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The Labrador is the most popular dog breed in the United States – and for good reason. These dogs are typically mild-tempered, sociable, easily trained, loyal and playful.
Labs also require relatively little care and attention when compared to more high-maintenance breeds. Still, some health conditions are more common among Labradors.
Here are some health problems your Lab may experience, along with a few ways to prevent them.
1. Joint Problems
Many Labs suffer from joint problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
These conditions affect the hip or elbow joints, prohibiting normal movement and causing pain and immobility.
While dysplasia isn’t entirely preventable, its effects are lessened when your dog maintains a healthy weight, eats a high-quality food with plenty of vitamins and nutrients, and gets proper low-impact exercise (swimming is ideal).
There are also many supplements available specifically for joint problems in dogs, but their efficacy has yet to be thoroughly studied; therefore, it’s best to consult a vet about any specific supplements you wish to try.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: When our black Lab Stetson got older and started having joint problems our vet recommended a glucosamine supplement. We like and recommend: Nutramax Cosequin DS Plus MSM
Also check out our blog post listing the best glucosamine for dogs to help ease joint pain.
2. Bloat and Obesity
Obesity is a common problem for many dogs, including Labs.
Thankfully, it is fairly easy to prevent; simply monitor your dog’s eating habits, and make sure he doesn’t eat too much or too fast at meal times or snack in between.
You may need to portion your dog’s food so overeating isn’t an option for him.
For humans, “bloat” usually refers to excess water weight, which is usually a harmless condition. For Labs, however, “bloat” refers to a serious medical condition that can actually be fatal.
It refers to a distended abdomen due to a swollen or twisted stomach.
While the exact cause of bloat hasn’t been found, experts agree that you should avoid letting your dog overeat or overhydrate to lessen his chances of developing the condition.
In addition, your dog should not exercise too soon after eating.
Stetson would eat an entire bag of food in no time flat if we let him. Make sure you control how much your feed your dog by feeding him the appropriate amount of food.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: If your dog gulps down his food like Stetson then we recommend a slow feeder dog bowl. We’ve tried many slow feeders and our favorite is the Outward Hound Fun Feeder.
3. Ear Infections
Labradors are known for their large, floppy ears, which give them a comical look that is rather endearing.
However, their large ears also provide a suitable breeding ground for bacteria, making Labs more susceptible to ear infections.
You can keep ear infections at bay by ensuring your dog’s ears stay clean and dry (take care to dry them after baths or swimming), checking often for any signs of infection, and removing any excessive hair in the ears (a groomer can handle this for you).
If you believe your dog has developed an ear infection, please see a vet immediately for treatment.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: Unfortunately, ear infections were common place with our guide dog puppy, Dublin. Our vet recommended we use Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleaner to flush his ears. Make sure you consult your vet so he/she can show you how to properly clean your dogs ears.
4. Heart Disease
Heart disease is a common problem in the canine community. While it’s quite common for even the healthiest elderly dogs to develop heart disease, general wellness is considered the best prevention.
Make sure your dog stays up-to-date on all vaccinations, eats high-quality kibble, stays hydrated and gets regular exercise.
If your dog is diagnosed with heart disease, your vet may recommend a supplement like Vetmedin Chewable Tablets to protect against congestive heart failure.
Give your pet a recommended Vetmedin dosage to protect against heart disease and always strive to help him maintain a healthy weight.
Unfortunately for us our Labrador Mix, Linus was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure when he was 13 1/2 years old. Medication helped him for a short period his health declined rapidly.
While I’m not a veterinarian I think the best ways to prevent heart disease are similar to what a doctor would recommend for you, a human patient.
- Healthy eating
- Keep a healthy weight
- Regular exercise
These are just a few things that I think are not only important for you, but for your dog as well.
Conclusion
While there is no way to ensure your Labrador never develops any of these health conditions, you can take preventive action to lessen your dog’s risk.
By staying proactive about your pet’s health, you give him the greatest chance for living a long, happy life.
What about you guys?
Does your Labrador have any of these common health conditions?
Or maybe even some uncommon ones.
Tell us your story in the comment section below.
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35 comments
what about hot spots?
what about it
That comment on what about it was not very nice.
