Why Do Golden Retrievers Pant So Much?
You and your golden retriever love the outdoors. You love playing together, throwing frisbees, and running around the nearby park.
As a good pet parent, you’ve always made sure that your dog is well-watered and well-fed, especially during and after strenuous outdoor activities.
But, despite providing your dog with all the nutrients they could want, they still spend about 95% of their time outside panting or breathing heavily, even before you start playing!
If you’ve been worried that the fact that your golden retriever pants so much is some sign of sickness, don’t! It’s perfectly natural for your golden retriever to breathe heavily.
Panting
As with many dog breeds, panting or heavy breathing is an extremely normal element of having a dog. You’ve likely noticed that your dog starts panting a lot after you’ve been running around with them or when they go outside on a hot day, correct?
This is because panting is the only way for dogs to cool themselves down when they’re hot or when they’ve exerted themselves.
Think about it. Many dogs have large, thick coats that cover all parts of them. They don’t sweat like humans, and they have no other way of cooling themselves down other than to breathe extremely heavily.
You can help them cool down by plying them with cold water after they’ve been exercising a lot, but keep in mind that it is normal. They should pant a lot after heavy exercise because panting and through their paw pads are the only ways they can cool themselves down.
On top of the water, you can also try to hose them down with cold water after they’ve been outside (only do this on a hot day so that your dog doesn’t catch a chill, however!) but just make sure you’re ready to wipe them down when you’re done so that your dog doesn’t track the smell of wet dog everywhere through your house.
However…
Although constant panting is a normal element of owning a golden retriever, it’s still something that bears watching. If your dog starts panting much faster or much slower than they usually do, it might be a sign that something is wrong with them.
Other times it’s best to keep an eye on your furry companion or if they are breathing heavily when it’s cold, if they are extremely overweight, or if they’ve not exerted themselves extensively.
If you have any worries that your dog might be sick or that they might be having breathing issues take your furry friend to the nearest licensed veterinarian as soon as possible.
It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Takeaway
Typically, unless your golden retriever is showing other signs of sickness or fatigue, heavy breathing and constant panting are well within the norm for golden retrievers.
Keep on with what you’re doing – as exercise is extremely important for golden retrievers! – and ensure that they have access to water and food whenever they’re done with the exertion.