Have you heard people speaking about their pets having webbed feet? Are you wondering what webbed feet are and if your Golden Retriever has webbed feet?
Stick with us as we discuss what webbed feet are, whether your Golden Retriever has webbed feet and how webbed feet should be cared for.
Table of Contents
Do Golden Retrievers Have Webbed Feet?
Yes, Golden Retrievers have webbed feet. Webbed feet are feet digits that are connected by a membrane. Since Golden Retrievers have paws fused by a membrane, they are considered to have webbed feet.
In Golden Retrievers Webbed Feet Are Good For?
Webbed feet are common in animals that tend to spend time in the water. The design of webbed feet gives animals an advantage by improving their balance, mobility, and speed in the water. Regarding the Golden Retriever, webbed feet are also used to enhance their ability to move in the water and the speed at which they do so.
When comparing the Golden Retriever’s mobility in water and that of a breed that does not have webbed feet, you will notice that the Golden Retriever moves faster, more efficiently, and with significantly less effort, webbed feet also help to improve Golden Retriever mobility on land.
Origination Of Webbed Feet In Golden Retrievers
The Golden Retriever’s webbed feet are certainly no accident. The other versions of the Golden Retriever did not possess webbed feet. Since the Golden Retriever was initially bred to be a sporting or hunting dog, Golden Retrievers would be expected to be able to swim.
However, since the earlier versions of the Golden Retriever did not possess webbed feet, they were at a disadvantage in the water and could not move about as freely as the Golden Retriever we now know and love.
Breeders saw this as a weakness and sought out ways to improve the Golden Retriever’s mobility in the water. The solution that they came to was to breed to webbed feet. The Golden Retriever gained their webbed feet from the Tweed Water Spaniel. As can be expected from their name, the Tweed Water Spaniel was an exceptional swimmer.
Things You Don’t Know About Your Golden Retriever Paws (Facts)
- Golden Retrievers tend to enjoy having their paws massaged. As unusual as it may sound, this is something that your Golden Retriever would find relaxing. However, remember to be gentle and pay attention to your Golden Retriever’s reaction to know what they like in terms of pressure. Paw massages have several health benefits, such as the improvement of blood circulation in the area.
- Contrary to us, Golden Retrievers do not put their weight on their heels as they run or walk. Golden Retrievers put their weight on their digits; this allows them to have more of a spring motion as they walk or run. This is also why many dogs can accelerate so quickly because they do not have a heel-toe motion, but instead, they remain on their digits.
- Your Golden Retriever’s dewclaws are believed to be the remnants of what was once their thumbs. However, over many years of evolution, they developed dewclaws. These dewclaws help your Golden Retriever move about more freely and with greater balance because of the extra grip.
- Your Golden Retriever’s paws can sweat, just like our hand’s sweat. Your Golden Retriever’s paws have sweat glands that allow them to sweat through them. This is how dogs cool off even though they do not sweat on the rest of their body. Since Golden Retrievers have double fur coats, this process is essential. Golden Retrievers also sweat when they are anxious or nervous.
How To Take Care Of A Golden Retrievers Webbed Feet?
Trim Their Fur
When your Golden Retriever has long fur between their digits, this fur tends to be hardened over time by things such as dirt or any other object that may be on the ground. As the fur is hardened, it becomes a painful hindrance to your dog.
To prevent your Golden Retriever from experiencing this discomfort, you should brush their paw fur so that dirt or other objects do not have the opportunity to harden their fur. However, it would be safer and more effective to trim the fur on your Golden Retriever’s feet.
It would be safer for you to take your Golden Retriever to a salon to have their paw fur trimmed because they are professionals who know precisely what must be done and how it must be done.
Brush Your Golden Retriever Regularly
Golden Retrievers tend to have fluffy and medium to long fur. They are prone to mats and tangles. If your Golden Retriever has ever developed mats or tangles in their fur, then you would know how much of a pain it is to deal with them. To spare yourself the trouble of doing so, you should regularly brush your Golden Retriever’s fur.
