Hi, I have a golden retriever who is almost 1. I have heard that these dogs get a lot of hip and arthritis problems. I was wondering how to prevent these problems. Also, when she was a baby, she wouldn't use her front legs one day. I talked to my vet who wasn't concerned, he had me watch her and she was fine in a few hours. Also, when she runs it seems like her back legs keep going but her front legs don't. Her front side gets low to the ground and the back side keeps going until she dumps over. It's very cute and funny :) but ... I am just wondering if these things might be a sign that she will have problems. So, I was wondering if there are any ways to prevent these problems.

Thank you

If she was mine, I would be having her hipscored - anytime after 12 months old. There is nothing you can do to prevent hip dysplasia, but if she has got it, depending on how bad, she could be given some treatment, and you will probably have to limit her exercise eg. no jumping as with Agility. We had a young retriever in dog training club that had to be pts,she was in such a bad way with her hips, but then a gsd (now age 9) is coping fine on treatment, though obviously his hips can't be as bad as the retriever's were. With arthritis, again I don't think it's preventable (if only it were that easy!), but be aware of the symptoms as your dog gets older, so that she can have the right treatment as soon as you know something is wrong.
Hilda