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It seems like just yesterday that your golden Max was a bouncing puppy. 
But 10 years have passed and you see him slowing down. He still loves to play. but he isn’t so driven any more.
Not just slowing down, but the golden face is turning white, his eyes are cloudy, and you now call him lumpy. Yep, these are sure signs that Max is now a senior golden retriever.

Modern advances in veterinary care and canine nutrition have led to lots of dogs living longer, healthier lives. but it’s still up to us to supply the best golden years for our beloved geriatric dogs.
In this article, I’ll go over some things to look for to figure out whether your pet dog is slowing down. and what you can do to appropriately care for your golden and make his senior years delighted and healthy.
How long Do Goldens Live?
Compared to our lifespan, our dog’s lifespan is short. According to the American Kennel Club, golden retrievers have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years of age.

Years ago, in the 1970s, golden retrievers typically lived to be 16 or 17 years old.  
Unfortunately, lots of vets today call golden retrievers “cancer retrievers” because of the high incidence of various forms of cancer in the breed.
The Morris foundation is even conducting a study of over 3,000 goldens to figure out why they are dying so young.
Years ago, people believed that a pet dog aged seven years to every human year. The comparison is a lot more complex than that. 
Of course, smaller dogs normally live longer than larger dogs do. larger dogs age at a quicker rate.
A 10-year-old golden is about the equivalent of a 66-year-old human. and a 12-year-old golden is the equivalent of a 77-year-old person.
Of course, a dog’s lifespan is also dependent on his genetics, environment, nutrition, exercise, and care.
So don’t despair that your still playful 10-year-old golden is nearing the end. With terrific care, he may see lots of a lot more happy, healthy years.

Augie, the oldest known golden retriever, passed away one month short of her twenty-first birthday!
Signs That Your golden Is getting Old
There are lots of behavioral and health signs that you’ll see as your beloved golden ages.
Around eight years old, your golden is entering his senior years.
Just like a lot of of us, he’ll start to slow down. He’ll participate in fewer activities and will sleep more.
Many of these are just normal aging processes. Others will require additional care on our part, including taking our pet dog for veterinary care. 
If in doubt, especially for sudden changes in behavior or health, a vet check out is in order
These include the following:
Slowing down: Your golden may start to be a lot more fatigued during or after participating in activities.  
Stiff joints, arthritis, or difficulty getting around: Your pet dog may be slower when he does normal activities such as getting up from sleeping, walking, or playing. If he seems lame, it’s a health concern.
Cloudy eyes: His formerly bright amber-colored eyes may seem to have a haze over them.
Loss of hearing or sight: Your golden may start bumping into things or not listen to known commands–and not come running anymore when you open a crinkly bag of treats. He may have cataracts or lenticular sclerosis (a hardening of the lens).
Weight gain: Some older goldens put on weight because their metabolisms are slowing down and because they’re less active than they used to be.
Skin and coat issues: As they enter their geriatric years, lots of goldens’ formerly wonderful coat no longer has its former luster. and their skin may become dry too. Wounds that won’t heal may be malignant.
Lumps and bumps: Older goldens can develop various issues. Some may be benign fatty tumors, cysts, warts, or other benign masses; others may be malignant, including some masses that won’t heal.
Bad breath: because of various health issues, including dental problems, a senior pet dog may have bad breath.
Senility: A pet dog may suffer from dementia or canine cognitive dysfunction in which he may forget known things, appear lost, or become unaware of his surroundings.
Anxiety: An older golden may become anxious in normal situations where he was fine before.
Less tolerance: A senior golden retriever may become less tolerant of things he took pleasure in before, such as petting or attention.
Graying face and muzzle: That handsome reddish golden color may start, little by little, to take on a whiter color.
Loss of bladder control and incontinence: Some older goldens start having urine or feces accidents. Bladder muscles weaken as dogs age. Spayed females are a lot more prone to urinary incontinence as they age. but this may also indicate a health problem tnullnull