Hot spots are common in dogs. They are usually caused by chewing often or scratching. All dogs get them. You need to get ointment or spray to keep them from chewing on that spot.
yes
I got my last 3 dogs from the animal shelter. The last Labrador retrievers. My yellow was with me for 14 years . I waited a year and saw the movie Purpose of a Dog. I woke up in the middle of the night and said I have to go get a dog. I went to the same shelter and got a older female black Lab. Very well trained, very smart. I had her 2 1/2 wonderful years. On Oct 1st this year I took her to the vet. Se x-rayed her and did blood test. Her Kidney was failing.As hard as it was to say goodbye to my baby. I didn’t want her to suffer. I had to have her put to sleep. I held, kissed, cryed and told her how much I loved her. I’m not ready to get another dog yet. When I do it will be another female Labrador from a rescue group. I miss my baby so much.
I’m sorry to hear about your loss. We lost our black Lab a couple months ago to cancer. He was a career change guide dog and lived with us for over 12 years. We miss him everyday.
I’m so sorry I went through it in July. I miss my black lab too , I think of him every second every minute, hour day , month. I pray for Mason to come back home . We took him in when he was 9 years old I fell in love with him he changed my life and way I feel about dogs.
Our lab had an immunosuppressant illness that caused large sores all over his body, hundreds. Our area does not have a doctor to help with these type of illnesses. The poor baby suffered 2 1/2 years until her death at 11.
Hot spots are often caused by a dogs allergy to grains in the dog food you feed them. My Springier Spaniel developed Hot Spots
until the VET put her on a grain free food. Read the labels on most dog foods, frankly they are not good for you dog., and stay away from imported foods (China) especially. I only feed my dog a natural diet now.
EIC or Exercise Induced Collapse is seen most often in Labs. There is a DNA test for it. Most often, it is mistaken for heatstroke and is not fatal. It happens most often between the ages of 5 months and 3 years. Tragically, our beautiful fox red lab died of it while out on a walk.
The U. Of Minn. vet school is studying it. (I’m surprised this was not mentioned in this article.)
I am saddened by the diagnosis of stade 2 bi lateral congenital knee luxation in my one year old chocolate lab. As i did not give her the food breeder signed me under. My baby was not digesting this food and my vet said he was losing weight having diarrhea and he would not treat him further if i did not put him on special gastric food for his delicate stomach Though hip and knee problems of this sort are guaranteed by breeder she isrefusing to honor her contract as she claims i changed the food. Can a reputable breeder do this ? My baby was birn by cesarian only 2 puppues were saved. I think she may have had a problem at birth…
Our new family member is a 3year old Lab Springer Spaniel cross. She has a couple of problems due to being left on her own for long hours at a time. I. The whites of her eyes are red most days. 2. Under her chin it is red raw, very tender, which we are bathing daily and putting cream on.
Any advice would be welcome. She is so happy here with her puppy brother.
I had a lab springer cross and she was one of the best dogs I ever had. She would ride on the motorcycle with my first husband and I and was absolutely the coolest girl. Very very intelligent.
Our Black Lab Dakota had Muscle Atrophy. Nothing else was wrong that would have led to possible death, besides being deaf and possibly senile, but not a dog psych so not sure about that. His organs were fine and no tumors. He was 15 years old and did have a hard time getting up and down and slow in motion. He still ate and drank, more of the latter and did still have the wherewithal to know to get up and do his business instead of just sit and diol himself. He was just bone and skin at this point and it was not easy to put him to sleep this past Saturday morning, as we would make an appointment and then cancel, basically because he did not have any other signs that it was time. Not sure what more we could have done if anything but what we ended up doing.
We’re having the same issue right now, and it seems to be a new and more wide-spread thing: “dog dementia”. Your dog can be physically healthy, know to eat and drink and to go outside and do their business, but other than that…? They don’t remember the people in their life unless they are constant people. They can’t be left by themselves or they get so anxious that they end up destructive and start to scratch, chew and destroy everything. You call their name and the(5y don’t even budge. They stare at you (sometimes). This is a serious illness and should be researched more so that we can help our friends, so they don’t need to needlessly be put to sleep.
Black Lab 1 1/12 to 2 1/2 yrs young still. medium size for a lab i believe but growing still i imagine. My ? is about the hot spots or as I call em dry spots from her biting and scratching at herself. I’ve changed her food several times already shes becoming picky also ive noticed. She is very playful,happy,loved and yes active . Very smart listens very well for a dog with no professional training other than the basics I’ve commanded onto her. Supplements I wish to stay away from also. What about adding some bacon grease to her food several times a wk and or raw eggs perhaps mixed in her dry food, these would work perhaps yes?
