Why is my golden retriever gaining weight
Golden Retriever Growth & Weight Chart: Everything You Need To Know
Here's everything you need to know about Golden Retriever growth:
Golden Retriever Dog Breed
Golden Retrievers are medium- to large-sized dogs with sturdy, athletic bodies and strong gaits. Please remember that the following growth and weight numbers are estimates and should only be used to gather a general idea of what your Golden Retriever puppy may weigh at different ages.
If your Golden Retriever pup is significantly ahead or behind the following numbers, contact your veterinarian to check that your puppy is growing appropriately. However, dont fret if your dog is a little ahead or behind the growth numbers, as every puppy grows at their own rate!
Pro Tip: Want to be reimbursed for up to 90% of your dogs veterinary bills whenever they are sick or injured? Compare Golden Retriever health insurance options today.
Male Golden Retriever Growth and Weight Chart
| Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 mo. | 3-5 lb. |
| 2 mo. | 10-15 lb. |
| 3 mo. | 20-25 lb. |
| 4 mo. | 25-30 lb. |
| 5 mo. | 35-40 lb. |
| 6 mo. | 35-45 lb. |
| 7 mo. | 40-50 lb. |
| 8 mo. | 45-55 lb. |
| 9 mo. | 50-60 lb. |
| 10 mo. | 55-65 lb. |
| 11 mo. | 60-70 lb. |
| 12 mo. | 60-70 lb. |
| 2 yr. | 65-75 lb. |
Female Golden Retriever Growth and Weight Chart
| Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 mo. | 2-5 lb. |
| 2 mo. | 5-10 lb. |
| 3 mo. | 15-20 lb. |
| 4 mo. | 20-25 lb. |
| 5 mo. | 25-30 lb. |
| 6 mo. | 30-35 lb. |
| 7 mo. | 30-40 lb. |
| 8 mo. | 35-45 lb. |
| 9 mo. | 40-50 lb. |
| 10 mo. | 45-55 lb. |
| 11 mo. | 50-55 lb. |
| 12 mo. | 50-60 lb. |
| 2 yr. | 55-65 lb. |
At what age is a Golden Retriever fully grown?
As larger dogs, Golden Retrievers can take up to two years to reach their full weight. Most Golden Retrievers will be close to their adult height and weight around a year of age but may need one more year to fill out their chest fully.
(Image Source: Pexels)
How big should a 6-month-old Golden Retriever be?
A six-month-old male Golden Retriever will weigh between 35 to 45 pounds, while their female counterpart will weigh around 30 to 35 pounds at the same age.
As for their height, most Golden Retrievers will still need another three to six months to reach their adult height. At this age, they will likely be a few inches away from their adult height, which ranges from 21.5 to 24 inches tall, with male Goldies being on the taller end of the range.
Pro Tip: Check out this ultimate pet parent guide with 39 dog care tips on bonding with your pet, puppy-proofing your home, training, microchips, and more!
How much bigger will my Golden Retriever get?
There are a few ways you can estimate how much bigger your Golden Retriever will get.
First, start with your Golden Retriever puppys age. If they are less than a year old, they still need more time to reach their full adult size. Many Golden Retrievers can take up to two years to completely fill out, though their weight at one year old is usually close to their full adult weight.
Next, reach out to your Golden Retriever puppys breeder if applicable. Their breeder should be able to provide you with a precise estimate of your puppys adult size based on their parents and previous litters their parents had. A puppy is rarely larger than their bigger parent, so this will also give you a general idea of their maximum weight.
Lastly, take a look at your puppys paws. If their paws still look large or oversized next to their body and legs, they are probably still filling out and have some growing left to do, as this is a classic sign of adolescence in canines.
What is the size of a full-grown Golden Retriever?
Per the American Kennel Club Official Golden Retriever Breed Standards, a male Golden Retriever should weigh between 65 to 75 pounds, and a female Golden Retriever should weigh between 55 to 65 pounds.
