Golden Retriever: inherited diseases and health
Updated 2026-09-30 · 3 sources
Based on: OMIA (University of Sydney), Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW), Wikidata
Breed health
The inherited conditions below have been documented in this breed in published research. That does not mean your dog has them or will get them – but it helps to know the names when you talk to a breeder or a vet.
Conditions this breed is prone to
Veterinary charities list this breed as more likely than others to get these conditions. Read the signs and what to do:
Inherited conditions documented in the breed
Conditions documented: 47
A gene variant is known for 29 of the conditions below, so a DNA test may exist. Ask your vet or the breed club.
| Condition | Body system | Inheritance | Gene variant known |
|---|
| Canine Atopic Dermatitis[2] | – | – | – |
|---|
| Cardiomyopathy, TNNI3-related[1] | Cardiovascular system | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Ciliary dyskinesia, primary, generic[1] | Respiratory system | – | No |
|---|
| classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (cEDS), COL5A1-related[1] | Integument (skin) | Autosomal dominant | Yes |
|---|
| Cricopharyngeal dysfunction[1] | Digestive / alimentary | Autosomal recessive | No |
|---|
| Degenerative myelopathy[1] | Nervous system | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Ectodermal dysplasia/skin fragility syndrome, PKP1-related[1] | Integument (skin) | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Elbow Dysplasia (Humeral Condylar Osteochondrosis [HCO])[2] | – | – | – |
|---|
| Epidermolysis bullosa, dystrophic[1] | Integument (skin) | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Eye malformation, SIX6-related[1] | Vision / eye | Autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance | Yes |
|---|
| Gangliosidosis, GM2, type II (Sandhoff or variant 0)[1] | Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth) | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Haemangiosarcoma[1] | Neoplasm | – | – |
|---|
| Haemophilia A[1] | Haematopoietic system | X-linked recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Haemophilia B[1] | Haematopoietic system | X-linked recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Hip Dysplasia (HD)[2] | – | – | – |
|---|
| Histiocytosis, malignant[1] | Neoplasm | Multifactorial | No |
|---|
| Hypothyroidism[2] | – | – | – |
|---|
| Ichthyosis, ABHD5-related[1] | Integument (skin) | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Ichthyosis, PNPLA1-related[1] | Integument (skin) | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Immunoglobulin A deficiency[1] | Immune system | – | – |
|---|
| Ligneous membranitis[1] | Vision / eye | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Malignant hyperthermia[1] | Homeostasis / metabolism | Autosomal dominant | Yes |
|---|
| Mucopolysaccharidosis I[1] | Lysosomal storage disease | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Muscular dystrophy[1] | Muscle | – | – |
|---|
| Muscular dystrophy, Duchenne type[1] | Muscle | X-linked recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Myasthenic syndrome, congenital, COLQ-related[1] | Muscle | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Myelopathy, fibrocartilaginous embolic[1] | Nervous system | – | – |
|---|
| Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, 5[1] | Lysosomal storage disease | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Neuropathy, sensory ataxic[1] | Nervous system | Mitochondrial | Yes |
|---|
| Osteochondritis dissecans[1] | Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth) | Multifactorial | No |
|---|
| Osteogenesis imperfecta, type III, COL1A1-related[1] | Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth) | Autosomal dominant | Yes |
|---|
| Polyneuropathy, generic[1] | Nervous system | Autosomal recessive | No |
|---|
| Polyneuropathy, hypomyelinating, MPZ-related[1] | Nervous system | – | Yes |
|---|
| Polyneuropathy, hypomyelinating, MTMR2-related[1] | Nervous system | Probably autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Polyneuropathy, hypomyelinating, SH3TC2-related[1] | Nervous system | Probably autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Progressive rod-cone degeneration, PRCD-related[1] | Vision / eye | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis[1] | Neoplasm | Autosomal dominant | Yes |
|---|
| Renal dysplasia[1] | Renal / urinary system | – | – |
|---|
| Retinal atrophy, progressive, SLC4A3-related[1] | Vision / eye | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Retinal atrophy, progressive, TTC8-related[1] | Vision / eye | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Retinal dysplasia[1] | Vision / eye | – | – |
|---|
| Spherocytosis[1] | Haematopoietic system | Autosomal dominant | No |
|---|
| Spinal dysraphism[1] | Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth) | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
|---|
| Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis, predisposition to[1] | Nervous system | – | No |
|---|
| Thrombasthenia[1] | Haematopoietic system | Autosomal | Yes |
|---|
| Von Willebrand disease I[1] | Haematopoietic system | Autosomal | Yes |
|---|
| XX difference of sexual development, generic[1] | Reproductive system | Multifactorial | No |
|---|
What this list means
- “Documented in the breed” means at least one published case or study – it says nothing about how common the condition is.
- Many of these conditions are rare. A responsible breeder can tell you which health tests the parents have had.
- Where the gene variant is known, a DNA test may exist – ask your vet or the breed club.
- If your pet shows signs of illness, contact your vet. This page cannot tell you whether your pet is ill.
About the breed
- Origin
- United Kingdom, Scotland
- Height
- 51–61 cm
- FCI number
- 111
[3]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.
Not sure how serious it is?
OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.
OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.
Arthritis
Lymphoma