Golden Retriever Health Issues: What to Watch For (and When to Call the Vet)

About the health information here: it comes from vet groups and vet schools, but we’re dog owners, not vets, so for anything about your own dog’s health, check with your vet.

The short answer: Yes, goldens have a few well-known health issues: cancer (especially hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma), hip and elbow dysplasia, itchy skin and ear infections, hypothyroidism, and an eye disease called pigmentary uveitis. Goldens in the breed club’s health survey lived about 11 years on average. Knowing the early signs and keeping up with vet and eye checks gives your dog the best odds.

In this guide

1. Do golden retrievers have a lot of health problems?
2. How long do golden retrievers live?
3. What is the cancer rate in golden retrievers?
4. What are the warning signs of hemangiosarcoma?
5. How do you check your golden for lumps?
6. What are the signs of hip dysplasia in a golden retriever?
7. What does a golden retriever ear infection look like?
8. Your golden retriever is so itchy: what’s going on?
9. What is pigmentary uveitis, and does your golden need yearly eye exams?
10. What are the signs of hypothyroidism in golden retrievers?
11. Does weight really matter for a golden’s health?
12. Senior golden retriever health issues: what changes with age?
13. Does spay or neuter timing matter for golden retrievers?
14. Which health clearances should you ask a breeder for?
15. When should you call the vet right away?
16. FAQs
17. Bottom line

Do golden retrievers have a lot of health problems?

Goldens are mostly sturdy, happy dogs. But the breed does carry a handful of problems more often than dogs in general, and a couple of them are serious.

The good news is that goldens are the subject of one of the largest dog health studies in the US: the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study from the Morris Animal Foundation. Here it is in plain English:

• Who’s in it: 3,044 US goldens, enrolled between 2012 and 2015 when they were 6 months to 2 years old.

• What happens: every year, each dog gets a vet exam, gives blood and other samples, and their owner answers a long questionnaire about food, home, exercise and behavior. The dogs are followed for life.

• What it’s built so far: by April 2026, more than 650,000 samples and more than 1,700 confirmed cancer diagnoses.

• What it’s found: a higher than expected rate of hemangiosarcoma, a gene region linked to that cancer, and a link between lymphoma and secondhand smoke (in research using study samples, dogs with lymphoma were more likely to have been exposed to it).

Below, each issue gets a short section with the signs to watch for.

How long do golden retrievers live?

In the Golden Retriever Club of America’s 1998 health survey of members’ dogs, females lived to an average of 11.3 years and males to 10.7. The club notes that’s in the same 10 to 11 year range as dogs overall, even with the breed’s cancer risk.

If you’re wondering whether red goldens live any differently, we cover that in red golden retriever vs golden retriever: what’s really different.

What is the cancer rate in golden retrievers?

As one owner put it on Reddit’s r/goldenretrievers, “I’m absolutely haunted by the statistics.” So here they are, with who was counted, because the numbers change a lot depending on the group:

• 61% of deaths with a vet-confirmed cause were from cancer in the club’s 1998 survey of 1,444 members’ goldens.

• 65% of 652 goldens examined after death at UC Davis’s veterinary teaching hospital (1989 to 2016) died because of cancer. That’s a referral hospital, which sees sicker dogs.

• 70% of the 352 Lifetime Study dogs that had died by May 2021 had deaths attributed to cancer.

• 20% to 39% of golden deaths were from cancer in studies from the UK and Scandinavia, using kennel club and pet insurance records.

The most common types are hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma. In the Lifetime Study, lymphoma was the most common cancer in dogs under 6, and hemangiosarcoma climbed steeply after 6 to become the most common around age 8. At UC Davis, goldens that died of cancer had a median age of 9.8 years.

The calmer truth is that cancer is mostly a disease of older goldens. The GRCA puts it plainly: a higher risk “certainly does not mean that cancer is inevitable, and many predisposed dogs will live long lives with no cancer.”

What are the warning signs of hemangiosarcoma?

Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer of the cells that line blood vessels. It most often grows in the spleen, and it can also show up in the heart, liver or skin. The hard part is that it’s often silent until a tumor bleeds.

