Will a golden retriever die of heat in summer?

Yes, a golden retriever can die of heat in summer. Each animal has its own way of regulating its body temperature. For example, humans mainly cool down through sweating, while dogs don't have sweat glands like humans. They have a few sweat glands on their paws, and they mainly cool down through panting. When the environmental temperature is too high and exceeds the dog's ability to dissipate heat, it can lead to heatstroke and cause death.

Symptoms of heatstroke

A dog's heat dissipation function is slightly worse than that of other animals. They mainly rely on their paws and tongues for heat dissipation and temperature regulation. Therefore, when it's hot, dogs generally reduce their activity level and look for a shady place to lie down. Moreover, dogs drink more water and like to take baths when it's hot, which helps them cool down. After exercising, a dog may show symptoms such as accelerated heartbeat, opening its mouth to breathe with its tongue sticking out, and excessive saliva flowing out to help dissipate heat.

Tolerance to heat

A golden retriever's body temperature ranges from 38.5 to 39.5 degrees Celsius. Although its body temperature is higher than that of humans, its heat tolerance is not as strong as that of humans. Generally, when the room temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, it may feel very uncomfortable, and when it exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, there is a high risk of heatstroke.

Measures to cool down in summer

To cool down in summer, you can trim the dog's hair, as longer and thicker hair has good insulation properties. Shaving it shorter will help reduce its body temperature. You can also provide plenty of cool water, as most of the dog's heat dissipation occurs through its tongue. Putting a fan or air conditioning on will also help lower the indoor temperature, assisting the dog in staying cool.