![]() ![]() If you’re worried about the amount of food your dog is consuming, or wish to monitor their nutrition, it may be worth considering investing in an automatic food dispenser. This video contains plenty of tips and advice on weight loss in dogs, including the more important method of measuring your dogs weight by feel and sight, not just by scales: QUICK RECOMMENDATION: We like to use a mix of dog foods when feeding our Labs, but our #1 recommendation is Wellness Core Grain Free Dog Food. Make sure you keep an eye on your Lab’s weight to check for consistency and remember that treats are most effective when doled out in small quantities. Obesity in Labs can lead to a slew of other health problems – particularly diseases affecting their heart, kidneys, and liver – which will apparently serve to limit their lifespan. Just as important, if not more, is ensuring they live in a happy and healthy environment that is set up for a long life.įirstly, a nutritionally balanced diet and plenty of exercise will set a great baseline for your Lab’s health.Įnsure you buy high-quality dog food and use treats sparingly as part of your training routine – it’s incredibly easy to enable your dog accidentally to gain weight with a few too many treats or indulgences in human food. Of course, genetic factors are only one side of the story when it comes to the longevity of your Lab. These disorders can be avoided as far as possible if you make sure only to buy puppies from responsible, licensed breeders who have had the sire and dam genetically tested prior to breeding and found to not be carrying these ‘problem genes.’ A Healthy Lifestyle Equals a Longer Life There are many of these inherited diseases associated with Labs, most notably hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy and many eye and sight problems. One of the major drawbacks of pedigree dogs is the fact they are more susceptible to genetically inherited diseases that can, of course, limit lifespan. Are Labs Vulnerable to any Genetic Disorders? ![]() While Labs are indeed on the larger side which can limit their lifespan, they are otherwise blessed with an otherwise well-conforming body – in proportion, athletic and no mitigating features like a short face, small skull or excess skin, that can cause health problems in later life. The exact science behind the lifespan trends in dogs isn’t yet fully understood, although it’s thought that the size and conformity of the body is a significant factor. So, as a pedigree and a medium to large sized dog, your Lab’s lifespan is automatically shorter than that of a smaller mongrel, for instance. Additionally, mongrels live longer than pedigrees – by an average of 1.2 extra years. ![]() The general rule of thumb is that smaller dogs live longer than their larger counterparts. Labrador Genes Automatically Limit Their Lifespanġ0 to 14 years old may not sound particularly old, especially for a fit and healthy dog, but there are a couple of factors that will automatically limit a Lab’s lifespan to some extent. One of our favorites, Your Labrador Retriever Puppy is a great resource for all Lab owners. QUICK RECOMMENDATION: We’ve read many books and magazines about Labrador Retrievers. ![]() The average Labrador lifespan is somewhere between 10 and 14 years, provided they aren’t beset by any exceptional health issues or injuries.īut what factors go into determining how long Labradors live? Can you have an effect on this? It’s tough to gauge exactly how long your Labrador might live as there are so many factors, both genetic and environmental, that contribute to their life expectancy. ![]()
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