Signs to watch for:

• Weakness, tiredness or not wanting to eat for a few days, then seeming fine again (this can repeat over weeks)

• Pale gums

• A swollen belly

• Trouble breathing

• Sudden collapse

• On the skin: a dark or purple raised patch on the belly, or a red or dark lump in or under the skin

VCA calls a bleeding tumor of the spleen or liver a medical emergency. If your golden collapses or has pale gums, go to your vet or an emergency hospital now.

How do you check your golden for lumps?

Not every lump is cancer, but you can’t tell which is which by feel, and neither can your vet. A veterinary oncologist, Dr. Sue Ettinger, wrote that even a cancer specialist “cannot look at or feel a mass and know what it is.”

Her rule of thumb, called See Something, Do Something: if a lump is the size of a pea and it’s been there a month, ask your vet to sample it with a needle.

Once a month, run your hands over your golden from nose to tail. Note any lump’s size and spot. Also feel the lymph nodes at the neck, armpits, groin and behind the knees. Swollen nodes are the main sign of the most common type of lymphoma, and many dogs still feel fine when it’s found.

A limp with a warm, painful swelling on a leg also needs a vet visit. That’s the usual picture of osteosarcoma, a bone cancer.

What are the signs of hip dysplasia in a golden retriever?

Hip dysplasia is a loose fit in the hip’s ball and socket that wears down the joint over time. Genes are the biggest risk factor, and fast growth from overfeeding can make it worse.

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons lists these signs:

• Limping

• Not wanting to get up or jump

• Shifting weight onto the front legs

• Less muscle on the back legs

• Hip pain

The GRCA says signs often first show up between 4 and 12 months, though plenty of dysplastic goldens show nothing until arthritis sets in later. The surgeons also suggest asking your vet to check your puppy’s hips for looseness at vaccine visits between 10 and 18 weeks, because one surgical option only works before 18 weeks.

Elbow dysplasia often shows up as a front leg limp in a young dog. In OFA records, 10.3% of goldens whose elbow x-rays were sent in between 2006 and 2010 had it. Owners mostly send in x-rays from normal-looking dogs, so the real rate may be higher.

If you see limping or stiffness at any age, see your vet.

What does a golden retriever ear infection look like?

Outer ear infections are some of the most common infections vets see in dogs. Signs include:

• Head shaking and scratching at the ears

• Red, swollen ear canals

• A bad smell

• Black or yellowish discharge

• Crusty or thickened ears in long-running cases

Your vet needs to look inside the ear before treating it. They’ll check that the eardrum is intact, since some ear meds can damage hearing if it isn’t, and look at a swab under a microscope to pick the right medicine.

If the infections keep coming back, ask about allergies. VCA says allergies are involved in as many as 43% of ear infections in dogs, especially the recurring ones. Low thyroid can cause repeat ear infections too.

More in our full guide: golden retriever ear infections: signs, causes and prevention.

Your golden retriever is so itchy: what’s going on?

One owner on r/goldenretrievers wrote, “my poor boy is so ITCHY and I don’t know how to help!” You’re not alone: itchy skin is one of the most common worries golden owners post about.

Goldens are on VCA’s list of breeds prone to atopic dermatitis, an allergy to things like pollen, mold and dust mites. Signs usually start between ages 2 and 6:

• Itching that may come and go with the seasons

• Licking and chewing, often with reddish-brown saliva stains

• Red skin

• Skin or ear infections that keep coming back

Hot spots often follow the itching. In the GRCA survey, about 1 in 3 goldens had at least one in their lifetime. They’re red, oozing, painful sores, often on the head, legs or hips, and they can grow from a tiny red spot to a pancake-sized sore while you’re at work. Matted fur that stays wet makes them more likely, so regular brushing helps (see how to stop golden retriever shedding (what you can and can’t change)).

Food allergies cause itchy skin, paws and ears too. The only accurate test is an 8 to 12 week elimination diet that your vet sets up, so check with them before switching foods on your own.

More in our full guide: golden retriever itchy skin: causes, hot spots and when to see the vet.

What is pigmentary uveitis, and does your golden need yearly eye exams?

Pigmentary uveitis is an inherited eye disease that’s been an emerging concern in goldens since the early 2000s. It usually shows up in middle-aged or senior dogs.

