Common Diseases in Labrador Retrievers

From joint problems to obesity and diabetes, it’s important to know the most common diseases in Labrador Retrievers so that we can care for our pups.

While we hate to think about something bad happening to anyone we love, it’s crucial to have a proactive approach when caring for your Lab. By understanding some of the most common diseases in Labrador Retrievers, you will be able to pick up on any worrying signs and act quickly to address things that shorten your dog’s life. Unlike things such as holiday dangers for your dog, there are medical concerns common to Labs that you should be aware of. 

In this article, we’re going to take you through the most common diseases,  many of which we are able to test for and clear our Labs prior to breeding, that Labrador Retrievers experience throughout their lives. This information is not provided to upset or worry you, but to make sure that you have the education you need to be there for your furry friend if times do get rough. And the color of your lab’s coat doesn’t matter, all labs (silver, yellow, black, chocolate and fox red) can develop the same issues.

Arthritis is a common disease in Labrador retrievers

About 20 percent of all adult dogs have some degree of arthritis, and Labs are not immune to this condition. 

Your Labrador Retriever must maintain a healthy weight, as obesity is a significant risk factor.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in dogs, and it occurs because of damaged cartilage. The dog will not feel any pain in the beginning, as cartilage does not have any nerves. 

Your Lab will continue his usual activities, yet being active increases damage.

Some of the signs you should look out for include:

• Shrinking away from being touched
• Stiffness
• Sensitivity to damp and cold weather
• Reluctance to climb stairs
• Limping 
• Avoiding activity 

Arthritis can cause a lot of problems for dogs, yet, thankfully, there are some things you can do to reduce pain and the symptoms of this condition.

Your vet may prescribe your dog with one of several medications. There is also a new class of supplements, known as nutraceuticals, which have proven to be very helpful. Not only do they ease pain, but they work to restore and protect your dog as well. Examples include chondroitin and glucosamine. It is important to recognize that every dog is different, though, so some dogs respond better to nutraceuticals than others, and they can take a while to work.

Physical therapy and other homeopathic treatments also lessen the discomfort and pain.

We recommend making sure your dog has a warm place to sleep with soft, comfortable bedding to help him feel more at ease.

Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis

This is an inherited disease that impacts the nose of a Labrador. It tends to develop from the age of six to 12-months of age. Our dogs are clear of being affected by this disease genetically prior to breeding.

Dogs that are affected will develop gray to brown, rough, dry crusts. In rare cases, they will have painful cracks on the tip of their nose. Lesions can also develop on the haired area around the nose. 

Labradors with hereditary nasal parakeratosis also become more prone to superficial bacterial infections.

This disorder requires continual topical therapy to manage the condition and stop excessive nasal crusting from occurring. 

More Common Diseases in Labrador Retrievers

Degenerative Myopathy

This is a disease that impacts the spinal cord, causing slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. Our dogs are cleared of being affected by this disease genetically prior to breeding.

The exact cause of degenerative myopathy is unknown. Diagnosis can be challenging because the symptoms are very similar to osteoarthritis. 

Early clinical signs to look out for include:

• Difficulty getting up from a lying position
• Hind feet scraping the ground when walking
• Falling over easily when touched from the side
• Hindquarters appearing to sway when standing still
• Hind paws turn under so your dog walks on its knuckles 

There is currently no cure, physical therapy has shown to preserve muscle mass and prolong the Lab’s quality of life.

Panosteitis

This disease is sometimes called “Wandering Lameness.” It tends to appear as lameness in one of your dog’s forelegs, which could then transfer to the other leg the following day.

Panosteitis occurs due to inflammation in the long bones of the front legs. It typically occurs in Labradors that are between six and 14-months-old.

Although the condition is very painful, it will go away on its own. It is advisable to give your dog anti-inflammatory drugs to assist with the pain, and ensure your furry friend gets plenty of rest while he heals. 

Muscular dystrophy

This is a hereditary disease, which occurs in the dog’s muscle tissues. With muscular dystrophy, the dog will have alterations and deficiencies in the dystrophin protein, which are responsible for keeping the muscle membranes in optimal condition.

If your dog has this condition, you may notice symptoms from when your Lab is just ten months old. Symptoms include excessive drooling, increased tongue thickness, refusal to exercise, weakness when walking, and stiffness. Some of the more serious symptoms include muscle spasms and breathing difficulties.

It is important to note that this condition is more common among male Labradors than females. 

Sadly, there is no cure for this disease at present. Extensive studies are carried out to find an effective treatment, with current research heavily focused on administering stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy. 

Exercise-induced collapse

Often abbreviated to EIC, exercise-induced collapse tends to occur in energetic, young Labs. While exercising or playing, you may notice that your dog suddenly staggers or collapses. Our dogs are clear of this disease genetically prior to breeding.

It will appear as if your dog has lost control of its rear legs, and so it can be quite a worrying sight. In most cases, though, your dog will recover within five to 20 minutes.

