Why is my Golden Retriever skinny?

If your Golden Retriever is skinny you might want to know why and if there is anything you can do about it. This post will show you common causes and what you and do to get it to be less skinny.

So, why is my Golden Retriever skinny? Possible reasons are that it is due to its genetics, there is a problem with its diet, illness or that something is causing it to become stressed.

There are a number of reasons why your Golden Retriever might be skinny and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can do about it.

Why your Golden Retriever is skinny

Below are some reasons why your Golden Retriever might be skinny and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.

Genes

The cause of your Golden Retriever being skinny could be that it is genetic. This would be more likely if it was also relatively skinny as a puppy, it has not become skinny suddenly and if the vet has found no issues and you have been feeding it the right amount.

In this case, it would not be something to worry about unless it has been showing signs of the cause being due to one of the things mentioned below.

Diet

The cause could also be that there is a problem with its diet. It could be the case that you have not been feeding it enough or that it has not been getting the right nutrients in its diet.

It would help to consult with your vet about its diet and to make sure that you have been feeding it correctly and in the right amounts. You can also look here to see what you should and should not be feeding it.

Exercise

Golden Retrievers are a breed that is meant to get a lot of exercise on a daily basis so if your Golden Retriever is getting a lot of daily exercise it would likely be a good thing. However, it might be the case that it is not eating the right amount of calories to match it. This would be more likely if it was not skinny as a puppy and it has become skinny since being more active.

Again, it would help to make sure that it has been eating the right amount of calories and it would help to ask your vet about it when you next see them.

Illness

Another possible cause is that it has gotten an illness or disease. This would be more likely if it has become skinny suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill such as fatigue, not wanting to eat or vomiting. If it seems like it might be ill or it might have a medical condition the best option would be to take it to a vet.

Stress

It could be the case that something has been causing it to be stressed which is what is causing it to lose weight. This would be more likely if your Golden Retriever has started to become skinnier suddenly, if it has been showing other signs of being stressed and if there was recently an event that might have caused it to be stressed such as an owner leaving.

Consider whether or not it has always been skinny

If your Golden Retriever was not always skinny, it would help to consider what else happened when it first became skinny.

If it did become skinny suddenly it would be more likely to be due to things such as illness, anxiety, suddenly being a lot more active without eating more or a sudden change in its diet. It would help to consider what else happened at around the same time that it became skinny. In this case, it would also be important to take it to a vet.

Whereas, if it has always been skinny it would make it more likely that it is in its genes to be skinny. However, it could still be the case that there is a problem with its diet and it would help to make sure you’re feeding it the right foods in the right amounts.

How to get your Golden Retriever to be less skinny

Below are some things you can do to get your Golden Retriever to be less skinny.

Take it to a vet

If you’re unsure of why your Golden Retriever has become skinny, it has started being skinny suddenly or it has been showing signs of illness, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your specific Golden Retriever and to rule out illness or medical causes.

Make sure that it is getting the right diet

It would also help to make sure that it is getting the right diet by talking to your vet about its diet when you next see them. You can also look here to see what you should and should not be feeding it.

Make sure that it is eating the right amount for its activity level

When feeding your Golden Retriever it is important to consider how active it is. Generally, a Golden Retriever should be getting an hour of exercise per day. It is recommended for sedentary Golden Retrievers to eat between 989 and 1,272 calories per day and active ones to eat between 1,353 and 1,740 calories per day.