays should be submitted to the OFA for diagnostic evaluation. Elbow dysplasia can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages or in very mildly affected dogs, and even non-breeding dogs and dogs under 24 months with unexplained front lameness can use OFA’s diagnostic services when the diagnosis is uncertain.
* How to Interpret the Results:
See "Elbow Grades / Scoring" table and "Sample Elbow Clearance (OFA)" below.
Elbow dysplasia is primarily inherited and development is believed to be influenced by multiple genes. However, severity of elbow dysplasia may also be increased by rapid growth during early puppyhood as a result of over-feeding.
Dogs must be 24 months of age to receive final elbow certification, and screening elbow x-rays should be submitted to the OFA for diagnostic evaluation. Elbow dysplasia can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages or in very mildly affected dogs, and even non-breeding dogs and dogs under 24 months with unexplained front lameness can use OFA’s diagnostic services when the diagnosis is uncertain.
* How to Interpret the Results:
See "Elbow Grades / Scoring" table and "Sample Elbow Clearance (OFA)" below.
Heart
A small percentage of Goldens are affected with a hereditary heart disease called subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS). While this is not common in the breed, it can be serious, so all prospective breeding dogs should be examined over the age of 12 months by a board certified veterinary cardiologist (not a general vet!) If a murmur is detected through auscultation (listening with a stethoscope), additional diagnostic tests (ECHO) are available and may be recommended. Results should be submitted to OFA for inclusion in their database.
* How to Interpret the Results:
A cardiac clearance is a PASS/FAIL system. If the dog passes, a number/certificate is issued. See "Sample Cardiac Clearance (OFA)" below.
* How to Interpret the Results:
A cardiac clearance is a PASS/FAIL system. If the dog passes, a number/certificate is issued. See "Sample Cardiac Clearance (OFA)" below.
Eyes
Hereditary cataracts are fairly common in Golden Retrievers. These cataracts, sometimes called juvenile cataracts, usually appear between 1-3 years of age, but fortunately do not usually cause any functional impairment. Non-hereditary cataracts also occur, and examination by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist is necessary to determine if the cataract is suspected to be hereditary.
An eye disease called pigmentary uveitis (PU) is of emerging concern in the breed, and while it is believed to have a genetic basis, at this time there are no satisfactory tools that breeders can use to be certain to avoid producing affected puppies. Pigmentary uveitis typically develops in middle-aged or senior Goldens, making it very important to continue yearly eye examinations for the lifetime of any dog that has been bred.
Eyelid and eyelash disorders also may occur in the breed, and are generally believed to have a hereditary basis. Entropion and ectropion are conditions that cause the eyelids to roll inward or outward, respectively; and distichiasis is a condition in which misdirected hairs touch and irritate the surface of the eye.
Annual examination by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist is recommended for the lifetime of any dog that has been bred, because hereditary eye problems can develop at varying ages. In particular, pigmentary uveitis often develops very late in life. Eye exams should be certified by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) or the OFA, and are valid for only 12 months from the date of examination.
* How to Interpret the Results:
The eyes are complex. Annual exams required of breeding dogs. Pass/Fail or "Breeder Option" Diagnoses. See "Sample Eye Clearance (CERF)" below.
An eye disease called pigmentary uveitis (PU) is of emerging concern in the breed, and while it is believed to have a genetic basis, at this time there are no satisfactory tools that breeders can use to be certain to avoid producing affected puppies. Pigmentary uveitis typically develops in middle-aged or senior Goldens, making it very important to continue yearly eye examinations for the lifetime of any dog that has been bred.
Eyelid and eyelash disorders also may occur in the breed, and are generally believed to have a hereditary basis. Entropion and ectropion are conditions that cause the eyelids to roll inward or outward, respectively; and distichiasis is a condition in which misdirected hairs touch and irritate the surface of the eye.
Annual examination by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist is recommended for the lifetime of any dog that has been bred, because hereditary eye problems can develop at varying ages. In particular, pigmentary uveitis often develops very late in life. Eye exams should be certified by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) or the OFA, and are valid for only 12 months from the date of examination.
* How to Interpret the Results:
The eyes are complex. Annual exams required of breeding dogs. Pass/Fail or "Breeder Option" Diagnoses. See "Sample Eye Clearance (CERF)" below.
Scoring Schemes and Sample Clearance Certificates
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Additional Screening for Golden Retrievers - DNA
* The result for each of the four (4) following DNA tests will be either Clear, Carrier or Affected.
[See Probability Chart below]
[See Probability Chart below]
PRA1 & PRA2
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a category of genetic mutations that cause vision loss and blindness. Photoreceptor cells in the retina begin to degenerate, typically progressing from a loss of night vision to complete blindness.In Golden Retrievers, two mutations have been identified in addition to prcd-PRA known as GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2.
Both GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2 are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that a dog must inherit a copy of the mutation from each parent to be affected by the disorder. Dogs with one copy of the mutation will not show any signs or symptoms of PRA, however, they can still pass on that mutation to any offspring.
DNA testing is important to ensure that two carriers are not mated together, as carriers of the GR-PRA mutations are asymptomatic.
Both GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2 are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that a dog must inherit a copy of the mutation from each parent to be affected by the disorder. Dogs with one copy of the mutation will not show any signs or symptoms of PRA, however, they can still pass on that mutation to any offspring.
DNA testing is important to ensure that two carriers are not mated together, as carriers of the GR-PRA mutations are asymptomatic.
prcd-PRA
Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration PRA (PRA-prcd) is inherited as an autosomal recessive disease. Degeneration of both rod and cone photoreceptor cells of the retina of PRA-prcd affected dogs usually occurs 3 to 5 years of age or later. Affected dogs initially experience night blindness and loss of peripheral vision. As the disease progresses, complete blindness will occur in time.
Ichthyosis (ICT-A)
When a scaling skin disorder first showed up in Golden Retrievers in the 1990s, it was frequently misdiagnosed as seborrhea, a condition that also causes scaling and dandruff. More than a decade later, veterinary specialists began studying the disorder and realized it is specific to Golden Retrievers. More recently, geneticists identified the causative mutation and developed a direct DNA test to identify affected and carrier dogs.
Fortunately, Golden Retriever ichthyosis is seldom severe. The disorder is named for the Greek word ichthys, meaning fish, because it looks like fish scales. Breeders sometimes refer to the condition as “puppy dandruff” since puppies usually outgrow signs of flaky skin as they mature, although ichthyosis also occurs in adult dogs.
Fortunately, Golden Retriever ichthyosis is seldom severe. The disorder is named for the Greek word ichthys, meaning fish, because it looks like fish scales. Breeders sometimes refer to the condition as “puppy dandruff” since puppies usually outgrow signs of flaky skin as they mature, although ichthyosis also occurs in adult dogs.
Probability Chart for The Previous Three DNA Autosomal Recessive Conditions
* Example: The Sire and Dam of a litter you are considering are both PRA2 carriers. There is a 25% chance a puppy you get from this litter could be clear, a 50% chance he/she would be a carrier and a 25% chance the pup would be affected with PRA2
