Why Is My Golden Retriever Shedding So Much?
You love your golden retriever. They bring you so much joy and happiness with every little huff of their breath. You love going on walks with them, playing fetch with them, and getting them to fall asleep on your feet on those quiet evenings.
You love everything about your golden retriever… except for how much they shed. It feels like they breathe in the morning, and all of a sudden, you have a pile of (beautiful) golden fur. You’ve been finding it on your clothes, in your hair, and even in your food!
Unfortunately, extreme shedding is a common aspect of golden retrievers.
Golden Retrievers and Their Shedding
The news sort of keeps getting worse. Your beautiful furry friend is going to be shedding year-round, and during the fall and in the spring, the shedding is going to increase, which is something you likely didn’t think was possible.
The rate of their shedding increases at these times because these are the times of the year when they are completely shedding their old coats while their new coats (for summer and winter, respectively) are growing in. It’s a constant process, so you’d best get used to the hair everywhere.
To look at why they shed a bit further… golden retrievers are one of the dog breeds that have a double-coat. They have their outer, waterproof coat and then a soft downy one beneath that is extremely thick and used for warmth.
It’s the downy undercoat that’s the problem – it’s constantly growing new hair and ditching the old hair. In the fall, the downy undercoat sheds the lighter coat (that it grew in to combat the heat of summer), and then the process repeats as summer nears.
If you live in an extremely warm location, the shedding is likely much worse for you!
Health Concerns
Although it is completely normal for your golden retriever to shed like it’s trying to win a shedding contest, there are some moments when you might want to watch your furry friend more closely.
If your dog has contracted allergies, or if ticks or other parasites have made their home in your dog’s fur, you may find that the shedding increases even more than when your golden retriever is preparing to get a new coat.
The best way to combat these possibilities is to make sure that your golden retriever is up to date with all its shots and vaccinations. If you’re worried, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as quickly as possible.
So long as your dog is healthy, you can consider shedding a normal part of life. But you don’t have to let all the dog hair bury you.
How To Control Golden Retriever Shedding?
- Invest in a high-powered vacuum.
- Clean up the hair daily so that it doesn’t grow and grow and then bury you alive.
- Brush your golden retriever frequently to remove dead hair before it falls off.
- Feed your dog with food that is chock-full of nutrients so that their coat remains healthy.
- Bathe your dog once a month (or when smelly)!
Takeaway
Shedding is a fact of life when you live with a golden retriever, but so long as you stay on top of their discarded hair, you’ll find it’s a life you’re happy living.