HEALTH RECORDS AND HEALTH PROTECTION

Golden Retriever Puppy Health Guarantee

LiveOak provides veterinary records and health protection for each puppy. This page is the complete LiveOak Health Guarantee. It states the coverage period, covered conditions, deadlines, documentation requirements, exclusions, remedies, and financial limits that apply.

No additional health-guarantee terms, conditions, exclusions, deadlines, or requirements apply unless they are stated on this page. Nothing in this Health Guarantee takes away any rights the buyer has under the law that applies to the sale.

Health Protection at a Glance

A licensed veterinarian examines the puppy before it goes home.
The puppy goes home with its available veterinary, vaccination, deworming, microchip, care, and registration records.
This Health Guarantee begins on the date the buyer takes possession of the puppy.
The buyer must have the puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian within three (3) business days after taking possession.
The buyer must provide LiveOak with a copy of the examination record within three (3) business days after that veterinary visit.
Coverage for the hereditary and congenital conditions specifically listed below continues through the puppy’s second birthday.
A claim must be reported to LiveOak within thirty (30) calendar days after the buyer receives a written veterinary diagnosis of a covered condition.
LiveOak’s maximum financial responsibility under this Health Guarantee is the original purchase price paid for the puppy.
Do not delay emergency or medically necessary veterinary care while attempting to contact LiveOak.

When Coverage Begins and Ends

This Health Guarantee begins on the date the puppy is transferred to the buyer and the buyer takes possession of the puppy.

Coverage for the hereditary and congenital conditions listed in this Health Guarantee continues through the puppy’s second birthday. To qualify, the covered condition must be diagnosed in writing by the appropriate veterinarian or veterinary specialist on or before the puppy’s second birthday.

If the written diagnosis is made on or before the puppy’s second birthday, the buyer has thirty (30) calendar days from the date of that written diagnosis to notify LiveOak and submit the claim, even if that thirty-day period extends beyond the puppy’s second birthday.

Before Your Puppy Goes Home

Before transfer, the puppy receives a physical examination by a licensed veterinarian and age-appropriate preventive care under the attending veterinarian’s guidance. This may include vaccinations, deworming, parasite prevention, and microchipping as documented in the puppy’s veterinary records.

If the pre-departure examination identifies a health concern that makes transfer or planned transportation inappropriate, LiveOak may postpone the puppy’s transfer until the puppy can safely go home.

Parent Health Screening

LiveOak health screens its breeding Golden Retrievers before breeding. Screening includes evaluation of the hips, elbows, heart, and eyes, together with testing for breed-related inherited conditions considered appropriate for the individual breeding dog.

Health screening helps reduce the risk of inherited disease but cannot guarantee that a puppy will never develop a hereditary or congenital health condition. Genetics, development, environment, injury, nutrition, body condition, and other factors can affect a dog’s health throughout life.

Health Records Provided at Homecoming

When the puppy goes home, the family receives the puppy’s available veterinary records, vaccination and deworming information, microchip details, current care guidance, and applicable AKC registration or ownership-transfer documents.

These records help the family’s veterinarian continue the puppy’s care and determine an appropriate schedule for vaccinations, parasite prevention, nutrition, and routine veterinary care.

Your Required Initial Veterinary Visit

The buyer must have the puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian within three (3) business days after taking possession. A copy of the examination record must be provided to LiveOak within three (3) business days after the examination.

The buyer is responsible for the cost of this initial examination and for any testing or diagnostic work the buyer or the buyer’s veterinarian chooses to perform during the initial evaluation.

If the buyer does not complete the required examination within three (3) business days, or does not provide LiveOak with the examination record within three (3) business days after the visit, this Health Guarantee will not cover a condition that a veterinarian reasonably could have identified during that initial examination.

Missing the initial veterinary visit does not automatically cancel coverage for a hereditary or congenital condition that could not reasonably have been detected during that examination and that otherwise meets all requirements of this Health Guarantee.

Bring the puppy’s available vaccination, deworming, and veterinary records to the appointment. The buyer’s veterinarian should determine future vaccination schedules, parasite prevention, nutrition, exercise, and other care based on the puppy’s age, medical history, development, environment, and individual needs.

Covered Hereditary and Congenital Conditions

The conditions below are covered through the puppy’s second birthday when the stated diagnostic and severity requirements are met. Carrier status, a genetic variant by itself, a minor finding, or an incidental finding without the required clinical disease does not qualify as a covered condition.

1. Hip Dysplasia

Diagnosis required: Hip dysplasia must be shown by appropriate hip radiographs and diagnosed in writing by a licensed veterinarian experienced in orthopedic evaluation, a board-certified veterinary radiologist, or a board-certified veterinary orthopedic specialist.

Severity required: Coverage applies to moderate or severe hip dysplasia, or to hip dysplasia that causes persistent clinical pain or lameness and requires ongoing medical or surgical treatment. Minor radiographic changes without clinical significance do not qualify.

2. Elbow Dysplasia

Diagnosis required: Elbow dysplasia must be shown by appropriate diagnostic imaging and diagnosed in writing by a licensed veterinarian experienced in orthopedic evaluation, a board-certified veterinary radiologist, or a board-certified veterinary orthopedic specialist.

