Labrador Health

labrador-healthMaking sure that your Labrador stays in great health throughout his  lifetime is one of your top priorities.

Keeping your Labrador healthy

We explore a range of health issues in labs, and we have gathered lots of information to help you keep your Lab in tip-top condition.   In this section of the Labrador site you can find sections on:

Check out our health category Here you’ll find a collection of all our articles on Labrador health articles displayed one one page.  They cover a wide range of health topics. You can also find articles on Fears and Phobias,  and on other behavioral problems in our Labrador Behavior section.

Are Labs Healthy Dogs?

In general the Labrador Retriever is a fairly healthy breed. Labs don’t suffer from major conformational defects, they are well proportioned with a good length of leg and muzzle.

There are some genetic issues in the breed that have arisen due to inbreeding. And some of those issues can be tested for. So its important when choosing a Lab puppy, that you go to a breeder with a good knowledge of those tests, and a willingness to make use of them!

What to do when your Labrador is sick

We get many questions on this website from people whose dogs are sick or injured. We are always so sorry to read about dogs that are unwell. People send in their dog’s symptoms and most often ask about

  • Vomiting and tummy troubles
  • Limping
  • Hair loss / falling out
  • Failure to grow/thrive
  • Rashes

While we can provide information about different conditions that Labradors may suffer from, it isn’t possible for anyone, no matter how well qualified, to attempt to diagnose health problems over the internet. Usually, the best course of action is for you to visit or telephone your own veterinary surgeon.  It is especially important to seek help without delay, when a very young puppy is sick.

When to call the vet

Quite a lot of the puppy questions people ask us, are about puppies that need to be examined by a qualified vet. But it can be difficult for new puppy owners to know exactly when  to call the vet. And when to wait a while to see if the pup improves on his own For this reason, I am posting up some guidelines as to what is normal for an eight week old puppy,  and what might suggest that you need to take your puppy to your local vet.

Normal for puppies

A healthy Labrador puppy sleeps deeply but is lively when awake. He smells lovely, has clean ears and eyes, and pees often (eg at hourly intervals or more frequently) during the day.

When to call the vet to your puppyHe eats hungrily, and may have several bowel movements between waking up and bedtime. Many Labrador puppies cannot last more than four or five hours at night without a wee or a poo. Upset tummies are common in new puppies after rehoming, but need to be taken seriously as small puppies can get dehydrated very quickly.

Puppies bite very hard (it hurts) and growl fiercely while playing.  This is not aggression.

All the above is normal.   The following is not normal

Not normal for puppies

  • Call your vet if your puppy seems listless, won’t eat, has persistent diarrhoea, is sick more than once within 48 hours, or twice in a week.
  • Call your vet if your puppy swallows anything you think may harm him, cries for no apparent reason or in an unusual way.
  • Call your vet if your puppy’s breathing is noisy or laboured.
  • Call your vet if he drags one of his limbs, is unsteady on his feet, or seems to be limping.  Call your vet if your puppy has a discharge from any part of his body.
  • Call your vet if your puppy cuts himself, falls badly, or just seems generally off colour.

If in doubt, call your vet!

Puppies under eight weeks old

Very young puppies need special care, and puppies under eight weeks old need to be with their brothers and sisters. We strongly recommend that you do not purchase a puppy that is less than eight weeks old. We cannot advise you on feeding underage puppies, you do need to get this information from your vet or from a very experienced dog breeder.

More information

There are lots of articles on puppy care in the puppy sections that are listed on the main puppy page.  You’ll find this link on the menu bar at the top of every page on this site. We do try and answer as many of your questions as possible but will always give priority to topics that are not covered in the articles that are already on the website.

My vet isn’t helping

Sometimes people write in because they are not happy with their vet’s diagnosis or prescription. The answer is almost always to go back to your vet and talk to him about your concerns, or to get a second opinion.

Going back to your vet

Some vets, while brilliant with animals are not the greatest communicators with people. If your vet has not clearly explained his diagnosis (what is wrong with your dog) his prognosis (what he thinks will happen next) or his recommended treatment.  Get him to spell it out for you.  You are entitled to this information!  In plain English.

It is very common to leave a vet’s office or surgery, get home with your dog, and think of a whole load of questions you wish you had asked.  This is normal. We do it when we go to the doctor too.

Many people fail to make use of telephone consultations with their vet.  You don’t need to go to your veterinarian’s office in order to speak to him.   If you have questions to ask, or points that need clarifying, write them down and telephone him.  If he isnt available ask him to phone you back.  Many vets will do this free of charge provded you don’t make a constant habit of it.

Getting a second opinion

Even experts disagree sometimes, they are only human.  And we can’t all get on really well with everyone we meet. I think it is important that we have a good relationship with out vets, and that we understand what is going on when they treat our pets.

If your vet is a poor communicator, you are concerned about the treatment he has prescribed for your dog, or you simply don’t get along, there is nothing wrong with getting another opinion. In fact, it is the right thing to do.

Many people are not aware, that in the UK it is also illegal for anyone other than a qualified veterinary surgeon to diagnose or even recommend treatment for, anyone else’s animals. Any health information given on this website should be used in  conjunction with veterinary advice.

