Do Golden Retrievers Snore? 5 Possible Causes and 7 Easy Solutions

I have always looked at Golden Retrievers sleeping and thought that this might be what angles look like. They look so cute and so perfect that it’s almost other-worldly. However, it seems that even those angel-looking dogs can make very non-angelic sounds while sleeping.

So, Do Golden Retrievers Snore? Yes, Golden Retrievers Snore. The volume and sound of their snoring differ according to what is causing the snoring. Their snoring also tends to get louder and stronger as they grow older.

However, your dog’s snoring might be a cause of concern as snoring can be a sign of a health issue at times. To understand more about your golden retriever’s snoring, what might be causing it, and the possible treatments and solutions, keep reading the article.

Why Do Golden Retrievers Snore?

A Golden retriever will snore if something is obstructing their airways or if something is irritating them like tobacco smoke or a certain allergen. You can often fix the snoring issue by giving your dog a regular exercise routine and moving their sleeping place to somewhere away from any smoke or allergens.

If the snoring is loud and happened all of a sudden, it may be a sign of a more serious health issue that needs a visit to the vet.

If your golden is your first dog, I have news for you; golden retrievers snore, but almost all other dog breeds do (or can snore).

However, some dog breeds are more likely to snore than others, luckily, golden retrievers don’t belong to this category as they don’t have the issues that make them more prone to snoring.

The dog breeds that are more likely to snore are the ones that have a flattened windpipe as the result of breeding over time, these breeds include pugs, Pekingese, and Boston Terriers.

Here are the possible causes for your dog’s snoring.

5 Possible Causes for Dog Snoring

1. Unclear or obstructed Nostrils due to a cold
2. Excess Tissue in their throat due to overweight or obesity
3. Allergens like Tree and wood pollen, dust, or tobacco smoke
4. Aspergillosis – a Fungal disease
5. Physical Obstructions

Obstructed Nostrils Due to a Cold

Just like you get a cold, your dog does, too. And just like what happens with you, the cold will also give your dog a runny nose and cause his nostrils to become irritated and obstructed, leading to snoring.

This is probably the easiest cause, as the snoring will simply go away on its own as the cold does. All you need to do for now is care for your dog and the snoring will go away once your dog is all well again.

Excess Tissue in their throat due to overweight or obesity

Before we get fat on the outside, we get fat on the inside. Getting fat doesn’t mean you just become bigger, but the fat grows on and around your organs, too, and the same happens with your dog.

When your golden retriever starts gaining weight, it’s likely that the larger tissues around their throats will constrict their airways, leading to snoring.

Other than snoring, this is actually a serious problem and if left untreated, can cause really serious problems. If your dog becomes obese, there can be so much tissue that the trachea collapses, which is fatal.

If you notice your dog snoring and they don’t have a cold, maybe it’s time to get them on a scale and see if they have gained a few pounds.

Allergens like Tree and wood pollen, dust, or tobacco smoke

Dogs have allergies, too, they just don’t complain about them like we do. Dogs can have allergies to dust, pollen, and danger. These can make it harder for your dog to breath normally even in their sleep.

It’s worth it checking with your vet if your dog has an allergy to see. If they do, the solution could be to simply give them the medications needed to ease these problems.

Something else that might be irritating your dog; tobacco smoke. Second hand smoking is as bad for dogs as it is for humans, and just like some humans, some dogs can also be sensitive to tobacco smoke.

I, for one, can’t tolerate the smell of smoke and it irritates my lungs so much that I have to get away from it, and some dogs are just like that. The tobacco smoke can irritate their lungs and airways so much that it causes them to snore.

If this is the case, you need to check where and how is your buddy inhaling that smoke. It can be going through the air ducts in your house from your room to their sleeping position, or it could be coming from the neighbor’s porch as they come out at night to smoke a cigarette. Some investigative work might be needed. Bring out the Sherlock in you.

Aspergillosis – a Fungal disease

This is something else that affects dogs and humans alike. It occurs when we inhale mold spores which can exist in hay, grass, and compost piles. If your golden retriever is playing in grass a lot, this is a likely reason behind their snoring as they can cause irritation.

Physical Obstructions

Do you know how your dog explores the world with its nose and mouth? yeah, a lot of things can get into their mouths and noses when they go around sniffing and chewing everything.

These things can get in and block your dog’s airways, blocking the air and causing them to snore. This is more likely to be the cause behind your dog’s snoring if you know your dog is a grass eater.

7 Solutions to Help With Your Dog’s Snoring

1. Give them a pillow
2. A regular exercise routine on low-traffic times.
3. Change their sleeping place
4. Clean their bedding regularly
5. Fight pollens and smoke with air filters and regular vacuuming
6. Give them medications for their allergies.
7. Visit the doctor

• Give them a pillow

For some reason, giving them a pillow sometimes works or lowers the volume of the snoring. An elevated head seems to be helping with the snoring by clearing the airways somehow. Give this a shot first, it’s probably the easiest solution.

• A Regular Exercise Routine at low-traffic times

Regular exercise can help with maintaining their weight and with the snoring, but you should give some thought into when and where is this exercise taking place.

If you can, choose places as far away from traffic as possible or choose times with the lowest car traffic as possible.

This is, of course, to minimize the amount of smoke your dog inhales.

• Change their sleeping place

Something could be wrong with their sleeping spot. It could be a point where the smoke from your neighbor’s porch pass through somehow or where the smoke of the cars sneak into.

Whatever it is, you should investigate it, but after moving your dog’s sleeping spot to another place and seeing if this actually has an effect.

• Clean their bedding regularly

Cleaning your dog’s bedding regularly can help get rid of any pollens that may end up there. Try alternating their bedding as well in an attempt to change their sleeping positions and see if this works.

• Fight pollen and smoke in your home

Get an air filter (or change the one you already have), vacuum regularly, and don’t smoke in the house if you do to keep your house as pollen – and smoke-free as possible.

• Give them medications for their allergies

If your dog has a seasonal allergy, and OTC (over the counter) medication can help with that. Ask your vet for a recommendation and give it to your dog.

• Visit the doctor for a check-up

If things get worse, you should get your dog to the vet for a check up. The vet can determine if there’s a more serious underlying issue for your pup’s snoring.

When to go to the vet?

You need to see the vet if the snoring is too loud or if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea.

A good idea is to call ahead and ask if you should bring them to the clinic, your vet is the one most qualified to know if your dog’s case needs checking or if you should wait and see how things develop.

A Final thought

Snoring doesn’t have to be the sign of something bad. Your dog may start snoring as they get older and they become much less active. As your dog gets older, their sleep also gets heavier, which will is associated with snoring as well.

You need to think about your dog’s snoring as if you think about your child snoring, go through the possible causes one by one before getting worried. It can go away on its own, or you will just need to live with it. Some dogs are long-time snorers, and if that’s your case, maybe you will learn to live with it. Or maybe they will start sleeping downstairs.

Related Questions

It is normal for golden retrievers to snore?

It is perfectly normal for a golden retriever to snore. Snoring doesn’t have to be a sign of a serious medical issue, and you should be worried only if it’s accompanied by other, more serious symptoms.

Should I let my Golden Retriever Sleep with me?

If you want to, you can let your golden retriever sleep with you on the same bed. Research has shown that letting your dog sleep with you in the same bed has more pros than cons.

Sources

Dog Allergies – Symptoms and Treatments – AKC