Severity required: Coverage applies when elbow dysplasia causes persistent pain, lameness, loss of normal joint function, or requires ongoing medical or surgical treatment. Minor or incidental imaging findings that do not affect the puppy’s health or function do not qualify.

3. Congenital Subaortic Stenosis

Diagnosis required: Subaortic stenosis must be confirmed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist using an echocardiogram and any other testing the cardiologist considers necessary.

Severity required: The condition must be classified by the cardiologist as moderate or severe, require continuing medical management or activity restriction, or be expected to significantly interfere with normal heart function or normal life expectancy. A minor heart murmur without confirmed structural heart disease does not qualify.

4. Congenital Pulmonic Stenosis

Diagnosis required: Pulmonic stenosis must be confirmed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist using an echocardiogram and appropriate cardiac testing.

Severity required: The condition must be classified as moderate or severe, require continuing medical management or intervention, or be expected to significantly interfere with normal heart function or normal life expectancy.

5. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Diagnosis required: Progressive retinal atrophy must be diagnosed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist based on an ophthalmic examination and, when appropriate, supported by genetic testing or other diagnostic testing.

Severity required: There must be clinical retinal degeneration that has caused, or is reasonably expected to cause, meaningful permanent loss of vision. Carrier status or a genetic test result without clinical disease does not qualify.

6. Hereditary Cataracts

Diagnosis required: Hereditary cataracts must be diagnosed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.

Severity required: The cataracts must cause meaningful loss of vision, be progressive and expected to cause meaningful vision loss, or be severe enough that the veterinary ophthalmologist recommends medical treatment or surgery. Small incidental cataracts that do not interfere with vision do not qualify.

7. Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)

Diagnosis required: NCL must be supported by appropriate genetic testing showing an affected result and by clinical neurological findings consistent with the disease, documented by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary neurologist.

Severity required: The puppy must show clinical neurological disease. Carrier status or an affected genetic result without clinical signs does not qualify by itself.

8. Hereditary Ichthyosis

Diagnosis required: Hereditary ichthyosis must be supported by appropriate genetic testing and a veterinary diagnosis consistent with the condition.

Severity required: Coverage applies only when the condition causes persistent, widespread skin disease that requires continuing prescription veterinary treatment despite appropriate routine skin and coat care. Mild scaling or cosmetic coat changes do not qualify.

Understanding What Is and Is Not a Covered Diagnosis

Golden Retrievers, like all breeds, can develop hereditary, congenital, developmental, and acquired health conditions. Some conditions can be identified during puppyhood, while others may not become apparent until the dog grows and matures. A normal veterinary examination before transfer cannot predict or rule out every future health problem.

A diagnosis involving the hips, elbows, heart, eyes, skin, nervous system, or another body system is not automatically covered merely because that body system is mentioned on this page. The condition must be one of the covered conditions listed above and must meet the diagnostic and severity requirements stated for that condition.

Who Pays for Diagnostic Testing

The buyer is responsible for the cost of the initial veterinary examination and the initial veterinary examinations, imaging, laboratory testing, specialist consultations, or other diagnostic work used to determine whether the puppy has a health condition.

If the condition is confirmed as a covered condition under this Health Guarantee, reasonable and necessary diagnostic expenses directly related to establishing that covered diagnosis may be included in the buyer’s claim for reimbursement, subject to the financial limit stated below.

If LiveOak requests an additional veterinary examination, second opinion, specialist consultation, or additional diagnostic test after receiving the buyer’s claim documentation, LiveOak will pay the reasonable cost of the examination or testing specifically requested by LiveOak.

Claim Deadline

The buyer must notify LiveOak of a claim within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving a written diagnosis of a condition covered by this Health Guarantee.

The buyer should provide the written diagnosis, relevant veterinary records, diagnostic reports, imaging or laboratory results, and applicable itemized invoices reasonably needed to evaluate the claim.

A claim reported more than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the written diagnosis is not covered under this Health Guarantee unless the buyer was reasonably unable to provide notice because of circumstances beyond the buyer’s control.

Emergency and medically necessary veterinary treatment should never be delayed in order to contact LiveOak or complete claim paperwork.

Financial Limit

LiveOak’s maximum financial responsibility under this Health Guarantee is the original purchase price paid for the puppy.

This limit applies to the total amount of money LiveOak may be required to refund or reimburse under this Health Guarantee for the puppy. Eligible veterinary examination, diagnostic, and treatment expenses paid as part of a claim count toward this maximum.

A buyer will not receive more in total monetary payments under this Health Guarantee than the original purchase price of the puppy.

Buyer Remedies

If a licensed veterinarian or appropriate veterinary specialist documents a condition that meets the requirements of this Health Guarantee, the buyer and LiveOak may resolve the claim through one of the following remedies:

Return and refund: Return the puppy to LiveOak and receive a refund of the original purchase price, subject to the financial limit stated above.
Return and replacement: Return the puppy and receive a replacement puppy of equivalent value when an appropriate puppy is available.
Keep the puppy: Keep the puppy and receive reimbursement for reasonable and necessary veterinary expenses directly related to the covered condition, up to the financial limit stated above.

