Goldendoodles are generally healthy, sturdy dogs, but they aren’t immune to disease. A Goldendoodle can inherit health problems from both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle side of the family. Most of the serious inherited problems can be screened for in the parents. The everyday ones, like ears, skin, weight and parasites, are largely down to the care the dog gets at home. This guide covers the conditions worth knowing about, the health tests to look for, and how to keep a Goldendoodle healthy through the Canadian seasons.
Hybrid vigor is real, but it isn’t a guarantee
Crossing two unrelated breeds widens the gene pool, and that lowers the chance of a puppy inheriting two copies of the same recessive disease gene. That is the idea behind “hybrid vigor”, and it was one of the reasons we bred Goldendoodles. But some conditions only need one copy of a gene, and some are common in both parent breeds (hip dysplasia and certain eye diseases, for example). So a cross can inherit them. Hybrid vigor improves the odds. It doesn’t replace health testing the parents.
Common health problems in Goldendoodles
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are developmental problems where the joint doesn’t fit together properly, which can lead to pain and arthritis. Both parent breeds are affected. Genetics matter most, but fast growth, excess weight and too much hard exercise in a young large-breed puppy can make things worse. Breeders screen the parents with OFA or PennHIP X-ray evaluations.
Eye disease
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) slowly destroys the retina and leads to blindness. Several forms have DNA tests: prcd-PRA can come from either side, and GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2 come from the Golden side. Golden Retrievers are also prone to hereditary cataracts and to pigmentary uveitis, a painful inherited eye condition that can cause glaucoma. That’s why breeding dogs should have regular eye exams by a veterinary ophthalmologist (the “CAER” exam), not just DNA tests.
Heart disease
Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) is a narrowing below the aortic valve that is seen in Golden Retrievers. Mild cases may never cause problems. Severe cases can cause fainting, heart failure or sudden death. Breeding Golden Retrievers and Goldendoodles should have a cardiac exam, ideally by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.
Von Willebrand disease (vWD)
This is an inherited bleeding disorder, found in Poodles, where the blood doesn’t clot normally. It’s often only noticed during surgery or after an injury. A simple DNA test identifies carriers.
Addison’s disease
Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism) happens when the adrenal glands don’t make enough hormones. It is more common in Standard Poodles. The signs are vague and come and go: tiredness, poor appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. It can cause a sudden crisis. Once diagnosed, it’s very manageable with lifelong medication.
Sebaceous adenitis
This is an inherited skin disease of Standard Poodles, where the oil glands in the skin become inflamed and are destroyed. It causes scaling, a dull or brittle coat and patchy hair loss. A skin biopsy diagnoses it, and many Standard Poodle breeders screen for it.
NEwS
Neonatal encephalopathy with seizures (NEwS) is a rare, fatal brain disorder of Standard Poodle puppies, appearing in the first weeks of life. It’s recessive, and a DNA test lets breeders avoid it completely.
Degenerative myelopathy (DM)
DM is a slowly progressing disease of the spinal cord in older dogs that causes hind-leg weakness. A DNA test shows whether a dog is clear, a carrier or at risk. At-risk dogs don’t always develop the disease.
Ichthyosis
This is an inherited skin condition from the Golden Retriever side that causes flaky, dandruff-like scaling. It is usually mild and cosmetic, and there is a DNA test for the most common form.
Bloat (GDV)
Gastric dilatation-volvulus is a life-threatening emergency where the stomach fills with gas and can twist. Large, deep-chested dogs, including Standard Poodles and standard-size Goldendoodles, are at higher risk. Warning signs are a swollen belly, retching without bringing anything up, drooling and restlessness. Go to a vet immediately.
Ear infections
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons Goldendoodles visit the vet. Floppy, hairy ears trap moisture and warmth, and allergies often play a part. Keep the ears dry after swimming and baths, and check them weekly. Our grooming guide covers ear care.
Allergies and itchy skin
Environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis) and, less often, food allergies show up as scratching, paw licking, red skin and repeated ear infections. Itching has many possible causes, including fleas, mites, infection and allergies, so it’s worth getting a proper diagnosis before changing diets or products.
Cancer
Golden Retrievers have a high cancer rate. In the Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, which follows more than 3,000 purebred Goldens, roughly three-quarters of deaths recorded so far were cancer-related. Hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma are the most common types. Nobody yet knows how much of that risk carries over to Goldendoodles, but it’s worth knowing. Have any new lump, sudden weakness, pale gums or unexplained weight loss checked by your vet.
