Daisy just had her first vet visit and I have SO many questions now??
So Daisy (4 months now, growing so fast!) had her vet visit today and the vet mentioned a few things I didn't fully understand and now I'm anxious lol. She said something about hip screening being relevant "later" for Goldens specifically, and also asked if I knew the breeder's OFA certifications which... I do not? Is this something I should be worried I missed by not asking before I got her?? She seems perfectly healthy and happy right now, just want to know if there's anything I should be doing proactively.
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Good instinct to ask questions, Megan — that's exactly the kind of curiosity that makes a great owner. For future reference (or if you ever consider a second Golden), OFA certification info should be available from any responsible breeder listed here: allinpets.com/pets/dogs/golden-retriever
Normal question. Not something to stress about now. Lean body weight + controlled exercise through 18 months covers most of what you can control.
Lauren's explanation is accurate. To add: even without knowing the parents' history, you can still be proactive — keep Daisy lean during growth (excess weight during the growth phase is a bigger dysplasia risk factor than genetics alone in many cases), avoid high-impact exercise like repeated jumping or long runs until growth plates close around 12-18 months, and mention it at her next checkup so the vet can do a baseline hip/gait assessment
Don't panic, Megan! Hip/elbow screening (OFA or PennHIP) is mainly something breeders do on the PARENTS before breeding, to reduce the odds of dysplasia in puppies — it's not usually done on a 4-month-old. If you don't know the parents' certifications now, it's worth asking your breeder retroactively just for your own records, but it won't change anything about Daisy's care today. Honey's hips were screened on her parents' side and she's been great at 5 years.
This is such a common thing for new owners to not know to ask about — don't beat yourself up over it. We didn't ask about hip certifications with our first Lab either and he's been totally healthy at 6. Just keep her at a good weight and don't overdo the exercise while she's still growing, like Jasmine said.