If the puppy dies from a condition covered by this Health Guarantee and the diagnosis and cause of death are supported by appropriate veterinary documentation, the buyer may choose a refund or an equivalent-value replacement puppy, subject to the terms and financial limit stated on this page.

What We Need From You

Complete the initial veterinary examination within three (3) business days after taking possession.
Provide LiveOak with the examination record within three (3) business days after the visit.
Follow the reasonable care and treatment recommendations of your licensed veterinarian.
Feed a nutritionally appropriate diet formulated for the puppy’s stage of growth and maintain a healthy body condition.
Provide routine preventive veterinary care, vaccinations, and parasite prevention as recommended by your veterinarian.
Provide age-appropriate exercise and avoid unnecessary repetitive high-impact activity while the puppy is developing.
Keep veterinary records, diagnostic reports, imaging, laboratory results, and itemized invoices related to a health claim.
Provide humane care, appropriate supervision, and a safe home environment.
Notify LiveOak within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving a written diagnosis of a condition that may qualify for coverage.

Care That Supports a Young Golden Retriever

Nutrition and growth: Golden Retriever puppies are growing large-breed dogs. Feed a nutritionally complete diet appropriate for growth and follow your veterinarian’s recommendations regarding food, portions, feeding schedule, and body condition. Avoid intentionally accelerating growth through excessive feeding.
Healthy body condition: Keeping a growing Golden Retriever at an appropriate body condition helps reduce unnecessary stress on developing joints. Ask your veterinarian to monitor growth and weight during routine puppy visits.
Joint safety: Allow normal puppy play while limiting unnecessary repetitive jumping from beds, sofas, vehicles, and other elevated surfaces. Non-slip surfaces, ramps, or pet steps may be useful where appropriate.
Exercise: Provide regular age-appropriate activity and increase exercise gradually as the puppy develops. Avoid strenuous forced running, repetitive endurance exercise, or excessive high-impact activity with a young growing puppy.
Spay or neuter timing: The appropriate timing of spaying or neutering may vary based on the dog’s sex, age, development, health, lifestyle, and reproductive management. Discuss timing with your veterinarian rather than relying on one age recommendation for every Golden Retriever.
Coat and skin care: Golden Retrievers have a double coat. Brush and comb regularly, monitor the skin for irritation or parasites, and discuss significant clipping or shaving with a veterinarian or qualified groomer when there is a medical or practical reason for considering it.
Ears, nails, and teeth: Check the ears regularly, maintain the nails at a comfortable length, and begin age-appropriate dental care. Contact your veterinarian if you notice persistent ear irritation, odor, discharge, skin problems, or other concerning changes.

What This Health Guarantee Does Not Cover

This Health Guarantee does not cover the following unless the law that applies to the sale requires otherwise:

Routine, preventive, or elective veterinary expenses, including routine vaccinations, parasite prevention, spaying or neutering, routine dental care, grooming, and ordinary maintenance costs.
Minor or incidental findings that do not meet the diagnosis and severity requirements stated for the covered conditions above.
Cosmetic traits or adult characteristics such as final size, weight, coat shade, coat density, ear carriage, minor bite variation, appearance, or breeding performance.
Injuries or health problems caused by accidents, trauma, unsafe handling, poisoning, environmental exposure, or other events occurring after the puppy goes home.
Infectious or parasitic conditions acquired after the puppy goes home unless veterinary evidence shows that the condition was already present when the puppy was transferred.
Conditions caused or made significantly worse by neglect, inadequate nutrition, obesity, inappropriate exercise, failure to obtain reasonable veterinary care, or failure to follow necessary veterinary treatment.
Breeding-related complications or health problems resulting from breeding.
Cancer or tumors.
A genetic carrier result without clinical disease.
A health condition that is not specifically listed as a covered condition in this Health Guarantee.

These exclusions do not take away any right or remedy that the buyer has under the law that applies to the sale and that a seller is not legally permitted to exclude.

If a Health Concern Arises

Seek prompt veterinary evaluation and follow the treating veterinarian’s immediate care instructions.
Obtain the veterinarian’s diagnosis in writing.
Notify LiveOak within thirty (30) calendar days after the written diagnosis.
Provide the veterinary records and diagnostic documentation reasonably needed to evaluate the claim, together with applicable itemized invoices.
If LiveOak requests a second veterinary opinion or specialist review after receiving the claim, LiveOak will pay the reasonable cost of the examination or testing that LiveOak specifically requests.
When the puppy is stable and time reasonably permits, contact LiveOak before a non-emergency irreversible procedure directly related to a claim. Do not delay emergency or medically necessary treatment while waiting for LiveOak to respond.

Health Questions and Claims

Contact LiveOak through the Contact page with questions about your puppy’s veterinary records, this Health Guarantee, the initial examination, or a possible health claim.

Keep your puppy’s veterinary records, diagnostic reports, invoices, and a copy of this Health Guarantee for future reference.

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