Health tests to look for in the parents
A responsible breeder should be able to show you results for both parents. Many results can be checked in the public OFA database (ofa.org). A reasonable list for Goldendoodle parents, in line with the Golden Retriever and Poodle breed clubs and the Goldendoodle Association of North America, is:
- Hips: OFA or PennHIP
- Elbows: OFA
- Eyes: an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist (CAER), repeated regularly
- Heart: a cardiac exam for the Golden and Goldendoodle parents
- Patellas (kneecaps): especially for mini and medium Goldendoodles with Miniature Poodle parents
- DNA tests: prcd-PRA; GR-PRA1 and GR-PRA2 and ichthyosis (Golden side); vWD and NEwS (Poodle side); DM
“Vet checked” or “health guaranteed” is not the same as health tested. See our guide to finding a responsible breeder for how to check a breeder’s claims.
Keeping your Goldendoodle at a healthy weight
Extra weight is one of the most common and preventable health problems in dogs. It puts strain on joints, which matters in breeds prone to dysplasia, and it is linked to a shorter life. Your vet will likely use a body condition score. At home, a simple check is:
- Ribs: you should be able to feel them easily with light pressure, but not see them.
- From above: there should be a visible waist behind the ribs.
- From the side: the belly should tuck up behind the chest.
A full doodle coat can hide a lot, so use your hands, not your eyes. Adjust food portions to the dog in front of you, not only to the number on the bag. Our BARF diet page covers the same rib check for raw-fed dogs.
Preventive care basics
- A yearly check-up (twice a year for seniors) catches problems early: teeth, lumps, heart murmurs, weight changes.
- Core vaccines: the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) considers distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus core for every dog, and rabies is required by law in many parts of Canada. Your vet will recommend other vaccines, such as leptospirosis, based on where you live and your dog’s lifestyle, and a booster schedule that fits.
- Parasite prevention: fleas, ticks, heartworm and intestinal worms. The right plan depends heavily on your region (see below).
- Dental care: daily brushing and regular vet dental checks. Dental disease is extremely common in adult dogs.
Many families, us included, are also interested in a more natural, whole-dog approach to care. Our holistic pet care page covers that side. It works best alongside a good vet, not instead of one.
Seasonal health through the Canadian year
As we wrote on this site years ago, spring is prime time for new health challenges. Dogs meet more new dogs, the ground is damp, wildlife is on the move, and there is more exposure to parasites, bacteria and viruses. We also learned that a change in behavior, like a dog who is suddenly clingy, grumpy, restless or harder to train, is sometimes the first sign something is wrong. So watch your dog as well as the calendar.
Spring and summer
- Ticks and Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks, which carry Lyme disease, are spreading across southern Canada, with established risk areas in parts of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the Maritimes (all of Nova Scotia is considered a risk area). Ticks are active on mild days in spring and fall, not just in summer. Check your dog after walks in long grass or woods: under the collar, in the armpits, between the toes and around the ears. Ask your vet about tick prevention and the Lyme vaccine for your area.
- Heartworm. It’s spread by mosquitoes. In Canada, transmission is seasonal (roughly May to October) and concentrated in parts of southern Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick and southern BC. If you live in or travel to these areas, your vet will likely recommend a monthly preventive through the season.
- Leptospirosis. This is a bacterial infection spread through the urine of wildlife such as rats and raccoons, often picked up from puddles and standing water. It can damage the kidneys and liver, and it can spread to people. The vaccine is recommended for dogs at risk.
- Grass awns and foxtails. These barbed seed heads catch easily in a doodle’s coat and can work their way into ears, noses, paws and skin. Check paws and ears after walks in dry grass, and keep the hair between the toes trimmed.
- Blue-green algae. In late summer, lakes and ponds can have toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Keep your dog out of water that looks like pea soup or has a scummy film, and rinse them off if they have been in questionable water. Exposure can be fatal within hours.
- Heatstroke. Thick-coated dogs overheat easily. Exercise in the cooler parts of the day, provide shade and water, and never leave a dog in a parked car, even for a few minutes. A shorter summer clip helps.
Our springtime immune boost: what we gave our own dogs
Planning ahead as we approach springtime by boosting your dog’s immune system naturally was our first line of defense. There are some very simple things you can do, and many of them you probably already have lying around the kitchen. Others can be picked up easily at your local health food store, or by ordering online.
Coconut oil
Words cannot begin to share the health benefits of adding coconut oil to both your dog’s diet as well as your own. Simply add 1 heaping teaspoon to your dog’s food daily. Stir it into their kibble, or spread it on their raw meat.
If your dog is currently fighting something, add ½ tsp directly to each meal. To simply boost your pet’s immune system (cats and dogs alike), or if your dog is a constant grazer with food available 24/7, add ½ tsp to their water dish at each filling and allow them to enjoy it throughout the day. It is odorless and tasteless.
Raw apple cider vinegar
The product you are looking for is Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Several good grocery stores carry it, as well as most health food stores. Please don’t compromise on it being RAW. This is important.
