Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Long Golden Retrievers Live. Golden Retriever Life Expectancy
- Lifespan of the Golden Retriever Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Common Causes of Death in Golden Retriever, and how to Prevent Them.
- How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Golden Retrievers
- How Old is Your Golden Retriever in Human Years
- How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live in Human Years?
- More Ways to Make Your Golden Retriever Live Long
- Conclusion on Golden Retriever Life Expectancy
How Long Golden Retrievers Live. Golden Retriever Life Expectancy
Generally, the lifespan of the Golden Retriever is from 10 to 12 years.
Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Golden Retriever. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 927 pet Golden Retrievers lived.
From the study, it was found that Golden Retrievers have a average lifespan of 12.2 years. Furthermore, the study found that Golden Retrievers can live for as long as 17.2 years.
Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Golden Retrievers.
According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Golden Retrievers are:
- Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
- Hematopoietic Disease: Problems having to do with platelets, blood vessels, or clotting factors.
- Musculoskeletal Disease: Refers to any problems with bones or muscles
- Neurologic Disease: Refers to problems with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
- Cardiovascular Disease: Encompasses heart problems, blood pressure issues, and bleeding/clotting problems. CV issues may also be related to lung and/or breathing problems.
In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Golden Retriever to make your Golden Retriever live a longer.
Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Golden Retriever have a longer than average lifespan.
Do you want to know how old your Golden Retriever is in human years? Then, check out our Golden Retriever age to human years calculator
Lifespan of the Golden Retriever Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See in the table below how the lifespan of the Golden Retriever compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Cairn Terrier Lifespan | 14.00 |
| Miniature Poodle Lifespan | 13.90 |
| Manchester Terrier Lifespan | 12.80 |
| Beagle Lifespan | 12.60 |
| Collie Lifespan | 12.60 |
| Siberian Husky Lifespan | 12.50 |
| Golden Retriever Lifespan | 12.20 |
| Brussels Griffon Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Saluki Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Portuguese Water Dog Lifespan | 11.40 |
| Pug Lifespan | 11.00 |
| Anatolian Shepherd Dog Lifespan | 10.70 |
| Boxer Lifespan | 10.20 |
| Great Pyrenees Lifespan | 9.58 |
| Komondor Lifespan | 9.13 |
| Borzoi Lifespan | 9.08 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog Lifespan | 8.00 |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Lifespan | 8.00 |
| Neapolitan Mastiff Lifespan | 2.33 |
| Black Russian Terrier Lifespan | 1.79 |
Common Causes of Death in Golden Retriever, and how to Prevent Them.
We will now discuss the common causes of death in Golden Retriever, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Golden Retriever.
Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause
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Neoplastic Disease in Golden Retrievers
Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).
Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 49.9 percent of all deaths in Golden Retrievers.
Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Golden Retriever
Neoplasms in dogs, just like in people, are caused by either a genetic predisposition (like some breast cancers), an environmental factor (like smoking in humans), or a combination of both.
How to Prevent Neoplastic Disease in Golden Retrievers
Just like in humans, there is little you can do to prevent cancers that are caused by genetic factors. You can, however, reduce the environmental risks that are associated with cancer. The `environmental` causes of neoplasia are chemical agents, infectious agents, and physical agents. An example of a chemical agent that could cause cancer in Golden Retrievers (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Golden Retrievers is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Golden Retrievers is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.
Another way to prevent neoplasms in Golden Retrievers is to vaccinate them against harmful viruses, such as canine adenovirus (DHPP vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks and then once a year, every year). As in humans, early diagnosis is the key to supporting Golden Retrievers with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Golden Retriever. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Golden Retriever`s gums look pale.
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Hematopoietic Disease in Golden Retrievers
Normally, the body can regulate its own blood pressure and fluid volume without outside help. However, issues in hematopoesis can cause high or low blood pressure, blood clots, edema (fluid where it`s not supposed to be, like in the lungs), and even shock.
Hematopoietic Disease is responsible for 15.0 percent of all deaths in Golden Retrievers.
Causes of Hematopoietic Disease in Golden Retriever
The causes of hematopoietic problems usually involve inflammation and immune responses gone wrong. This can cause congestion, hemorrhage, and many more problems.
