One of the most popular dog breeds is the adorable and sweet-faced Labrador Retriever. Labs are perfect if you are looking for a medium-to-large dog for your family, as they make friendly, outgoing, and affectionate companions with plenty of love to share. Labrador Retrievers can stand between 21.5 and 24.5 inches tall and weigh 25-36kg, depending on gender. They have a thick, durable coat in decadent chocolate, black, and yellow colors.
Personality Traits of a Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are known to have friendly, sociable, and loyal personalities. They enjoy spending time with their families and are happiest when they can be included in family activities. Labrador Retrievers are intelligent and trainable, which make them excellent candidates for service work such as assistance and search and rescue dogs. They are easy-going and energetic pets that love extra attention and exercise. With their sensitive and affectionate nature, they make excellent companions. Labrador Retrievers get along well with both sole owners and families and are great with children and other pets. They have a tolerant, outgoing, friendly, and affectionate temperament towards everyone.
Caring for a Labrador Retriever
Generally, labradors are very affectionate with people, including total strangers, and get along incredibly well with kids and other dogs. However, supervision is still crucial when introducing a Lab to these family members for the first time.
Labrador Retrievers have a double coat, distinguishing them from other dog breeds and making their hides water-resistant. A layer of longer hair covers a short undercoat of fur. Because of their double coat, Labradors shed a lot, necessitating frequent brushing to control it.
Family members who enjoy spending much time outside will enjoy having a Labrador Retriever as a pet.
Companionship with a Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are the perfect dogs for new owners since they are playful, intelligent, and have a kind disposition. Due to their sensitive and loving nature, they make wonderful companions. They get along well with family members, and can easily handle the stress of modern life since they are enthusiastic and generally calm.
Exercising Habits for a Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers require at least two hours of exercise daily for optimal mental and physical health.
Ensure your pet doesn't overdo it when exercising, as Labradors frequently get carried away, especially during their puppy years when their joints and bones are still developing.
Swimming is an excellent exercise for Labradors, especially elderly dogs and those with joint problems, due to their natural swimming abilities.
Training a Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever puppies are known for their high energy levels and muscular build. Proper training during their early years is essential for their growth and development. It is recommended that they undergo puppy and obedience training programs.
Visit our blog on positive dog training techniques for a detailed training program.
Socializing labs with different people and animals early is crucial to helping them adjust to their surroundings. If your puppy displays biting, snarling, chewing, or other destructive behavior, correct them immediately to prevent it from becoming a habit.
This friendly breed will respond to your tone of voice and does well with positive reinforcement techniques. These large, friendly dogs react well to peppy training techniques that include your voice and positive reinforcement because life is a game to them.
Due to their retriever mix breed, these labs like playing fetch and will do so for as long as you throw the ball to keep them physically active and mentally stimulated!
How to feed a Labrador Retriever
The ideal feeding schedule for Labrador Retrievers is twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Think about a slow-feeding gadget if you see your dog chowing down on food. As a result, your dog won't be able to consume as much food at once and won't experience the stomach distress and regurgitation that can occur when they eat too quickly.
Note that due to their deep chests, Labrador Retrievers are prone to gastric dilation volvulus, a life-threatening condition where the stomach rotates and twists on itself.
How much to Feed a Labrador Retriever
Feeding Labrador Retriever puppies below 12 months with a high-quality puppy formula is essential. This is because they experience rapid growth spurts during this period. Puppy food gives them the extra calories required to reach their maximum potential. Feeding instructions on the back of the bag should be followed based on the puppy's age and estimated body weight, especially for large-breed puppies.
To avoid unintended weight gain, switch to a premium large-breed adult formula after your Labrador Retriever reaches the age of one year. This formula has fewer calories than the puppy formula. Consult with your veterinarian and check the package for feeding guidelines to maintain your Labrador Retriever's weight.
You can quickly consult with experienced vets on Discovervet.
Nutritional Tips for a Labrador Retriever
Monitoring your Labrador's weight is essential because it can be easy for them to put on a few extra kilograms.
Your Labrador puppy needs the appropriate calories, protein, minerals, and vitamins ratio. Veterinarians advise Labrador puppies to consume dog chow specially made for a large breed because it can help them avoid joint illness as they mature.
Two portions of premium pet food should be given to an adult Labrador Retriever daily. If in doubt, stick to the serving size suggested on the food box and try to limit food rewards and treats.
