Breed spotlight

Golden Retriever

Big dogs, big hearts — and hardworking hips.

Golden Retrievers are our most-treated large breed. Disc disease, hip dysplasia and neurological conditions are what we see most — and at an average age of 11.6, many arrive as seniors needing to stay mobile.

161
Golden Retrievers cared for
2,329
therapy visits
15
avg sessions per pet
11.6
average age (years)
1.8×

Golden Retrievers are 1.8× more likely than the average RehabVet patient to come to us for Hip dysplasia.

18% of the Golden Retrievers we treat — vs the clinic-wide average across 2,577 pets.

What we treat most

The conditions behind the visits

Share of Golden Retrievers we've treated who carry each diagnosis. A badge means it's more common in Golden Retrievers than across our patients overall.

IVDD / spinal28%
Hip dysplasia18%1.8× avg
Luxating patella9%1.4× avg
Neurological8%1.3× avg
Arthritis / OA4%1.4× avg

Based on recorded diagnoses; a pet may have more than one.

How we treat Golden Retrievers

Hydrotherapy50%
Rehabilitation28%
Fitness Swim11%
TCVM Tui Na4%
Hyperbaric Oxygen3%
Pain Relief2%

Share of Golden Retriever therapy sessions by type (booking data, 2023–2026).

The plan

A Golden Retriever's typical journey

Goldens thrive in the water. Hydrotherapy lets them exercise and build muscle without loading sore hips, paired with rehabilitation and fitness work. The average Golden completes around 15 sessions with us.

10
median sessions
110
most for one pet
95
tracked over time
Who they are

The Golden Retrievers in our care

72%
are 7+ years old
57/40
male / female split
58%
neutered / spayed
1,833
clinical notes recorded
A recovery we love

Ten years of staying ahead of it

Hip dysplasia · long-term care

Diagnosed with hip dysplasia as a pup, this patient began rehab early. Now ten, the condition has not deteriorated — proof of how early, consistent care changes the long arc of joint disease.

Diagnosed at 2Ongoing rehabStable at 10

Is your Golden Retriever slowing down?

Whether it's a sudden injury or the slow creep of age, the earlier we start, the more we can do. We'd love to help your Golden Retriever move comfortably again.

RehabVet

Breed insight from RehabVet's clinical management system · data as of 16 June 2026. All figures are aggregate and de-identified. Diagnoses are drawn from clinical records and may overlap. Part of the June 2026 Impact Report.