Why Is My Golden Retriever Panting At Night? Causes And Solutions

Has your Golden Retriever been panting at night? Have you wondered why your Golden Retriever has been panting at night?

It can be quite concerning to hear your dog panting loudly at night when they are meant to be calm and resting. In some cases, it would not be a cause for much worry. However, your Golden Retriever’s panting may be a sign of a severe problem.

We will be discussing possible reasons why your Golden Retriever is panting at night and what you can do about your dog panting a lot.

Why Is My Golden Retriever Panting At Night?

There are several reasons why your Golden Retriever is panting at night; some are nothing to worry about and can easily be remedied. Such causes include environmental changes, excitement, and your Golden Retriever feeling too hot. More serious reasons why your Golden Retriever is panting at night include allergies, heart disease, respiratory disease, and other illnesses. 

Things That Causes Your Golden Retriever Panting At Night

Feeling Too Hot

Most dogs do not deal well with excessive heat. The Golden Retriever breed has thick fur coats that can help them withstand the cold of winter and protect them from freezing. However, those fur coats can be to their detriment in Summer.

If your Golden Retriever is panting a lot in Summer, they feel too hot and are trying to cool down by panting. When your Golden Retriever feels too hot, they develop a medical condition.

Environmental Changes

Moving from a new home is not only stressful for you but also for dogs. Your dog may be distressed because they were removed from their comfort zone and placed in a completely new and unknown environment.

Dogs are territorial animals, and a new place can cause them discomfort, and they will pant a lot as a result. In such cases, your Golden Retriever would be experiencing anxiety or stress.

Anxiety & Fear

It is not common for Golden Retrievers to pant a lot as a result of anxiety or fear. However, when they do, they tend to become anxious or fearful at night. Depending on what is happening in the house, Golden Retrievers can express their fear and anxiety by panting during various times of the day.

Noise and other types of commotion can cause your Golden Retriever to be fearful or anxious. Thunderstorms are a common example of types when your Golden Retriever would be panting because they are afraid or anxious.

As you see your dog in different circumstances and monitor their reactions, you will learn to identify things that cause your Golden Retriever to be fearful or anxious. If you notice a pattern over several nights, your Golden Retriever’s panting may be caused for a health condition, and you should consult your veterinarian. 

Excitement

Golden Retrievers pant so that they can cool off. Golden Retrievers pant when they are excited; that is their way of trying to cool off. Your Golden Retriever will pant because of car rides, walks, the park, or even before a meal or treat.

If you are not sure whether your Golden Retriever is excited or in distress, examine their body language. By examining your Golden Retriever, you would be able to identify the reason why they are panting.

General Pain

This is not a common reason why Golden Retrievers pant; however, it is still a cause for alarm. It may be a bit more challenging to identify that the reason why your Golden Retriever is panting is that they are experiencing general pain.

If your Golden Retriever jumps down from your porch and begins to limp, it may indicate that they are experiencing acute pain. Your Golden Retriever may also be experiencing arthritis or pain from an old injury known as chronic pain.

An effective way to go about it to identify that your Golden Retriever is experiencing general pain is to eliminate other possible causes. If your dog pants throughout the day, it may indicate that your Golden Retriever is in pain. If you have any doubts and cannot identify why your dog is panting, you should take your Golden Retriever to the veterinarian. 

Allergy

If your Golden Retriever is panting a lot at night, they may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Your Golden Retriever could be experiencing an allergic reaction because of the food they ate or the environment. 

Suggested – Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers With Skin Allergies

Medication Side Effects

Several medications can cause your Golden Retriever to react adversely by panting throughout the night. When you take your Golden Retriever to a veterinarian and prescribe medicines for your Golden Retriever, you should ask your veterinarian which side effects you can expect from the medication. 

Heart Disease

Your Golden Retriever could be panting a lot because they have heart disease. Excessive panting is a common symptom of heart disease. 

If you take your Golden Retriever for a walk and they are still panting an hour after your walk, it could indicate that your Golden Retriever has heart disease. The heart delivers oxygen to the rest of the body by pumping blood; this is a crucial system in the body. 

If this system is disrupted, your Golden Retriever’s heart will not pump ultimately and adequately be incapable of delivering sufficient oxygen to your Golden Retriever’s body. Heart diseases that can cause your Golden Retriever’s heart to malfunction include cardiomyopathies, valve disorder, and heartworm disease. 

