HEREDITARY PROBLEMS

The Golden Retriever breed, in common with many other large breed dogs, is subject to some hereditary problems which are inherited from parent to offspring.  These problems include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, several eye diseases and a heart condition, subaortic stenosis.   

The mode of inheritance and the specific genes involved in these diseases are yet to be identified.  Most of these conditions have complex causes and are the result of many different contributing factors.  The aberrant combination of genes which predispose the dog to the disease must be inherited and then the dog is subjected to environmental stresses which exacerbate the condition.  Most of these conditions are polygenic - caused by the cumulative effects of a number of genes.

The contributing environmental factors in hip and elbow dysplasia are the dog’s weight, the amount and type of exercise, and the puppy’s growth rate.  These all collaborate in the expression of the disease.  Other diseases such as epilepsy are suspected to have a genetic basis, but the mode of inheritance has not been identified.

The club recommends that no dog with a serious genetic defect should be bred from.  Club members are required to screen all breeding stock for hip dysplasia and eye disease.  Screening for elbow dysplasia and heart disease are also commonly performed.

An initiative introduced by the National Golden Retriever Council is for all Golden Retrievers born after 1 January 2002 to have their Hip Grading Certificates lodged with DOGS Victoria prior to the registration of their progeny.