How to Prevent Hematopoietic Disease in Golden Retrievers
Talk to your veterinarian if your dog`s gums or skin look very pale or very red. It`s also a good idea to talk to your vet if your dog is experiencing exercise intolerance. Many parasites can cause internal bleeding, so you should have your dog on flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives all year round. Here is a good flea and tick prevention medication (buy the box associated with your pet`s weight!).
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Musculoskeletal Disease in Golden Retrievers
Musculoskeletal diseases are the common problems associated with bones and muscles. These include arthritis, vertebral issues, loss of skeletal muscle mass, hip dysplasia, trauma and breakages, and more.
Musculoskeletal Disease is responsible for 11.6 percent of all deaths in Golden Retrievers.
Causes of Musculoskeletal Disease in Golden Retriever
The causes of many musculoskeletal issues have to do with age, breed, and weight. Older Golden Retrievers are more prone to musculoskeletal issues, as are large breed dogs, and overweight dogs. Just like people, Golden Retrievers can get arthritis and other joint-related issues as they get older. Large-breed dogs tend to be prone to a condition called hip dysplasia, which essentially means that their hip joints degrade and get very painful. Overweight dogs tend to put more pressure on their joints, which can cause unnecessary wear and tear as well as serious damage to tendons and ligaments.
How to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disease in Golden Retrievers
One way that you can help improve your Golden Retriever`s musculoskeletal health (especially if they are old is by giving your Golden Retriever joint supplements like this one. You can also help prevent hip dysplasia and slipped discs by not allowing your Golden Retriever to jump too much, even if they are a puppy. Consider buying young Golden Retrievers a box or stool like this to help them get on the couch or bed, instead of letting them jump all the way from the ground. The most important way that you can keep your Golden Retriever`s muscles and bones healthy is by not letting them get overweight. You should avoid letting your Golden Retriever eat table scraps and make sure that they get plenty of exercise. If your Golden Retriever is overweight and you know that you are strict with their diet and exercise, you should talk to your vet; they might have hypothyroidism, which is very common. If your Golden Retriever is overweight and you think you should try managing their diet a little more closely, you can start your Golden Retriever on a weight-management diet like this to help them get back to a healthier body condition.
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Neurologic Disease in Golden Retrievers
These problems include canine cognitive disfunction, dementia, stroke, Lyme disease, and more.
Neurologic Disease is responsible for 10.3 percent of all deaths in Golden Retrievers.
Causes of Neurologic Disease in Golden Retriever
Neurological issues can be caused by vascular disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and developmental disorders.
How to Prevent Neurologic Disease in Golden Retrievers
Some neurological problems can be caused by infectious agents, like Lyme disease. You should always get your dog vaccinated with the course recommended by your veterinarian.
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Cardiovascular Disease in Golden Retrievers
Cardiac problems may include valvular and vascular disorders, which ultimately lead to the heart`s inability to pump oxygen-rich blood to tissues. Cardiac issues can be acute or chronic, and can lead to progressive heart failure or sudden death.
Cardiovascular Disease is responsible for 9.4 percent of all deaths in Golden Retrievers.
Causes of Cardiovascular Disease in Golden Retriever
Heart disease in Golden Retrievers may be caused by genetic (inherited) factors, lack of exercise, and poor diet. Heart disease can also be caused by infections such as bacteria (endocarditis, myocarditis, and more) as well as viruses, fungi, and parasites (heartworm).
How to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Golden Retrievers
You can prevent heart problems in your Golden Retriever by exercising your Golden Retriever regularly and feeding your Golden Retriever a good diet. Heartworm, which causes heart problems, is also very easily avoided by using preventatives. Giving your dog the following supplements can help prevent heart diseases. Here is a good supplement that can prevent heart problems in your Golden Retriever. The supplement is not only good for your Golden Retriever`s heart, but it is also good for your Golden Retriever`s overall health.
How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Golden Retrievers
Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Golden Retriever is not an exception.
These disease will reduce your Golden Retriever`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Golden Retriever`s lifespan.