We have a 4 year old chocolate lab. Previously had a golden retriever. Take organic coconut oil (not liquified) and either make a frozen treat, or put into a Kong to lick out. Our dog loves it and looks forward to his daily snack. Skin is much better, hardly has any calluses on elbows and has rich looking fur.
Our 7 month English lab was diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma. He had one on his upper leg and one between his toes, both on the left leg. Those were removed, but the one on his foot has come back. He is now 9 months old, and his foot grows bigger by the day. We’ve been to 3 different vets and also talked to the breeder. Nobody has seen an instance like this where the dog has been this young. So therefore, there have been no studied patterns of these occurrences. As a family, we have decided to let DUKE be the puppy that he loves to be, until his daily experiences become difficult and painful, then we will say goodbye.
I’ve just lost my 7 year old chocolate lab I’m heart broken, she’s never been unwell other than sore ears once, I don’t understand I walked her this morning she was rolling in the wet grass like she does so happy and playful by 4pm I thought she doesn’t seem herself and refused her tea which she would never do, took herself in the garden and laid down in the corner and never moved I tried to pick her up to bring her in an hour later and she just kept laying back down and her back legs kept giving way in the end I carried her inside, she seemed ok just a little subdued she had a drink which I thought she must be feeling better, I laid with her on the floor she tried to get up twice and just fell over and was then sick and pood and seemed to be having a fit and struggling to breathe within 5mins she had passed away I’m lost for words and can’t comprehend what’s happened she died in my arms at 8.30pm, my initial thought she’d eaten some poison or something the vet says she had no signs of poisoning and her death is unexplained. I couldn’t even go in the vets they came and got her with a trolley from my car because of Coronavirus we had to stay away, I’m heartbroken has anything like this ever happened to anyone else I can’t stop thinking about her and what’s happened
Gillian, I am so sorry for your loss.
The same thing happened to our cat—fine all day, started to act a little punky, vomited and then couldn’t get up, hind legs gave out. We did get him to the vet and was told it was a clot from heart disease blocking part of the aorta, seen fairly often in cats with heart disease. He was only 5-6(adopted from a shelter). Nothing humane could be done for him, so euthanized. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
Heart failure. I had 2 dogs that started off with a heart murmur and ended up into congestive heart failure. Our little chiahuahua was on medicine for 2 or 3 years and had breathing attacks and finally passed away in my husbands arms. My black lab had the same but was caught to late and she also had bone cancer and i had her immediately put to sleep. Her blood work was off the chart. She had fluid build up around her heart. So for her everything went down hill fast in just a year from her last vet visit.
We have a 4 year old lab who has had issues since a pup, but about 2 months ago her eating habits have changed and now she refuses to eat ANY dog food we give her, any brand, canned, even made homemade. She will eat treats. Been to the vet 3 times, long story short… her kidney number is elevated. She is on an appetite stimulant and another round of antibiotics. I just can’t understand and neither the vet why she would eat treats, NO problem, and they are special grain free because of her stomach and won’t touch dog food, won’t even smell it. I can get her to eat just plain meat but I wanted to know if anyone has ever experienced this before. And trust me I have tried all types of diets, foods, brands and textures.
We lost our black Lab after having him for 12 years. I am devastated. Who knew at that time that his death would leave me a blubbering fool. I am so sad I have no words to say how my heart hurts. He was a rescue who came into our hearts when he was 2 yrs. old. Up until the day we had to put him to sleep he was his same beautiful wonderful happy self. We found out he had an enlarged heart and his lungs were full of fluid. Congestive Heart Failure took my best friend. I will miss him forever.
I just lost my Amber, the love of our lives. She just knew when her time had come. I had made an appointment to take her to our Vet for a final assessment at 3:50 Monday, Aug. 10/20. Around 3 she gave a whine which generally means she wants attention. But she didn’t come to me in the den. So I went to see her in the living room. She had just made it to the front door and I saw her rear legs crumple. I got her in my arms, held her and soothed her while she just quietly passed away. I was able to call my son and he came over with his family just in time to see her before she was gone.
Amber was 11 1/2 years old, a beautiful yellow who had a very active life competing in hunt test trials to earn her championship. But her career was cut short at age 6 when my Wife was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.
Amber suffered from Mast Cell Tumours which literally covered her body, two were larger than a grapefruit and had broken open. And earlier in Oct. 2019 she was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, DCM. So no surgery was possible. I am heart broken and hollow with loss of this independent and athletic companion. I spent tons of time with her in the field, at the cottage swimming and huge hours training for trials which she loved. I have been blessed having had 4 Labs that were the epidomy of their breed and if I had more time I would have to have another share my life.
