Golden Retrievers are affectionate and energetic dogs, known for their playful antics and family-friendly nature. Despite their hardy qualities, Golden Retrievers can be prone to health issues that impact their quality of life, particularly concerning their skin, heart, and joints. 

All dog owners want to ensure a long, happy, and healthy life for their best friend — the key to enhancing this lies in your Golden Retriever’s diet. 

That’s where real food comes in. 

Fresh food meals, with the right balance of high-quality protein, healthy fats, and fresh ingredients, can significantly improve their overall wellbeing. 

Whether you’re looking for natural ways to address skin issues, boost joint support, or protect their heart, real food can make a significant difference. 

1. Skin allergies

Skin allergies are a common concern for Golden Retrievers, often triggered by food or environmental factors, like grass or pollen.

Signs of Golden Retriever allergies (atopic dermatitis) include:

• Red and itchy skin

• Inflammation

• Recurring ear infections

• Hives

• Incessant licking or grooming

• Chewing their paws

When a dog has contact with an allergen, it triggers their immune system which releases histamines to defend their body against the attack. It’s the histamines that cause the red, itchy and inflamed skin. Although food intolerances don’t trigger an immune response, they can cause similar skin irritations.

The way to address allergies and intolerances is usually the same, and it begins by removing the trigger. If it’s food-related, an elimination diet is the only way to identify the problematic ingredient.

Environmental allergies can be harder to control, especially if the trigger is pollen, grass, or another contact allergen — a thorough wipe down after exercise can help minimise flare-ups. Recent research has also shown that even in dogs with environmental allergies, food can lead to skin irritation: this is where a fresh food diet can potentially help.

The gut microbiome plays a vital role in a dog’s immune system, which is connected to allergy treatment.

An easy way to nourish good gut bacteria is with a real food diet containing prebiotic fibre from fresh vegetables.

Our meals are bursting with fresh ingredients to nourish dogs from the inside out, strengthening immune defence and skin barrier resilience:

🐟 Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and vitamin E to boost skin and coat health.

💚 Spirulina is a powerful antioxidant and superfood, shown to reduce allergic inflammation.

🍄 Shiitake mushrooms are bioactive foods that support your dog’s immune response.

2. Joint issues: hip dysplasia and arthritis 

Golden Retrievers can be susceptible to hip dysplasia and arthritis — painful joint conditions that can affect their mobility. 

Hip dysplasia 

Hip dysplasia is a common genetic disease in Golden Retrievers causing problems in their back legs. The abnormal development of the hip socket means the hip ball can easily slide out of place (dislocation). Hip dysplasia can lead to arthritis in some cases, as the body tries to compensate for the unstable joint. 

Although hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers can be hereditary, it can also occur when puppies grow too fast, because of excess calcium in their diet. 

🐶 Read more: How slow growth feeding promotes safe puppy growth (with charts) →

Arthritis

Arthritis is caused by the deterioration of cartilage and synovial fluid, which normally prevents the joint bones from grinding against each other. Some dogs may experience the growth of bone spurs. The result is inflammation and impaired movement.

Arthritis is linked to a dog’s genetics, with some breeds being more prone to developing it than others. It’s not just an age-related health problem for Golden Retrievers: it can be caused by injury, disease, or repeated stress.

For active dogs like Golden Retrievers, prevention is key.

Although you can’t change your dog’s genetics, you can protect their limbs from stress and injury, giving them a real food diet to support joint health. Anti-inflammatory foods are a great place to start and should contain the optimal ratio of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).

AAFCO recommends an omega-6 to omega-3 limit of 30:1 — a high ratio that can trigger inflammation. Lyka meals contain a lower ratio between 2:1 and 3.8:1, to maximise the benefits of both fatty acids.

All Lyka meals contain fish oil (full of EFAs!) to support common joint ailments in Golden Retrievers. We use a variety of vegetables and plant superfoods, rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, to protect joints and joint fluid. These include:

🥥 Coconut which is full of potent antioxidant properties to support supple joints and relieve inflammation.

🌱 Fennel seeds — an anti-inflammatory superfood for swollen joints and arthritis.

🧡 Turmeric, contains the active ingredient curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to fight chronic inflammation and arthritis symptoms.

Obesity puts unnecessary stress on the joints. Maintain your dog’s ideal body condition score with custom-portioned, fresh food diets that are high in protein with a low-GI load, like Lyka.

3. Cardiovascular health

Golden Retrievers are known to experience heart conditions — this makes a quality, real food diet essential. To support cardiovascular health in your dog, look for foods with:

🐟 Fish like sardines and mackerel are packed with EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, which support cardiovascular health. Lyka meals offer an anti-inflammatory omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, going above and beyond AAFCO requirements.

🥗 Leafy greens and hemp seeds contain vitamin E — a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative damage, which is a key factor in heart disease prevention.

🥩 L-carnitine and taurine come from red meat and offal — they’re essential in supporting heart muscle function and energy production. When food is formulated from high quality sources of protein, these amino acids help reduce your dog’s likelihood of conditions like Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).

High sodium levels can worsen conditions like congestive heart failure, by increasing blood pressure and strain on the heart. For breeds prone to heart problems like Golden Retrievers, it’s crucial to limit sodium in the diet.

Why choose Lyka for your Golden Retriever?

Nourishing your Golden Retriever goes far beyond meeting their basic needs: it’s about providing them with the best diet so they can lead a long, healthy, and happy life by your side.

Developed by Co-founder and Integrative Veterinarian, Dr. Matthew Muir alongside board-certified nutritionists, Lyka’s real food meals are made with fresh ingredients to help maintain supple skin, support joint mobility and healthy weight, and promote heart health.

Is your Golden Retriever ready to feel the difference?