The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Golden Retriever offsprings by only breeding Golden Retriever that have been screened and cleared of genetic defects.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is one the organizations that keep records of which disease to which a dog breed is genetically prone.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Golden Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy and live long, make sure that your Golden Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
If you do not know if your Golden Retriever has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Golden Retriever for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Golden Retriever a pet health insurance.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Golden Retrievers for:
How Old is Your Golden Retriever in Human Years
The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Golden Retriever. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.
Learn more about how old your Golden Retriever is in human years here.
In 1997, researchers from Purdue University developed a method for converting a dog`s age to its human age. Their method was based on the 1953 work of the French Veterinarian, A. Lebeau that we discussed above.
Researchers from Purdue University took Lebeau`s work further by taking into account two important factors to develop a more accurate method for converting a dog`s age into its human equivalent age:
- The size of the dog: Smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breed dogs
- The lifespan of the dog: Dog breeds that live longer lives will age slower than dog breeds that live shorter lives
The average lifespan of the Golden Retriever is 12.2 years.
Golden Retrievers are medium-sized dogs. Golden Retrievers weigh 55 to 75 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Golden Retriever in converting Golden Retriever age to human age.
The researchers used data on the lifespan and weight of 5,608 mixed breed dogs and 17,927 purebred dogs to develop their method for converting the ages of dogs (of different breed sizes and lifespans ) to their equivalent human ages.
The calculator below lets you convert your Golden Retriever`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Golden Retriever`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Golden Retriever`s human age. If you do not know your Golden Retriever`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your Golden Retriever is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your Golden Retriever`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Golden Retriever`s up-to-date human age.
Golden Retriever Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a Golden Retriever age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your Golden Retriever`s human age based on your Golden Retriever`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Golden Retriever`s human birthday! Try it out!
| Golden Retriever Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 14 |
| 2 | 21 |
| 3 | 26 |
| 4 | 32 |
| 5 | 37 |
| 6 | 42 |
| 7 | 46 |
| 8 | 50 |
| 9 | 54 |
| 10 | 58 |
| 11 | 62 |
| 12 | 66 |
| 13 | 71 |
| 14 | 75 |
| 15 | 80 |
| 16 | 85 |
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the Golden Retriever is 12.2 years. In human years, the Golden Retriever lives for 67 years.
How Old is 4-year-old Golden Retriever in Human Years?
A 4-year old Golden Retriever is 32 years old in human years.
How Old is 8-year-old Golden Retriever in Human Years?
A 8-year old Golden Retriever is 50 years old in human years.
How Old is 9-year-old Golden Retriever in Human Years?
A 9-year old Golden Retriever is 54 years old in human years.
How Old is 11-year-old Golden Retriever in Human Years?
A 11-year old Golden Retriever is 62 years old in human years.
More Ways to Make Your Golden Retriever Live Long
Here are more things your can do to make sure your Golden Retriever live a long life:
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Regular Exercise: Research studies have shown that one of the very effective ways to make a dog live long is to ensure that a dog is in good shape. Adequate exercise will make your Golden Retriever fit and make it live longer.
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Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Golden Retriever does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Golden Retriever will have a shorter lifespan than a Golden Retriever that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Golden Retriever high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Golden Retriever. Check out our Golden Retriever feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Golden Retriever from being overweight here.
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Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Golden Retriever existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Golden Retriever has access to clean water whenever your Golden Retriever needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Golden Retriever. See our Golden Retriever water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Golden Retriever.
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Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Golden Retriever might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Golden Retriever.
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Routine Vet Care: Regular preventative visits to the vet can help catch diseases early.
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Vaccinations: Always make sure your Golden Retriever is up to date on its vaccination.
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Dental Hygiene: Your Golden Retriever’s teeth can get infected, and if the infection goes unnoticed, that infection can spread to other parts of the body and become systemic. This could lead to a shortened lifespan. You must have your Golden Retriever teeth cleaned professionally at your vet’s office a couple of times in its lifetime. Talk with your vet about the best ages to have these cleanings done.
Conclusion on Golden Retriever Life Expectancy
We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Golden Retriever`s life expectancy.
Tate Ackerman contributed to this article. Tate is a second-year veterinary student at Kansas State University. Tate is also a concurrent Ph.D. student. She has a lot of experience reading scientific literature and communicating that information to a non-veterinary audience. Tate was a veterinary technician for a companion animal practice before she applied to veterinary school.