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Labrador Retriever Health Care & Feeding

By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books

Labrador Retriever

Start your Labrador Retriever puppy off on the right foot by feeding the right food, giving the right vaccinations, finding the right vet, and if you're going to spay or neuter, don't do it too early.


Jump down to this list of
Labrador Retriever Health Problems


Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Labrador Retriever puppy or adult dog:

Obedience instructor and author Michele Welton Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Labrador Retriever lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet... [read more]

numeral 33 Best Ways To Feed Your Dog Healthy Food
You can dramatically increase your dog's chances of living a long, healthy life by feeding the right food. Cutting right to the chase, the best foods for your Labrador Retriever are... [read more]

Real homemade dog food A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Labrador Retriever will love real chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, yogurt, broccoli.... this is not just "people food" and I'll tell you why... [read more]

Dry kibble and canned dog food 5 Best Kibble and Canned Dog Foods
Some are better than others, but I must be honest – I'm not a huge fan of dry or canned dog food. Here are my concerns... [read more]

Information on booster shots for your German Shepherd. Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Labrador Retriever puppy really need? Does your adult dog need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed! Find out what some vets aren't telling you... [read more]

Information on spaying Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Should your female Labrador Retriever be spayed? Current research says, "The AGE at which you spay can be vitally important to your dog's future health." So what's the best age? [read more]

Information on neutering your male dog. Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Have you been told that you must neuter your male Labrador Retriever? Current research shows that the issue is not so simple. Pet owners are not being told about some risks associated with neutering male dogs, especially neutering too early... [read more]

Information on choosing the best vet Make Sure Your Vet is the Best!
Is your current veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Here's how to tell... [read more]

Assisi Loop Assisi Loop Review
Does your Labrador Retriever suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, colitis? My honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to reduce inflammation and pain. [read more]

Labrador Retriever dog breed

Complete list of Labrador Retriever health problems

The typical lifespan of Labrador Retrievers is 10-12 years. Some do live to 13 or 14, but often with chronic health issues such as arthritis.


Orthopedic disorders

Most large breeds, including Labs, have higher-than-average rates of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, which can range from uncomfortable to crippling. Surgery may or may not be possible. These joint diseases always result in arthritis, as well.

Other painful orthopedic conditions can strike young Labradors: hypertrophic osteodystrophy (very serious) or panosteitis (less serious, usually goes away with maturity, but causes pain and lameness for months).

Labrador Retrievers are also prone to rupturing the cruciate ligament in their hind legs. Actually both cruciate ligaments, since when one goes, the other usually follows months or years later.

Eye diseases

  • When a Lab has inherited genes for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), it will appear at 4-8 years old and always leads to blindness.
  • Cataracts can appear anytime from birth to old age.
  • Retinal dysplasia (RD) is fairly common in Labrador puppies, especially from field-hunting lines. RD ranges from mild to severe. Oddly enough, it can be accompanied by a form of dwarfism in which the front legs are shortened and bowed out at the elbows.
  • Eyelid abnormalities in Labradors include entropion and ectropion.

Heart disease

The form of heart disease that is most concerning in Labrador Retrievers is called tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD).

TVD occurs in other breeds as well, but it is inherited in Labradors. Someone thinking of breeding should make absolutely sure to test both parents for this disease. It is simply irresponsible to breed any Lab without testing for TVD.

There's no cure for TVD. You just have to hope it doesn't progress too quickly. You can try to manage the symptoms with medications and careful monitoring of exercise.

Skin disorders and tumors

Allergies are common. Allergies cause itchy skin and often lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma). Other skin diseases in Labs include seborrhea, lick granuloma, and nail bed disease.

Lumps, growths, tumors, and cancers (especially those that first appear on the skin) are fairly common in Labrador Retrievers.

These include mast cell tumors, melanoma, histiocytic sarcoma, and digital squamous cell carcinoma. That last one is cancer that appears on one of the dog's toes. Yes, that sounds odd, but it's a very serious cancer.

Neurological or neuromuscular diseases

Labrador Retrievers can be affected by some extremely serious, even deadly disorders that affect the brain, nervous system, and/or muscles. The names of these conditions are a real mouthful to say, but you should be aware of them if you're interested in Labs.

Polyneuropathy (specifically centronuclear myopathy), laryngeal paralysis, megaesophagus, myasthenia gravis, cerebellar ataxia, and narcolepsy.... all occur in Labrador Retrievers.

Some Labs may have vague head tremors that aren't harmful, but may be the result of unknown abnormalities in the brain.

Finally, there is exercise-induced collapse (EIC) which is exactly what it sounds like. It first appears in older pups and adolescents, especially those from field/hunting lines.

EIC only appears when the dog is exercising vigorously – not just running around, but participating in a strenuous activity (such as a hunting field trial) where the dog is extremely excited and intense. An affected dog suddenly becomes incoordinated and begins swaying, then collapses and requires a rest of 10-20 minutes before he can move again.

The cause of EIC is not known for sure. But it is hereditary in Labs, so it's important to test at least one parent before breeding. Fortunately, it's a mostly benign condition that need only be managed sensibly, by restricting intense exercise in dogs who have inherited the disorder.

Miscellaneous health issues

As with all deep-chested breeds, Labrador Retrievers are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat.

Epilepsy, which appears around the age of 2 or 3, has become a serious concern in the breed.

Hormonal/endocrine system diseases occur in Labs, especially hypothyroidism, but also diabetes and Addison's disease.

Blood-clotting diseases (von Willebrand's, hemophilia A, hemophilia B) are potential concerns in Labrador Retrievers.

Preventing health problems

Some health problems are inherited. For example, if both parents of your Labrador Retriever have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and eye diseases, your Lab has less risk of developing those conditions.

Dog feeding and health book by Michele Welton Other health problems can be prevented, or partially prevented, by the ways you raise your dog.

FREE eBOOK! My free online health care program, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Labrador Retriever puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways. It will help you be your dog's health care champion!

Michele Welton with BuffyAbout the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs.

My best-selling books – now available  FREE  on my website


book coverRespect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy is for puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. Click here to read for free.
book coverTeach Your Dog 100 English Words is a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your adult dog to listen to you and do what you say. Click here to read for free.
book cover11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy helps your dog live a longer, healthier life. Get my honest advice about all 11 Things before you bring home your new puppy, because some mistakes with early health care cannot be undone. Click here to read for free.