Golden Retrievers
Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)
A portosystemic shunt is an abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver. As a result the blood is not cleansed by one of the bodies filters: the liver which results in neurological diseases.
Dogs with PSS have small liver, large kidneys, and stones in bladder or kidneys.
Most Golden Retrievers with congenital portosystemic shunts show clinical signs before 6 months of age. Where signs are subtle, the condition may not be diagnosed until much later. Shunts are significantly more likely to be found in female than male dogs.
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Retinal Dysplasia - Eye Problem
Retinal dysplasia is an abnormal development of the retina. Light microscopic examination of affected eyes will show folds and rosettes within the outer retinal layers. Heritable retinal dysplasia is the most common form and has been described in many breeds of dogs. Mild forms of retinal dysplasia rarely cause serious vision problems. However, large areas of dysplasia (geographic dysplasia) may lead to retinal detachments and dogs can become totally blind. Congenital cataracts, often accompany the retinal dysplasia.
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Hip Dysplasia - Bone Problem
Hip Dysplasia is a progressive degenerative condition of the pelvic joint that can lead to severe lameness and pain in large breed dogs. It can be very debilitating, but with the help of several ingenious surgical techniques, the function of the leg can be restored-sometimes almost to normal capacity. Hip dysplasia occurs when the head of the femur (the upper bone in the hind leg) does not fit into the socket, or acetabulum, of the joint properly. Patients that develop this condition are often first seen for the problem when they are fairly young.
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Atopy - Skin Problem
Atopy dermatitis is the predisposition to allergic disease in response to environmental allergens. One of the most common source of allergens causing atopy is the house dust mite. Tree, grass and weed pollens can also cause this disease. Flea allergic dermatitis and parasitic infections such as sarcoptic mange (scabies) and otodectic mange also cause allergic-type reactions.
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Aortic Stenosis - Heart Problem
In the mildest form, the condition is undetectable and will
not cause any problems for the dog. However the defect may still be passed on to offspring. The challenge for breeders and veterinarians is to identify affected Golden Retrievers with very mild or no clinical signs of the disorder.
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Canine Congenital Subaortic Stenosis (SAS)
The Canine Congenital Subaortic Stenosis (SAS) is a heart condition when the arteries of the middle muscular layer of the heart narrow thus creating obstructions to the normal blood flow in the heart. These obstructions substantially increase the risk of a sudden death which usually occurs in the first three years of life.
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