Male Golden Retrievers will stand at 23 to 24 inches, while female Goldies are slightly shorter at 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall. As adults, Golden Retrievers will appear overall symmetrical and have a powerful body hidden beneath beautiful, golden fur.
(Image Source: Pexels)
How do I make sure my Golden Retriever is healthy?
Golden Retrievers are stunning, sunny dogs that easily steal our hearts. Unfortunately, as a purebred dog breed, they are more susceptible to genetic diseases, which can compromise their lifespan and quality of life. However, many genetic disorders can be treated or prevented with regular veterinary care. Remember that prevention is almost always easier and less expensive than treatment. So regular veterinary care, along with a healthy lifestyle, can provide your Goldie with the best foundation for a happy, healthy life.
Healthy lifestyle choices such as an appropriate diet and exercise routine are crucial in your pups everyday happiness and long-term health. Your veterinarian may recommend a large-breed growth food to your Golden Retriever puppy to support their growth rate which can help prevent or decrease the severity of hip dysplasia in adulthood.
According to the Veterinary Centers of America, Golden Retrievers are also more prone to gaining excess weight. They should be carefully monitored to see if theyve gained weight, as their long coats can easily disguise weight gain. This can be done easily by being mindful of your pups body size and shape when you're petting them, as well as routine observation by a veterinarian as part of your Goldens annual physical exam.
Golden Retrievers are also susceptible to various genetic health disorders, such as oral tumors and aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis is most commonly found in large, purebred dogs, including Golden Retrievers, and occurs when the aortic valves to the heart narrow. Aortic stenosis causes the body to struggle to pump blood through the valve, creating additional stress on the body.
If untreated, aortic stenosis can lead to muscle failure and even fatality. However, veterinarians can treat many genetic diseases like aortic stenosis and oral tumors through surgery and medication. Your veterinarian can also screen your Golden Retriever for hereditary diseases during their regular exams to keep an eye on your puppys health and to treat any illnesses as soon as possible.
Even with proper prevention and wellness care, necessary veterinary visits can be expensive, with many treatments costing thousands of dollars. Out of over 20,000 pet parents surveyed, only 19.8% said they would be able to pay a $5,000 veterinary expense out-of-pocket. The last thing you should be focused on when the worst happens is how to finance a needed surgery or treatment for your beloved pet. This is where pet insurance comes in.
Pet insurance acts as a safety net by reimbursing you for up to 90% of out-of-pocket veterinary costs for accidents and illnesses. Youll feel at peace knowing that your Golden Retriever will receive top-notch veterinary care should the worst happen, and you can focus on whats really important, being there for your pup while theyre being treated.
Just like people, dogs are living longer lives and will need additional veterinary care to maintain a happy quality of life. Let pet insurance help you with these costs should the worst happen to your dog. Wellness plans are also available as an add-on to help with the ongoing costs of regular veterinary care, like x-rays and exams.
Final Considerations
Dont wait for the worst to happen. Act now and give yourself peace of mind knowing that your Golden Retriever is covered should anything happen. Compare top Golden Retriever pet insurance plans side-by-side with Pawlicy Advisor today!
Pawlicy Advisors personalized recommendations can help you save up to 83% on insurance costs over your dogs lifespan.
How to Help a Puppy Who Isnt Gaining Weight
By Paula Fitzsimmons
Youre feeding your puppy a nutritionally-balanced diet and following the directions on the label with precision. You watch as your new best friend voraciously eats his dog food, and surmise his appetite isnt the problem. Despite your best efforts, however, hes not gaining weight as he should. Puppies grow at different rates, but if yours is below the average for his breed, there may be an issue. Anything from ineffective feeding methods to underlying diseases can cause slowed growth in puppies, says Dr. Dan Su, a clinical nutrition resident at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
You may unwittingly be feeding your puppy an insufficient number of calories or a diet that lacks essential nutrients for growth. However, medical causes of slowed growth are more common and can include parasites, digestive issues (such as inflammatory bowel disease), a liver shunt, and diabetes, for example, Su says.