Respiratory Disease

The respiratory disease could be the reason why your Golden Retriever is panting a lot at night. These diseases impair your Golden Retriever’s ability to breathe. As a result, your Golden Retriever will pant excessively in an attempt to get sufficient oxygen. 

Respiratory diseases such as Tracheal collapse and Laryngeal paralysis affect your Golden Retriever’s respiratory tracts. Tracheal collapse causes your Golden Retriever’s trachea to become narrow. This narrowing of the trachea causes your Golden Retriever to cough and pant more.

Laryngeal paralysis is the impairment of the nerves responsible for the opening and closing of your Golden Retriever’s larynx, which is the opening of the trachea. This means that your dog will not be able to breathe properly and have to pant to get enough oxygen.

Illness

An endless list of illnesses can cause your Golden Retriever to pant a lot at night. Obesity is an illness that can cause your Golden Retriever to pant a lot at night. Your Golden Retriever will become obese if you feed them too much food. 

Another illness that can cause your dog to pant a lot is Lung disease. Lung Disease impairs the lunge’s ability to feed oxygen, not the bloodstream. This results in your dog’s tissues not getting enough oxygen.

Things That You Can Do About Your Golden Retriever Panting A Lot

Give Them A Comfortable Environment

If your dog starts panting a lot shortly after moving or entering a new environment, the new environment is likely the cause of your Golden Retriever’s panting. In this case, you should try getting your Golden Retriever back in a comfortable environment or make the environment comfortable for them.

If you have moved to a new home, give your Golden Retriever their old blanket or bed and spend time with them. You should make your Golden Retriever feel safe, and after some time, they will become accustomed to their new home and recognize it as their territory.

Be More Friendly To Your Golden

As a Golden Retriever owner, you need to understand that Golden Retrievers are an affectionate breed. They need time and affection from their owners, or else they will become anxious and stressed. 

Golden Retrievers are known for experiencing separation anxiety when separated from their owners for too long. You need to play, walk and spend time with your Golden Retriever.

Good Nutrition

Ensuring that your Golden Retriever is eating healthy food in the correct quantity will allow you to put an end to your Golden Retriever’s panting at night. You should be aware of how much food you are feeding your Golden; here’s a Food Chart that can help you out.

This will help you boost your Golden Retriever’s immune system and build up their defense against different diseases.

Good nutrition can also help you keep your Golden Retriever in good shape and prevent them from becoming obese. Obesity is a cause that can be fixed from the comfort of your home.

Suggested – Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers

Exercise

For your Golden Retriever to live a healthy and well-balanced life, you will have to ensure that they get enough exercise every day. Your Golden Retriever should exercise for at least an hour a day. 

If you do not have enough time to walk your dog, you can hire a dog walker, or you could ask your friends and family to walk your Golden Retriever. 

Talk To Your Vet

As you have noticed by now, there is a long list of reasons why your Golden Retriever could be panting a lot at night. It would take too long for you to observe your Golden Retriever and think of possible reasons why they are panting a lot.

I would suggest going to your veterinarian as soon as you notice that your Golden Retriever has been panting a lot at night. Your veterinarian would be able to diagnose your Golden Retriever and give you solutions accurately.

Consulting your veterinarian will save you and your Golden Retriever a whole lot of time, effort, and discomfort.

How To Know Your Golden Retriever Panting Is Normal Or Abnormal?

When Too Much Panting Is Normal In Your Golden Golden Retriever?

Golden Retrievers tend to get excited quite easily. Your dog may be excited because you took them on a car ride, took them for a walk, or to the park. When your dog is panting a lot in such circumstances, you can assume that they are simply excited. It is also normal for your dog to pant a lot after doing some exercise.

When Panting Is Abnormal In Your Golden Retriever?

Your Golden Retriever’s panting is abnormal when you notice a regular pattern. If your Golden Retriever frequently pants at night, then you should assume that something is wrong with your Golden Retriever. It is also abnormal for your Golden Retriever to still be panting one to two hours after exercising.

FAQ

Conclusion

Suppose you notice that your Golden Retriever has been panting a lot at night. You should consult your veterinarian; your veterinarian will accurately diagnose your Golden Retriever and tell you precisely what you should do to help your Golden Retriever. Spare your Golden Retriever the discomfort by having them diagnosed early.