Gillian my heart goes out to you and I understand your pain. Almost a week ago I had to take our blonde lab in and have her put to rest. For almost 2 months or 3 she had this cough and would occasionally faint with a hard time breathing when she over exhausted herself. I finally said no more suffering for you. She was a fighter. Our vet took x-rays a month prior to me finally taking her in and she was full of fluid in her outside lung area. He said he doesn’t see this very often. Pneumonia or cancer of some sort. Shelby is her name and she was they sweetest most loving dog we’ve ever had for almost 12 yrs. Hugs to you
I just lost my Lacey Lou on 10-29-20, she was fine the previous two days before, walking playing climbing up three flights of stairs she was eight years old a real love bug she didn’t bite or bark unless I was playing keep away. I fed her good healthy food regular vet visits heart worm pill monthly tick meds, loved by all in the community. On her vet visits the vet would say she should lose 5 pounds that was caused by me giving her treats, all in all she always had a good check up, the vet said her heart was healthy and no issues. she died on 10-29-20 unexpectedly she had breathing issues I called the emergency room @ 8:29pm she was gone at 10:49pm. from hemangiosarcoma? Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer of blood vessels. As the tumor grows, abnormally fragile blood vessels are formed, which have the tendency to break open and bleed. This cancer is common in dogs, but rare in people. If this is common in dogs why aren’t the vets looking for it????? I am heart broken I miss my little girl so much. I can’t talk about her with out breaking down and crying. I hate being without her so much .I was not prepared for this. My daughter told me she was here to get me through my health issues heart attack and carotid artery. I never hit her never yelled at her all I did was give her love like she gave to me. I miss you Lacey Lou so so much.
I have a 14 year old chocolate Lab and she is the love of my life and definitely my BFF. When my husband of 47 years died 8 years ago, Skye kept me going. Her main health problem is arthritis in her hips and hind legs. She still loves to retrieve in the water, although she doesn’t have the stamina she did when younger. I remember how hard it was when our previous Chocolate crossed the Rainbow Bridge and am dreading the day I lose Skye. A question for you: Have you ever heard that Chocolates have a 2 year shorter life expectancy than black and yellow Labs? I read that, and they don’t know why.
My labrador is 8 months old , he suddenly unable to eat anything , i aksed animal expert but they pescribe medecine but not get any good result over 1 wek complete but not eat anything , how to cure him what can i do please help .
My 9 month old lab passed away suddenly in her sleep, early in the morning just before we woke up. We heard a bark, wine, howel, then she settled, thought it was a drem/nighht terror, when we got up 1/2 an hour later she was gone. No warning. Playing well the day and night before. Any thoughts? Fed raw food (pets go raw) recommended by breeder. She is so dearly missed. Not sure if there was anything else we could have noticed before or done different?
My daughter’s family had a 14 mo. Yellow lab bought from a breeder in Lakeville, Ma. Beau was healthy , active and very
energetic! He ate well, saw the vet regularly and walked every day! He was adored by his loving family. He went to bed and at
2:15 am this past Sunday evening, Beau let out a blood curling scream and when they jumped out of bed, their dog was DEAD!!
Their family is devastated!! Why would a healthy 14 MONTH old healthy dog suddenly die?!? Are there rare heart issues with
this breed? They paid $2200 for this puppy, plus the cost of vet visits, etc. Something obviously happened, how do they find out
the reason for his sudden death? This family is heartbroken –
Kindly omit my last name from the above comment. Thank you.
Why was my above concern regarding my family’s 14 mo. old lab suddenly gone? I really need answers to their puppy’s
sudden death. Please answer. Thank you. Not sure about website.
Kathleen, the only way to know why their puppy suddenly passed away, is if they had done a necropsy. To quote the website of American College of Veterinary Pathologists, “Put simply, a necropsy is the examination of an animal after death. The purpose of a necropsy is typically to determine the cause of death, or extent of disease. This involves a careful process of dissection, observation, interpretation, and documentation.” There could have been an underlying health condition that wasn’t ruled out when the mom was bred.
Fantastic resource for Labrador owners! This post covers the most common health conditions that Labradors may encounter, and it’s packed with valuable tips for prevention and management. As a Labrador parent, I can’t thank you enough for sharing this information. Knowledge is power, and now I feel more equipped to ensure my furry buddy’s well-being. Kudos!