Coconut oil is yummy, but apple cider vinegar (ACV) doesn’t smell nearly as pleasant, and undiluted, it also burns! So this one may not be as easy to get into your dog. Start by only giving your dog a small enough dose that its odor isn’t as strong as what you have diluted it in. Your best bet is beef blood, as it has a very strong odor all on its own. If beef blood isn’t on the menu tonight, your next best bet is broth or stock: ideally beef or lamb, as they have the strongest odor, next chicken, and then vegetable. Once you have your blood or broth, add 1 teaspoon of raw ACV.
Preparing beef blood for your dogs (or lamb): whenever you are preparing beef, if the absorbent towel in the bottom of the packaging hasn’t absorbed it all, there should be some residual blood in the packaging. Or leave the meat sitting in a colander for a few minutes before you finish your recipe to let any extra blood drain out. For ACV, you only need a couple of tablespoons of blood, and can dilute it with water to make enough. You will be hard pressed to find a dog that will turn up their nose at decadent beef juices.
Raw pumpkin seeds
These can be added into your dog’s dinner, or simply kept on hand as treats. Some people grind them and add that into their food. If you choose to grind them, do so right before feeding: grinding speeds up how quickly they go rancid.
Goldenseal and grapefruit seed extract
Both of these have a very strong flavor, so we only added them to other irresistible foods such as the beef blood, or some diced all-natural deli meat to make it worthwhile to your pooch. They are available at health food stores, or by ordering online. We recommend buying both in dropper form, as they are the easiest to give.
For dosage, follow the instructions on the bottle for adults, assuming an adult dose is for approximately 120–150 lbs, and adjust for your dog’s approximate weight. Let’s say your bottle has an adult dosage of 20–30 drops per day and your dog weighs about 70 lbs: that is about half an adult dose, so you would give 10–15 drops per day. If your puppy weighs only 20 lbs, you would give 1/6 or 1/7 of a dose, in this case about 4 drops a day.
It helps to remember that these natural products are not like a prescription medicine requiring an exact per-pound dosage. Though you don’t want to overdose, and you want enough to be effective, approximate dosages are acceptable.
Digestive enzymes
There are a few products out there that may leave you scratching your head. Basically, you want to look for the words “Full Spectrum”. Many products are marketed directly to pet owners, so compare prices between the pet store and the health food store to make sure you aren’t paying for an expensive label. Personally, we gave our dogs the same enzymes we bought for ourselves, choosing the most natural, full-spectrum enzymes we could get with no additional ingredients whatsoever.
For dosage, we followed the same approach as for goldenseal and GSE: the adult dosage based on 120–150 lbs, divided by your dog’s weight. If you buy one sold for pets, the dosage is most likely already calculated for you.
Colloidal silver
We were torn as to whether to put coconut oil or colloidal silver as our #1 recommended addition to your pet’s diet. We once used silver ourselves to help clear up a bout of GI upset in our dogs that simply had no diagnosis.
For further reading: Lisa S. Newman’s book Three Simple Steps to Healthy Pets.
Fall and winter
- Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) tastes sweet, and a very small amount can be fatal. Clean up spills and store it sealed.
- Road salt and ice melt irritate paws and can upset the stomach if licked off. Wipe your dog’s feet after winter walks, trim the hair between the pads to cut down on ice balls, and consider booties or a paw balm.
- Holiday foods and decorations. Chocolate, xylitol (in sugar-free treats and baking), grapes and raisins, fatty leftovers, cooked bones, tinsel and ribbon all cause emergency vet visits every December.
When to call the vet right away
- a swollen, hard belly, or retching without bringing anything up (possible bloat)
- trouble breathing, collapse, or pale or blue gums
- a seizure, or sudden weakness or wobbliness
- eating something toxic (xylitol, grapes, chocolate, antifreeze, medication), even if the dog seems fine
- repeated vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood or in a young puppy
- straining to urinate without producing much
- a sudden limp with severe pain, or an eye that is red, cloudy or held shut
- heatstroke signs: heavy panting, drooling, weakness, confusion
When in doubt, call.
Related guides
- How to find a responsible Goldendoodle breeder
- Goldendoodle grooming: coat types, brushing and cuts
- The BARF diet: raw feeding basics
- Holistic pet care
See all our Goldendoodle guides
Sources
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): breed health testing requirements and public results database, ofa.org
- Goldendoodle Association of North America: health testing standards for breeding dogs
- Morris Animal Foundation: Golden Retriever Lifetime Study updates
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA): vaccination guidelines for dogs
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Lyme disease risk areas and surveillance
- Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel (University of Saskatchewan): heartworm guidelines for Canada
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: common pet toxins