Goldens come in many shades, but all tend to gain weight and many end up fat.
In the the Oct 2010 issue of Dogs Today, I note that:
Kennel Club paper does not mean quality; it often means defect.
All-breed books are often full of nonsense, copied from one to another, and none tell you very much about health problems and temperament challenges. If you flip through an all-breed book, for example, you may fall in love with the Golden Retriever, but the book will not tell you that 40 to 60 percent of these dogs come down with cancer, or what it will cost to treat that cancer. If you insist on a pedigree dog, take the time to really study the diseases and genetic problems associated with each breed. Look at real longevity data, and ask a veterinarian what it will cost to fix a pair of wrecked hips, to treat chronic heart disease, or to remove a dog’s eye if it has a luxating lens.
Space prevented me from detailing what the cost of "fixing" a Golden Retriever might be, but the good news is that the Embrace Pet Insurance company has the data, and it's not pretty.
Look over these numbers, and remember that according to a study published in the JAVMA in 2005, 23 to 55 percent of Golden Retrievers end up with hip dysplasia, along with the 40 to 60 percent that come down with cancer.
So how do you feel about that Golden Retriever now?
Are you still focused on coat color?!!
Are you still reading all-breed books that leave the important information out?
- Related Links:
** Terrierman's Top Ten Tips for Avoiding Expense & Misery
** Ten Tips to Finding the Right Dog
. .
No comments:
Post a Comment