There have been cases whereby EIC has been fatal, although these have been very rare. 

You will need to monitor your dog’s exercise, ensuring moderate exertion, and stopping your Lab if he is staggering or suddenly seems wobbly. 

Genetic testing identifies this condition. While there is no cure at present, through monitoring your dog’s exercise, you can make sure your Lab lives a normal life.

Common Diseases in Labrador Retrievers Continues

Ear infections

A Labrador’s floppy, big ears add to their lovable appearance. However, they also make Labs more susceptible to ear infections because they provide a suitable breeding ground for bacteria.

Keep your dog’s ears dry and clean to keep ear infections at bay. Establishing a routine by using a natural cleaner for your dog’s ears that will not only clean the ears it will create an environment for healthy tissue growth. If your dog has been swimming or has had a bath, take extra care to dry their ears afterward.

You should also remove any excess hair in their ears (a groomer can take care of this), and regularly check for any signs of an ear infection. If you notice any, book an important with a vet. Some dog’s ears need to be cleaned every month, some every week, and some every day. As well, you may want to investigate common allergies that may be causing ear infections. 

Urinary tract infections

Labradors can also experience urinary tract infections. Female dogs are more likely to be affected, as they have shorter urethras. Older dogs and dogs with pre-existing health conditions are also at higher risk. One common way that Labradors contract this is by having too frequent baths with the wrong soap or shampoo. 

Some of the symptoms of a urinary tract infection you should look out for include:

• Fatigue
• Increased thirst
• Bad odor from their urine
• Fever
• Frequent licking around the urinary opening
• Blood in dog urine
• Forgetting their house training
• Urinating frequently 
• Dribbling urine
• Difficulty urinating; you may notice a whimper and straining

If you notice any of these signs, you should take your dog to the vet for a diagnosis. If untreated, a urinary tract infection can cause further issues, including blood poisoning, bladder or kidney stones, and lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Treatment for a urinary tract infection is usually as simple as a course of antibiotics to clear the infection up. 

Retinal Dysplasia

This is one of the most common eye-related diseases that Labrador Retrievers experience. It is an inherited condition, which develops when the layers of the retina do not form correctly. Our dogs are cleared of being affected by this disease genetically prior to breeding.  

Rather than the retina forming a thin membrane at the back of the eye, it develops folds, which cause blind spots. 

In mild cases, the blind spots will be small and virtually unnoticeable, meaning your dog can still see fine.

For more severe cases, the blind spots are more prominent and can result in considerable visual impairment. In the worst cases, the retina can fully detach, which causes the dog to go blind.

There are eye exams that can be carried out to determine whether your dog has this condition. These exams are best carried out on Labrador Retriever puppies at around 14 weeks of age.

While there is no cure for this disease at present, it is not life-threatening or painful. 

Retinal dysplasia can also occur if your dog has Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 1. 

This is a type of developmental disease that can result in vision loss, lameness, and short-limbed dwarfism. Our dogs are cleared of being affected by this disease genetically prior to breeding.

Caudal myopathy

This is a condition known as “Limber Tail Syndrome,” and it can often give any owner of a Labrador Retriever a bit of a fright. 

However, it is essential to know that caudal myopathy is very common among Labs. Myopathy in this part of the body is characterized by a flaccid paralysis in the dog’s tail. 

Myopathy can happen when a dog is physically overstimulated or over-trained. It can also occur when they are bathed in very cold water, or kept in a kennel for a long journey. 

It is vital to give your dog anti-inflammatory treatment and allow it to rest so that it can regain all of its abilities. The area can be painful to touch, so give your dog the time required to make a full recovery.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is one of the common diseases that affect Labrador retrievers

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a term used to describe a number of diseases that result in retinal degeneration, eventually causing blindness.

The most common type in Labradors is progressive rod-cone degeneration. With this condition, the cone and rod cells in the eye develop normally, yet due to mutation, they eventually degenerate, which will result in blindness.

This condition tends to occur in Labs between the age of three and seven-years-old. However, it is not unheard of for it to develop earlier in a dog’s life.

Symptoms include changes in your dog’s behavior, as well as their eyes appearing shiny or cloudy. You also may notice your dog getting startled easily and bumping into things.

At first, night blindness will appear. This will then progress to the point where your Lab loses his sight completely. In most cases, it takes around six months for this to happen.

If your dog suffers from any type of PRA, it is advisable to keep their environment consistent. Most Labs will adapt to their disability over time if they have a settled life.

As this is a genetic disease, you can have a test carried out on your Lab to see if it has the genetic markers for PRA. 

While there is currently no cure for Progressive Retinal Atrophy, it does not impact a dog’s lifespan and it is not painful. Our dogs are cleared of being affected by this disease genetically prior to breeding.

Obesity

Obesity and diabetes are common within a lot of dog breeds, including Labs. 

The good news is that this is a condition that is pretty easy to prevent. You need to monitor your dog’s eating habits. Make sure your dog does not consume too much at mealtimes or in between them.

