The most common hereditary/congenital problem with Golden Retrievers is Hip Dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia means poor development of the hip joint. It is an inherited disease that is complicated by overfeeding, fast growth, and excessive amounts of trauma during the developmental growth of the puppy. That is why most breeders will have the hips x-rayed after 2 years of age. Pre-liminary x-rays can be done earlier. Breeding stock should be evaluated by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation For Animals) and receive passing ratings of Excellent, Good, or Fair. The OFA will assign a dog with passing hips an OFA number and the breeder will be mailed an OFA certificate on that animal. The OFA numbers will also appear on the Reg. papers and pedigrees. The OFA will not pass a dog with borderline,mild, moderate or severe hip dysplasia. Some dysplastic dogs can lead normal, active lives, while some experience discomfort and limited mobility. Even a mild case can cause arthritis. Not only should breeders have the hips cleared, but families of the puppies should consider having the x-rays done as well.

Below is an excerpt from a wonderful website about hip dysplasia, you can find the whole article by clicking here.

Selective breeding based on current radiographic methods can reduce the frequency of hip dysplasia in a population. Breeding two dysplastic dogs can yield a 75% incidence of hip dysplasia in offspring, while mating two unaffected dogs can yield a 25% incidence of the disease. Selective breeding using normal dogs from normal parents and grandparents, as well as progeny testing, should decrease the incidence of CHD. The message here is that until we have a genetic test for CHD so we can detect carriers, the best indication of a dog's genetic makeup is where it came from (its' parents and grandparents), what it produces (its' offspring), and the phenotype of its' siblings or half sibs. Dogs with normal hip radiographs can carry some of the mutations that cause CHD but perhaps not the major ones, or enough of them, to cause CHD. Even when unaffected dogs are bred, the recombination events within chromosomes that occur during meiosis, can result in offspring that carry all the necessary mutations that cause CHD. To test whether a breeder carries some of the mutations (even if the dog has OFA-good hips), it should be bred to sires or dams with good hips and the proportion of affected offspring recorded (progeny testing). Always breed to dog's with the best hips in the colony as well as to dogs with the other optimal breed characteristics and temperament.

The only person that can clear a dog of eye diseases is a Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist. Eyes must be examined yearly until the dogs reaches 8-9 years of age because cataracts can develop later in life. Dogs that receive a passing grade will receive a certificate from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF). When the ophthalmologist examines the dogs eyes, they are looking for cataracts. progressive retinal atrophy, retinal dysplasia, and eyelash/eyelid problems.

Cataracts = an opacity of the eye lens.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy = a progressive deterioration of the retina that can cause blindness.

Retinal Dysplasia = an inherited defect of the retinal lining.

A seizure disorder caused by abnormal patterns in the brain.

Elbow Dysplasia and Osteochondritis (OCD)

Both are developmental irregularities of the elbow and shoulder are are a major cause of front end lameness. Both affect young dogs with symptoms occurring between 4 and 7 months of age.

Both diseases appear to be hereditary, but nutrition, rough play, jumping, and leaping can also be a factor.

Malfunction of the thyroid gland. Symptoms include, obesity, lethargy, recurrent infections, and skin or coat problems. Treatment for this is daily and can continue for the dog’s life.

Involves a stricture in the left ventricle of the heart which restricts blood flow to the heart. It can lead to sudden or unexpected death after normal activity,

Hereditary bleeding disorder. Where puppies inherit a lack of clotting ability from their parents.

Information was obtained from the book “Golden Retrievers For Dummies” by Nona Kilgore Bauer

as a quick reference for you.