Early on there are no outward signs. Later you may see redness, tearing, or your dog rubbing or pawing at an eye. It can lead to glaucoma and blindness. The GRCA says that when it’s only caught after signs appear, about half of those eyes lose vision within months.

That’s why the GRCA recommends a yearly screening exam with a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist starting at about 2 to 3 years old. Catching it early gives treatment a chance to delay it. OFA lists lower-cost group eye clinics, and the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists lists specialists. Most goldens never get it, but there’s no way yet to know which ones will. For PRA, cataracts and what happens at an eye exam, see golden retriever eye problems: pra, cataracts and pigmentary uveitis.

What are the signs of hypothyroidism in golden retrievers?

In the GRCA survey, about 1 in 4 goldens developed hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) at some point. VCA says it usually starts around 6 to 7 years old.

Signs to watch for:

• Weight gain without eating more

• Low energy and less interest in exercise

• Seeking out warm spots

• A dry, dull or thinning coat, including a nearly bald “rat tail”

• Skin and ear infections that keep coming back

It’s diagnosed with blood tests, and it’s treatable (not curable) with lifelong medication. If several of these sound familiar, ask your vet.

Does weight really matter for a golden’s health?

It might be the biggest thing you control. In a Purina study of 48 Labrador Retrievers, the dogs fed 25% less than their matched partners lived a median of 22 months longer and had less hip arthritis.

It’s a real issue in goldens. In the Lifetime Study, 37% of the dogs were overweight or obese by May 2021. For portions by age, see how much to feed a golden retriever by age (puppy to senior).

Senior golden retriever health issues: what changes with age?

There’s no set age when a golden becomes a senior. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) defines it as the last 25% of a dog’s expected lifespan. With goldens averaging about 11 years, that’s around age 8 by our math.

AAHA’s senior guidelines suggest a vet workup once or twice a year, because problems like arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease and cancer get more common.

Signs worth bringing up at those visits:

• Pain and stiffness: slower to get up, less willing to jump. AAHA says owners often miss pain in older pets, and it encourages simple changes at home to make life easier.

• Mental changes: getting lost in familiar places, sleeping at odd times, house accidents, more anxiety. AAHA says early treatment works better, and owners often miss the first signs.

• New lumps, weight loss or low energy: see the cancer sections above.

More in our full guide: senior golden retrievers: when it starts and how to care for them.

Does spay or neuter timing matter for golden retrievers?

It’s one of the most debated questions in the breed, and the research doesn’t all point the same way.

• UC Davis, 2020: in records of 1,247 goldens at the school’s teaching hospital, 25% of males neutered before 6 months had a joint disorder, compared with 5% of intact males. Females spayed at any age had more of the cancers studied. The authors suggest waiting until after a year for males, and leaving females intact or spaying at one year while watching for cancer.

• The Lifetime Study: spay or neuter at 6 months or younger was linked to more orthopedic injuries, and at any age to a higher chance of being overweight.

• The other side: a separate UC Davis study of goldens examined after death found that spay or neuter status didn’t change the risk of dying of cancer, and intact females in that group lived shorter lives than spayed ones. Intact females also face risks like uterine infection (pyometra) and mammary cancer.

There’s no one right answer for every dog. Bring these findings to your vet and decide together.

Which health clearances should you ask a breeder for?

The GRCA expects breeders to screen both parents and share the results. Ask for:

• Hips: OFA or PennHIP evaluation at 24 months or older

• Elbows: OFA evaluation at 24 months or older

• Eyes: an exam by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, done within the last 12 months (these expire after a year)

• Heart: an exam by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist at 12 months or older

You can check all of these yourself at ofa.org using each parent’s registered name or number. A good breeder will gladly share them. Clearances on grandparents and great-grandparents add even more protection.

For the eye results, the GRCA adds two cautions: be wary of expired eye exams, and weigh “multiple uveal cysts” in the parents or grandparents heavily, since it’s an early warning sign for pigmentary uveitis.

When should you call the vet right away?

Go now (vet or emergency hospital) for collapse, pale gums, a swollen belly or trouble breathing. Those can be signs of internal bleeding.

Book a visit soon for a pea-sized lump that’s lasted a month, swollen lymph nodes, limping, ear trouble, constant itching, weight changes or a red, teary eye.

For more symptoms sorted into go now, call today and watch at home, with a free one-page chart to print, see our dog symptom guide.

