Golden Retriever Tends to Older Canine Brother After Surgery in the Sweetest Way
Dogs are naturally empathetic. My two pooches always know when someone in the family is sad or under the weather. Both my Dachshund and Pug mix immediately go into caretaker mode and stay by the person or fur baby they consider in need of support.
Gus the Golden Retriever is a wonderful example of this sort of compassion when he gave his older canine brother the only kind of encouragement he had to offer after he had oral surgery.
@the3retrievers_ The little mouth quivers… #dog#puppylove#goldenreteiever#fyp
original sound - the3retrievers
In the TikTok from @the3retrievers, Gus stood right by his older Golden Retriever brother following a recent medical procedure at the vet. The look of concern on Gus's face spoke volumes.
"POV: Watching Gus take care of his brother after his oral surgery," the onscreen text shared as Gus began to gently kiss his brother's mouth in the hopes of soothing his discomfort. "He knows his brother is hurting, and now he is too."
A close-up of Gus showed that the precious pooch's lips were actually quivering, almost like he wanted to help his brother carry the pain.
"So he does the only thing he knows to do," the story went on, with clips of Gus continuing his affectionate caregiving at home. "Give non-stop kisses!"
The senior dog looked happy to receive Gus's compassion and stayed put for every lick. Followers were moved by the heartfelt display of brotherly love.
"What an awesome brother," one gushed.
"A lil' bit of heaven here with these cuties," another remarked.
"The empathy. He's whimpering. Oh my gosh," a follower noted.
"The sweetest thing I have ever seen! What a great brother," someone raved.
Golden Retrievers Often Serve as Therapy Dogs
This beautiful breed is a top pick for many reasons, including their loving and gentle disposition. Golden Retrievers exude joy and kindness with a strong sense of empathy for others, making them ideal therapy dogs. These sweet pooches often serve as support dogs in schools, nursing homes, and hospitals.
Related: Orange Cat Visits Kitty Brother in the ER and Goes Into Caretaker Mode
Other breeds that excel in a therapy role include the Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Great Dane.
Gus is probably still by his brother's side with plenty of healing kisses to speed up his recovery.
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 4:10 PM.