Why is my Golden Retriever so big?

If your Golden Retriever is very big, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you common causes and what you can do about it.

So, why is my Golden Retriever so big? Possible reasons are that it is genetically big, it might be eating the wrong foods or too much of the right foods, it might not be getting enough exercise or it could be due to a medical condition.

There are actually many reasons why your Golden Retriever might be big and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can do about them and you can consider some things when trying to figure out the cause more precisely.

Why your Golden Retriever is so big

Below are common causes of them being big and what would make them more likely to be the main cause.

It is eating the wrong food

It could be the case that an issue with its diet has been causing it to be large. It might be eating too much, eating the wrong foods or someone might be feeding it without you knowing. This would be more likely if it has become big suddenly after a change in its diet.

Generally, a Golden Retriever should be eating between 898 and 1,272 calories per day when sedentary and between 1,353 and 1,740 when active.

It would help to consult with your vet to confirm that its diet is the right one and that you have been feeding it in the correct quantities. It would also help to make sure that there are not any opportunities for it to eat things it shouldn’t be and that no one else is feeding it without you knowing. You can look here to see what you should be feeding it.

It’s not getting enough exercise

Golden Retrievers are a breed that is meant to get exercise on a daily basis. When they do not get enough exercise, it can cause them to become bigger especially if they also eat too much.

Generally, it is recommended for a healthy adult Golden Retriever to get at least an hour of exercise per day. If your Golden Retriever is not getting that much exercise it would help to make sure that it does.

A medical condition

It might be the case that a medical condition has been causing your Golden Retriever to get big. This would be more likely if it has started putting on weight suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill such as being fatigued. If it does seem like it might be ill or it has gotten big suddenly it would help to take it to a vet for a checkup.

Injury

Injuries such as hip dysplasia can cause dogs to be less active and to put on weight. An injury would be more likely to be the cause if your Golden Retriever has been less active lately and if it has been showing other signs of being injured such as limping. In this case, the best option for you would be to consult with a vet.

Age

If your Golden Retriever has gradually become bigger as it has become older it could be because it is not as active as it used to be but you’re feeding it the same amount. It would help to confirm with your vet that you should still be feeding it the same amount when you see them next.

Genes

The reason might also be that it is genetically big. This would be more likely if your vet has not noticed any issues in checkups, if it has always been big and it has not come on suddenly.

Consider if it has always been big

If it has happened suddenly it would be more likely to be due to things such as a change in its diet, illness, injury or being less active. If it has started being big suddenly it would help to take it to a vet.

If your Golden Retriever has always been big it would be more likely that it is genetically big. However, it still might be the case that you have been feeding it too much, it has been eating without you knowing or that it has not been getting enough exercise.

How to get your Golden Retriever to be less big

Below are some options you have when getting your Golden Retriever to be less big. You will likely find that a combination of them will work best.

Make sure that it is eating the right foods

It could be the case that your Golden Retriever has been eating things that it shouldn’t be. You can look here to see what you should and should not be feeding it and to consult with your vet about its diet.

Make sure that it is eating the right amount of calories for its activity levels

It would also help to make sure that it is eating the right amount of calories for its size, age and activity levels. Generally, Golden Retrievers should be eating between 898 and 1,272 calories per day when sedentary and between 1,353 and 1,740 when active. But, this could be different for your Golden Retriever so it would help to ask your local vet when you see them next.

Give it exercise

As mentioned above, Golden Retrievers are meant to get a lot of exercise daily. If your Golden Retriever is healthy and it is not getting a lot of exercise it would help to make sure that it does either by exercising it yourself or by getting a dog walker to do it for you.

Take it to a vet

If you cannot figure out why your Golden Retriever is big, it seems to be ill or injured or it has become big suddenly the best option would be to take it to a vet for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to rule out medical causes and to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Golden Retriever.