FAQs

Do golden retrievers have any health problems?

Yes. The main ones are cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies and itchy skin, ear infections, hypothyroidism and pigmentary uveitis. Goldens in the breed club’s survey still lived about 11 years on average.

At what age is a golden retriever a senior?

AAHA defines a senior as a dog in the last 25% of its expected lifespan. For a golden, that’s around 8 years old by our math.

Bottom line

Golden health issues are real, but they’re well studied, and most have early signs you can learn. Do a monthly lump check, keep your golden lean, book yearly eye exams from about age 2, and ask any breeder for hip, elbow, eye and heart clearances. When something looks off, check with your vet.

Sources

• Morris Animal Foundation, Golden Retriever Lifetime Study: https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/golden-retriever-lifetime-study

• Morris Animal Foundation, “What the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study Tells Us About Dog Health” (April 23, 2026): https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/golden-retriever-lifetime-study-2026-update

• Morris Animal Foundation, “Golden Retriever Lifetime Study Reaches 500 Diagnoses of 4 Major Cancers” (July 26, 2023): https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/golden-retriever-lifetime-study-reaches-500-diagnoses-4-major-cancers

• Labadie et al., “Cohort profile: The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS),” PLoS ONE (2022): https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0269425

• Glickman, Glickman and Thorpe (Purdue University), Golden Retriever Club of America National Health Survey 1998-1999: https://www.grca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/healthsurvey.pdf

• Golden Retriever Club of America, “Understanding Cancer in Golden Retrievers” (Rhonda Hovan): https://grca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cancergoldens.pdf

• Golden Retriever Club of America, “Ask the Health & Genetics Committee: Hemangiosarcoma FAQs”: https://grca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/hemangio.pdf

• Golden Retriever Club of America, Health Screenings for the Parents of a Litter: https://grca.org/about-the-breed/health-research/health-screenings-for-the-parents-of-a-litter/

• Golden Retriever Club of America, Pigmentary Uveitis Alert for Breeders, Potential Buyers, and Owners (2024): https://grca.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GRPU-Alert-for-Breeders-Buyers-Owners-2024.pdf

• Golden Retriever Club of America, Pigmentary Uveitis Letter to Owners: https://grca.org/about-the-breed/health-research/pigmentary-uveitis-letter-to-owners/

• Golden Retriever Club of America, Hypothyroidism: https://grca.org/about-the-breed/health-research/hypothyroidism/

• Golden Retriever Club of America, Preventive Health Care (Purina Labrador feeding study): https://grca.org/about-the-breed/health-research/preventive-health-care/

• Golden Retriever Club of America, “Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: Successes and Challenges” (2023): https://grca.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HG-HD-M-J23-Hip-elbow-dysplasia-final-article.pdf

• Kent et al., “Association of cancer-related mortality, age and gonadectomy in golden retriever dogs at a veterinary academic center (1989-2016),” PLoS ONE (2018): https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0192578

• Hart et al., “Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs,” Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2020): https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full

• American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Canine Hip Dysplasia: https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/canine-hip-dysplasia/

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Ear Infections in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-infections-in-dogs

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Inhalant Allergies (Atopy) in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inhalant-allergies-atopy-in-dogs

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Hot Spots in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/hot-spots-in-dogs

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Food Allergies in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/allergies-in-dogs

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Hypothyroidism in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/hypothyroidism-in-dogs

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Visceral Vascular Tumors: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/vascular-tumors

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Lymphoma in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/lymphoma-in-dogs

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Osteosarcoma in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/osteosarcoma-in-dogs

• Sue Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), “See Something, Do Something: Why wait? Aspirate!” (dvm360): https://www.dvm360.com/view/see-something-do-something-why-wait-aspirate

• AAHA, 2023 Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, executive summary: https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/february-2023/gl-senior-care-feb23/

• AAHA, Defining the Senior Patient: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2023-aaha-senior-care-guidelines-for-dogs-and-cats/defining-the-senior-patient/

• Owner quote, r/goldenretrievers (“I’m absolutely haunted by the statistics.”): https://redd.it/1oel697

• Owner quote, r/goldenretrievers (“my poor boy is so ITCHY and I don’t know how to help!”): https://redd.it/1s0m1om