3 Dog Breeds Vets Tend to Worry About and Why:

Golden Retriever

Here are three dog breeds that vets worry about the most. They're still great companions, and you can work with your vet to maximize your dog's quality of life and create a situation that's ideal for them and for the rest of the family.

1. GOLDEN RETRIEVERS

We love Shakira, our 12-year-old Golden whose sunny personality, supermodel looks and ball-crazy behavior are everything people love about Goldens. But Goldens have had more than their share of breed-related health issues, the most common and most tragic is cancer. Our family has been lucky enough to escape this diagnosis, but countless other owners will be getting bad news about their dogs today, and many of those dogs will be young. Many of us veterinarians not-so-secretly call this breed “The Cancer Retriever,” which is why I'm so excited about the Golden Retriever Lifetime Project, a huge and important step in helping to save many of these dogs down the line. And many people too!

2. BULLDOGS

The Bulldog is the beloved breed of the advertising world, today more than ever. There's no denying the adorability factor here, and I'm as much in love with the look of the Bulldog, French Bulldog and Pug as anyone else. But the exaggerated features of the Bulldog and other related breeds have produced a perfect storm of health problems that diminish the quality of life for many of these dogs, and often make them extremely expensive to own. Many need surgery to shorten their soft palate and enlarge their nostrils just so they can breathe somewhat normally. Much as I love them as individuals, as a veterinarian these problems make me hurt for these dogs and their families.

3. CHIHUAHUAS

Health usually isn't the problem with the Chihuahua. These active, in-your-face little dogs behave much bigger than they are (but not bigger than they think they are, which is huge!), and many of them live well into their teens with regular wellness care. But as one of the two most common breeds in many shelters these days, finding homes for them all is a challenge. For that, you can thank Taco Bell and Paris Hilton, I guess, but I'd like to thank everyone who adopts them, and spays and neuters them. A little Chihuahua goes a long way, and I'll be happier when I see a lot less of them in practice, because that means the shelters aren't struggling to cope with the overpopulation.

Wow! We were a little surprised to see some of these breeds on this list! That's why it's always a good idea to do a little research prior to selecting a dog. Not all breeds are perfect for all people, but there's at least one that's an ideal match!

Article Source: Mom.me



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