Early use of a joint supplement by Labrador Retrievers can help delay or prevent arthritis.
Another supplement to consider giving a Labrador Retriever is fish oil, an omega-3 fatty acid. The lustrous coat, protection from environmental allergens, and reduction of joint inflammation are critical benefits of this supplement.
Grooming Tips for a Labrador Retriever
Although they don't need much grooming, Labrador Retrievers shed a lot. You should include brushing and de-shedding in your daily, weekly, and monthly grooming maintenance regimens.
Skin Care
Although Labrador Retrievers don't need particular skin care regimens, it's crucial to ensure they are scorched after swimming and baths to prevent skin problems.
Coat Maintenance
Labrador Retrievers have a thick, double coat designed to repel water. This means they have a layer of longer hair on top of a dense undercoat of shorter hair. However, due to their double coat, Labrador Retrievers shed a lot and require frequent brushing to keep their coat healthy. Additionally, they need to take occasional baths to maintain clean skin and coat.
Eye Care
It's typical for Labrador Retrievers to have a little clear or brown eye discharge occasionally. It's beneficial to wipe up eye discharge as soon as it occurs with a damp washcloth.
Ear Care
Labrador Retrievers often get ear infections due to their floppy ears and love of water. To reduce the risk of ear infections, it is beneficial to clean your ears with an ear cleaner that contains a drying agent every 2-3 weeks and after bathing and swimming.
Common Health Issues of a Labrador Retrievers & Solutions
Generally speaking, Labrador Retrievers are a healthy breed. However, owners should be aware of a few potential health risks.
Ear Infections
Due to a few factors, Labrador Retrievers are more likely to have ear infections:
They have floppy ears that can collect moisture and wax and cause infection and inflammation in the ear canal. Most Labrador Retrievers enjoy being in the water and swimming, but water in their ears from swimming or bathing can cause an ear infection.
An ear infection may show these signs:
- Redness and debris in the ear canal
- Head twitching
- Head inclination
- Rubbing ears on carpet/furniture
- Odor in ears
- Clutching of ears
Cleaning a Labrador Retriever's ears with a drying agent ear cleaner like EPI OPTIC® Advanced can help reduce the risk of ear infections. Do this after swimming or bathing every two to three weeks for maintenance.
(If your pet is showing severe symptoms of an infection/allergy, book an in-clinic or at-home consultation with experienced vets at DiscoverVet now.)
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia
The tricuspid valve pumps blood from the atrium into the ventricle on the right side of the heart. Tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) in Labrador Retrievers results in a dysfunctional valve that permits blood to seep backward into the right atrium. The right atrium and right ventricle grow over time.
A regular medical examination may or may not reveal a cardiac murmur in Labrador Retrievers with TVD.
They may not exhibit any symptoms or may have right-sided heart failure symptoms, such as:
- coughing
- fluid in the abdomen
- enlarged abdomen
- breathing difficulties
- rapid heart rate
Patient history, physical examination, chest x-rays, ECG, and echocardiography are frequently used to diagnose TVD. The treatment of this illness often involves the use of heart medicines.
Depending on the disease's severity, the prognosis for Labrador Retrievers with TVD can change.
Elbow Dysplasia
Degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the elbow results from multiple genetic orthopedic disorders, referred to as elbow dysplasia.
The following traits could be present in labrador retrievers:
UAP: Ununited Anconeal Process
OCD, or osteochondritis dissecans
MCD, or medial compartment disease
Elbow joint discordance
After exercise, forelimb lameness may occur due to any of these conditions. Pain is frequently found when a veterinarian examines the elbow's range of motion.
Elbow dysplasia can affect both elbows occasionally. The most common tests to diagnose this condition are X-rays and advanced imaging such as CT scans. The only treatment option for elbow dysplasia is orthopedic surgery. If the surgery is performed when the dog is young and the condition is in its early stages, the prognosis is usually favorable.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a genetic orthopedic disorder that results in the femur head not fitting correctly into the hip joint. This leads to the femoral head rubbing against the hip socket, which causes the hip joint to undergo bone remodeling and eventually results in arthritis.
One hip joint or both hip joints may experience hip dysplasia. Although uncommon, some Labrador Retrievers are born with congenital hip dysplasia, while others get it as they age. The signs include:
- Lameness
- difficulty rising slowly from a seated position
- hopping like a bunny when running
- refusal to move quickly, jump, or climb or descend stairs
- when sitting upright, holding out the offending leg
Puppies as young as 16 weeks old can be subjected to the PennHIP screening procedure. Sedation or anesthesia is required.