You should generally brush your Golden Retriever at least 2 to 3 times a week. Aside from preventing mats and tangles, brushing your Golden Retriever’s fur also helps to improve oil distribution on their skin and remove loose fur and excess dirt from their fur.
Trim Their Nails
Despite how tedious this may seem, you have to trim your Golden Retriever’s claws regularly. If you do not trim your Golden Retriever’s claws, you will be running the risk of them being injured. Long claws can be caught in things around the house or even outside, and their claws may be ripped off or injured.
This will be intensely painful for your Golden Retriever, and they will not be able to play and go about their lives the way they would have wished because of their injury. They may also develop an infection from their injury.
As a rule of thumb, you should check your Golden Retriever’s claws every few weeks to see if they are too long and cut them as you need to, but if you are one for a set time, I would say that you should generally trim your Golden Retriever’s nails every month.
If you do not have the time, find trimming your Golden Retriever’s nails to be a daunting task, then you would be delighted to know that there are numerous organizations out there that would be more than happy to groom your Golden Retriever for you.
Tail Grooming
When grooming your Golden Retriever’s tail, you need to ensure that the result is a fan-like appearance. Your Golden Retriever’s tail is more susceptible to form mats and tangles because it gathers up dirt faster than the rest of your Golden Retriever’s body.
As a result of the tail’s location, it also picks up urine and feces. To prevent your dog from developing mats and unpleasant odors, you should wash and trim the hairs on your Golden Retriever’s tail as often as needed.
If you are not confident enough to trim the hairs on their tail and fear that you may hurt your Golden Retriever, you could take them to dog parlors. Dog parlors can groom your Golden Retriever perfectly and in a safe environment.
Keep Them Well-Groomed (Overall)
When grooming your Golden Retriever, you should use a high-quality dog shampoo that does not contain harmful ingredients. You should typically opt for a moisturizing shampoo that will maintain the luster and fluff of your Golden Retriever’s fur.
You should also use a de-shedding tool. Deshedding tools can get through your Golden Retriever’s thick fur coat and remove all the loose hair without hurting your dog in the process. This tool is crucial when trying to prevent your Golden Retriever from developing severe mats and tangles.
As part of your Golden Retriever’s grooming routine, you should also clean your Golden Retriever’s ears and brush their teeth. You should brush your Golden Retriever’s teeth at least three times a week and clean their ears at least once a month.
FAQ
Can Golden Retrievers Webbed Feet Get Easily Injured?
The webbed feet possessed by Golden Retrievers do not get injured easily. However, you should still treat them will care and groom them adequately to ensure that your Golden Retriever is as safe as they can be and they do not suffer a paw-related injury because of your negligence.
Do All Golden Retrievers Have Webbed Feet?
Yes, all Golden Retrievers have webbed feet. Before they were known as Golden Retrievers, the closest breed to the Golden Retriever were bred with the Tweed Water Spaniel to make them better swimmers. The result of this was what we now know as the Golden Retriever.
Can Webbed Feet Cause Health Issues In Golden Retrievers?
No, Webbed feet do not cause health issues. However, they do come with the disadvantage of having parasites stick between them when your Golden Retriever walks over certain surfaces. The parasites will reside on the membrane between your Golden Retriever’s digits.
Why Do Some Dog Breeds Have Webbed Feet And Others Do Not?
Some breeds do not have webbed feet, while others do because of their genetics. Most dogs with webbed feet are known to be natural swimmers bred with webbed feet, while those who do not have webbed feet are not. This, however, does not mean that those dogs cannot swim.
Are Golden Retrievers Born With Webbed Feet?
Yes, Golden Retrievers are born with webbed feet. Webbed feet are a biological part of the Golden Retriever, and it is not something that can be developed over time but is instead something present at birth.
Conclusion
Golden Retrievers have webbed feet. Their webbed feet help them to move underwater with more incredible speed and efficiency. However, they did not always have webbed feet; their webbed feet were bred to make them better retrievers.
You should care for your Golden Retriever’s paws and should not neglect as part of your Golden Retriever’s grooming schedule because your Golden Retriever can suffer a severe claw-related injury.