Portioning your dog’s food can help to make sure overeating does not become a problem. 

If you have noticed that your dog has started to bloat, take your Lab to a vet immediately. While bloating may be harmless in humans, it can be fatal in dogs.

A bloated stomach can mean a distended abdomen that has been caused due to a twisted or swollen stomach. Experts are still looking for the exact cause of this condition. However, they are all in agreement that avoiding your dog over-hydrating or over-eating can lower their chances of getting this condition. 

Heart disease

Heart disease is relatively common in dogs, particularly old ones. Even healthy dogs can develop the condition, yet it is still recommended to ensure your Labrador is up-to-date on vaccinations.

You also need to make sure your Lab gets plenty of exercise, drinks lots of water, and eats healthy food to reduce the chances of suffering from heart disease.

Some of the symptoms that may indicate heart disease in your Labrador are as follows:

• Weight loss
• Trouble breathing
• Abdomen swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Coughing
• Fatigue

If your dog shows any of these symptoms, you should book a veterinary appointment for an examination. 

Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia (TVD) is the most common type of heart disease in Labradors. This is a congenital condition, which tends to impact males. It is a defect in the valve to the right side of the heart that is present at birth.

The first signs of TVD include signs of congestive heart failure and a heart murmur. At present, there is no cure for TVD, yet your vet may prescribe to diuretics to aid with fluid retention. You may also be recommended to restrict your dog’s exercise so that unneeded stress is not placed on the heart.

Although this is a serious condition, Labs with a mild form of TVD tend to live normal and full lives. 

However, dogs that have a severe form of TVD will often develop congestive heart failure. With the advancements in treatments and medicine over the years, they could still have a high quality of life for several months or years. 

Joint problems, another of the common diseases that affect Labrador retrievers

A lot of Labrador Retrievers experience joint problems. Some of these problems can occur over time, yet others are hereditary and unavoidable.

Dysplasia is one of the most common diseases experienced by a Labrador Retriever. Examples include elbow and hip dysplasia. These conditions impact the elbow or hip joints, preventing natural movement and causing immobility and pain.

This is a condition that tends to be transmitted from parents to children. It results in the joints failing to develop correctly, which causes wear on the cartilage, as well as dysfunction and degeneration. 

While you cannot fully prevent dysplasia, there are some things you can do to reduce the chances of your Lab experiencing this disease.

The effects of dysplasia are lessened if your dog maintains a healthy weight. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure your Lab gets proper low-impact exercise and a diet of high-quality food that contains plenty of nutrients and vitamins.

There are also a lot of supplements available for dogs to aid with joint issues. However, their effectiveness is yet to be adequately studied, so we would always recommend consulting with your vet before trying any specific supplements and trying to provide these beneficial ingredients naturally through the food they eat.

Centronuclear myopathy

Centronuclear myopathy impacts Labrador puppies. It can show up as early as two weeks after birth. 

With centronuclear myopathy, puppies do not gain weight. Plus, as they age, their gait is awkward, unlike their littermates. 

You will also notice that your puppy does not exercise or run around like normal pups. This will become evident between the age of eight-weeks and five-months-old. 

This muscle disease can impact your Lab’s breathing, and make your pup move like an old dog at a young age. Despite this, your Lab puppy can live into adulthood with centronuclear myopathy. Our dogs are cleared of being affected by this disease prior to breeding.

Skeletal Dysplasia 2

This is a genetic disease that results in an early halts growth of the dog’s long bones. It is another common disease that affects Labrador Retrievers

Compared with other types of dwarfism, skeletal dysplasia 2 results in a disproportionate Labrador, with shortened front limbs and a raising dorsal line. Torso depth and length are not altered. 

Dogs with skeletal dysplasia 2 do not tend to exhibit other symptoms. Our dogs are cleared of being affected by this disease prior to breeding.

Cancer

Finally, cancer is another condition that is common amongst many dog breeds, not just Labradors. It is the biggest killer of dogs aged 10-years-old and above. Many people are shocked to discover that dogs are three times more likely to develop cancer than humans. 

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Early detection can make a massive difference thanks to technology progressions as of late, and so getting cancer is not the death sentence it used to be.

Common signs to look out for include:

• A strong, offensive odor coming from your dog’s mouth
• Weight loss
• Sores that will not heal
• Loss of stamina
• Persistent limping
• Difficulty eating or loss of appetite
• Difficulty relieving himself
• Breathing problems
• Any strange discharges or bleeding
• Abnormal swellings that continue to grow

If you notice any of these signs, it is vital to immediately get your dog checked by your vet. The sooner the cancer is detected, the quicker it can be treated.

Some of the available treatments include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.

Summary of common diseases in Labrador retrievers

So there you have it: some of the most common diseases experienced by Labrador Retrievers. Many of which can be tested for prior to mating so that puppies are not affected. If you feel that something is not quite right with your dog, the best thing to do is to book an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. It’s better to be safe than sorry! Plus, most diseases can be treated with ease if they are picked up on quickly.