Read on to gain insight into why some puppies are resistant to weight gain, as well as what you can do to tip the scale in their favor. Of course, run any changes you plan to make to your puppys diet past your veterinarian first.
Underlying Causes
For pampered pets, the inability to gain weight is rarely due to inadequate food intake, especially if the puppys appetite seems good, says Dr. Cailin Heinze, a veterinary nutritionist at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts.
Its best to play it safe and bring your puppy to the vet to rule out medical causes. There could be any number of reasons behind her inability to gain weight, but intestinal parasitesparticularly roundworms and hookwormsare probably the most common, says Dr. Joe Bartges, professor of medicine and nutrition at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia in Athens.
Inflammatory bowel disease, protein losing enteropathy (any condition of the GI tract resulting in loss of protein), and hypoglycemia are examples of diseases your vet may look for, says Dr. Susan Jeffrey, a veterinarian with Truesdell Animal Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. Or the problem may be dental-related. Is there something painful? For example, the puppys teeth may not have erupted normally and may be coming into contact with the tongue.
Additionally, certain foods can be too rich for some puppies and result in diarrhea. This isn't necessarily a food allergy, but I think some pups with developing gastrointestinal tracts can't handle certain foods, she explains.
Is Your Puppy Getting Sufficient Calories?
If your vet has ruled out an underlying condition, its possible your puppy is not getting the right number of calories. Jeffrey recommends discussing your dogs diet with a vet, and calculating the recommended daily caloric intake for the puppy, a methodology based on breed, a dogs activity level, and reproductive status. Spayed or neutered animals may not need as many calories as intact animals, she says.
Feeding a higher calorie food may be beneficial if the puppy has a poor appetite and isnt finishing the recommended portion of food, says Heinze, who is board-certified in veterinary nutrition. But this should only be attempted after parasites have been checked for and treated and blood work and other diagnostics have been done to rule out health issues.
Examine Your Puppys Diet
Diets devoid of an essential balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates may also be to blame, says Jeffrey, whose professional interests include preventative care.
You should be feeding your puppy a diet that is AAFCO-approved (complete and balanced) for growth, as well as choosing a diet that is appropriate for the presumed adult size, Jeffrey explains. For example, large and giant breed puppies should eat a diet labeled for large breed puppies.
Despite what you might think, diets formulated for growth arent always high quality. Consider changing the diet to a more well-known diet from a larger pet food company or even feed a therapeutic diet, advises Bartges, who is board-certified in veterinary internal medicine and veterinary nutrition.
A raw food diet isnt a cure-all, either. While I help people with raw food diets if that is what they want to feed, I discourage pet parents from feeding raw food diets to puppies, he says. The margin of safety is narrow during growthand this can be an issue not only for nutrient imbalances but also infectious disease.
What to Avoid
You may be tempted to add a nutritional supplement to puppy food to encourage growth, but using supplements without consulting a vet can harm your canine companion. For example, excess calcium can increase the risk of developmental orthopedic diseases in large breed puppies; excess vitamin D can lead to toxicity, Su says.
Another potential problem to avoid is obesity. Many puppies that owners deem too thin are at a healthy weight and the owners are trying to make them fat because they dont have a good understanding of what a healthy puppy looks like, Heinze says. Unless the puppy has a known health issue, being slightly ribby is generally healthier than slightly overweight, especially for large and giant breed dogs.
Vets recommend frequent weight checks to ensure your puppy doesnt become overweight. And if weight gain is faster than desired, calorie adjustments can be made before weight gain becomes excessive, Su says.
In addition to ruling out underlying conditions and ensuring your dogs diet is balanced and provides the appropriate number of calories, you may want to examine your feeding methods. Some puppies need several small meals throughout the day instead of two large meals, Jeffrey says. Feeding small meals may help with weight gain.
Also look for behavioral clues. If the puppy is having to compete to eat with other dogs in the house, the puppy should be fed separately, she says. Not only will this help reduce stress, it will allow the owner to determine the exact amount of food the puppy is eating.