Depending on the degree, hip dysplasia might get a variety of treatments. Hip dysplasia can sometimes be controlled with the help of vitamins, drugs, and a reduced activity level. In some situations, a dog can require surgery to address the problem.
Centronuclear Myopathy
Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a rare genetic disorder that is present from birth. Weakened muscles and abnormal centralization of nuclei in skeletal muscle fibers characterize it, which affects skeletal muscle. One of its significant symptoms is the deterioration of hind limbs' reflexes. This leads to an irregular stride and an inability to engage in physical activities like running and walking. The condition tends to worsen in colder regions, causing muscle deterioration. In Labradors, symptoms usually appear between 2 and 5 months of age. When a dog turns 1, its head, neck, and leg muscles generally start to atrophy, resulting in weakness and persistent gait problems. However, after one year of age, the condition usually stabilizes.
To diagnose CNM, a muscle biopsy is required. Genetic therapy is the preferred mode of treatment for this illness. The genetic mutation for CNM in Labrador Retrievers can be detected by DNA testing. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs, and those with the genetic mutation won't be bred.
Exercise-Induced Collapse
Labrador Retrievers can be affected by a hereditary neuromuscular condition called exercise-induced collapse (EIC). This condition typically starts in the hind limbs and can cause reduced muscle tone after intense exercise or excitement. The hind limbs may become abruptly weak, leading to stumbling or collapsing while walking.
Dogs typically bounce back, although subsequent episodes of EIC are possible. A dog's rectal temperature during an outbreak can reach 107 °F, which is dangerous. Around their first birthday, Labrador Retrievers with EIC typically begin experiencing attacks. If your dog has EIC, your veterinarian can help you choose the best action.
The genetic mutation that causes Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC) in Labrador Retrievers can be identified through DNA testing. It is strongly recommended to avoid breeding dogs that test positive for the mutation.
Hemangiosarcoma
A Labrador Retriever's spleen, liver, or heart are the most common locations where hemangiosarcoma (HAS) first appears. HAS develops into blood-filled tumors that can rupture at any time, posing a life-threatening risk to the dog by causing internal bleeding.
Clinical indicators may include:
- weakness
- white or pale gums
- ascites, fluid in the abdomen
- having no appetite
- having trouble breathing
Diagnostic procedures like X-rays, ultrasounds, or CT scans use technology to produce accurate images of internal structures and organs. However, these tests may initially be unable to detect hemangiosarcoma because of its rapid ability to spread to other body parts. The prognosis for this cancer is pretty bad.
Nutritional Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Labrador Retrievers can develop nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy (nutritional DCM) by consuming a grain-free diet that includes peas, beans, or lentils among the top five ingredients. DCM can cause the heart muscle to become enlarged and weak, resulting in dilated and dysfunctional heart chambers.
Asymptomatic Labrador Retrievers with mild to moderate DCM are possible. Rapid heartbeat, coughing, respiratory problems, drowsiness, lack of appetite, collapse, weight loss, and even death are signs of severe instances.
A veterinarian may identify this heart problem by listening for a heart murmur during a routine examination or doing an NT-proBNP assay.
Feeding a high-quality grain-rich meal with cardiac vitamins can reverse nutritional DCM if detected early. Although heart drugs may be able to treat the disease for a while, if it is advanced, the disease cannot be reversed at that point. You can stop this problem by providing your Labrador with a well-balanced food containing grain.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
The eye condition known as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) can come from several different genetic abnormalities. The retina gradually deteriorates, causing the pupils to dilate permanently and eventually blind.
An eye exam can be used to identify PRA. It typically appears in Labrador Retrievers between 3 and 9 years old.
Dogs with this illness may benefit from gene therapy, but further study is required to ensure a better outcome. Reputable breeders will DNA screen their canines for the PRA mutations. The breeding of dogs with specific genetic mutations is not recommended.
Conclusion
Due to the adaptability and propensity of labrador retrievers for a balanced temperament, this brilliant breed is fantastic for inexperienced and experienced pet parents. Like any breed, Labradors can also develop various health issues, and the species is especially prone to joint problems like elbow or hip dysplasia. It is best advised to consult an experienced vet regularly to monitor your pet's health.
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