There are a lot of reasons why people get a Labrador and a lot of reasons why the Labrador is the most popular breed of dog in the world. Aside from being intelligent and obedient the Labrador is also a relatively healthy dog. If you get medical care for your dog when it needs it and make sure there are regular visits to the vet then the average Labrador will live for twelve to fifteen years. But you should also know some of the warning signs of Labrador health problems so that you know when your dog may need help.
If your dog is having problems walking then it may be experiencing a condition known as hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is when the hip is not properly formed and causes severe pain when the dog walks. It gets worse over time so make sure you get your dog to the vet right away if you notice any problems when it is walking.
Your vet may come to realize that your dog does not have hip dysplasia at all because Labradors are also prone to other developmental Labrador health problems that can affect the joints. One of the more common is the elbow joint and this can also cause your dog a great deal of pain when it tries to walk so be sure to get your dog to the vet right away to get the surgery it needs to relieve the pain of this chronic condition.
Labradors are also known to get simple problems such as eye infections. If you notice excess fluid in your dog’s eyes then get them to the vet for medication right away. Eye infections can get complicated by your dog cleaning their eyes constantly to relieve the infection so be sure that you do not wait on the eye condition and get the antibiotics and other medications your dog needs to relieve its discomfort as soon as possible.
Sometimes the Labrador health problems that your dog can experience don’t seem so bad to you but they are devastating to your dog. Labradors love to eat and usually their owners love to feed them. However obesity is a huge Labrador health problem and it is up to the owner to regulate their dog’s diet to be certain that they are not eating too much. Also make sure your Labrador gets plenty of exercise every day to avoid obesity and just getting lazy in general.
Your Labrador can be the best pet you have ever had but just like with any other pet there are responsibilities involved in owning a Labrador. Keep track of their behavior and keep and eye out for anything that may seem like a problem. Keep them active and on a proper diet to avoid obesity and always make sure you get your dog to regular visits to the vet to avoid any problems for their lifetime.
You can find good information on Labrador care in this article. Check this article if you think you may need emergency care for your Labrador.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!