We are adding to our library all the time.  Let us know if there are any other topics you would like us to cover.   We love to hear from you!

434 COMMENTS

  1. My ten week old fox red lab (male) had white bits in his poo after worming. There were also a couple of spots of blood – is this normal?

  2. Hi pippa! I just got an one month old yellow labrador he is a male….but the problem is he is not showing response on my call and also he looks scared….moreover his back limbs are kind of net set properly means he his not able to take his weight on all 4 limbs properly..IS IT NORMAL???plzz help me

  3. How much exercise should my labs be getting? They are 9 months old. Till now I have stuck, or tried to, to the 5minutes per month rule which is really hard when you have two brother from the same litter who just want to play. I work full time so I have a puppy sitter visit in the morning and the afternoon for 30mins each time so they can have toilet break and play and then I take them for a walk in the evenings. They are very happy healthy puppies with boundless energy.
    When can I stop counting the minutes?

    • The five minute rule is just a guide Deby. You don’t need to follow it slavishly, but it is good to avoid long hikes or intensive runs until your dog has finished growing.

  4. Not sure if you can help but was just wondering if anyone else’s Labrador suffers from itching licking paws etc mines on atopica and royal canin hypoallergenic food but I would love to get her cut down on the tablets if not off them and could anyone advice on maybe a cheaper food if anyone has went though this and something else worked I will try anything any help would be great thanks in advance

  6. hi
    I’m worried my new puppy Harley is 6 weeks old and the breeder wouldn’t usually let them go this early but his vet said he was a big and healthy pup but he has been getting runny poos and not eating all his food I’m so worried I’m crying I want him to be okay..

  8. Please help my 13 year old choc lab Maki has developed a heart murmer diagnosed by vet he is on venmedin and a water tablet 3x a day he is going for X-rays and tests on Monday as he coughs all the time he has started coughing mucus up it was clear but now has speckles of black in and pants all the time what can I expect in results I know a diagnosis isn’t poss just some clues

  9. Hi,
    My 10 year old black lab has started pulling his fur out on his back end. There is dry skin around the area and some small hard lumps but i have already changed his shampoo to a skin soothing one.

  10. I’ve had my 10 and a half year old black Lab on Rose Hip Vital Canine for 4 weeks and we have noticed a remarkable DECREASE in moulting. In all the years we’ve had him, I have practically swept up enough hair every day to stuff a thousand quilts!! … Has any other RHVC user noticed this… Also, RHVC comes only in powder. My boy put on 3 Kilos because I was mixing it in mince. He normally only has chicken frames. Any suggestions on how to get this powder in him would be so very much appreciated

  11. Hi, i am very worried about my black lab, 1 year old and a female. she has completed her vaccines. one day that she was limping on her back legs and then was getting lazy, sleeping all the time and would not care about anything, her eating habits were lessen unlike before that she can eat the whole bowl of dog food but now she ate a bit and is very choosy. and i think she had lost weight a bit and i am very scared for her. i cannot send her to a vet right away because it is night time and all the symptoms got worse just this time.

  12. Hi…
    My 5 years old dog (Charlie) is on Royal Canine Junior Labs. Should I feed him this or buy Royal Canine for adult dogs? Please advice.

    • I have a four month old Labrador pup who has recently been diagnosed with Cerebellar Hypoplasia. She is on medication now, and while doctors have mixed reaction about her survival, one the Nepali doctor is confident that she will survive. At the moment, she pees and passes stool while sitting down, thus wetting her hind legs. When she gets excited, she trips and at times bangs her cheek and head. She eats very well. Her favourite is meat, carrots, spinach and yellow pumpkin. can anyone share their experience on how to take care of a pup with cerebellar hypoplasia?

      Thanks

      Jyotsna

      Edited to remove personal information

  13. Hi Pippa
    My 3 months old lab’s hair fall & back legs week. he has not running properly. I take 3 time pedigree and 3 time human cerelac to my lebrador dog. I have check the doctor, he has given some medicine and injection to my dog. his hair fall stop to some time and no improvement back legs. but last 15 days his hair fall come again. Please suggest me any medicine for hair fall and legs weakness.
    Thanks and regards
    Vikrant

  14. Hi- my 6 year old lab has begun to lose weight. She has always been a hefty girl, but now is thin. She still has a great appetite, and is always on play mode. We aren’t sure where the weightless has come from. We haven’t changed her food or amount of food. Any ideas? Thank so much for your help!

      • Hi Pippa
        My 3 months old lab’s hair fall & back legs week. he has not running properly. I take 3 time pedigree and 3 time human cerelac to my lebrador dog. I have check the doctor, he has given some medicine and injection to my dog. his hair fall stop to some time and no improvement back legs. but last 15 days his hair fall come again. Please suggest me any medicine for hair fall and legs weakness.
        Thanks and regards
        Vikrant

  15. hello I have a5 year old yellow lab that is doing great so far but she does seem a little lonely I’m looking into getting up English puppy from 8 weeks they both will be girls I just wanna know will they get along is that a good idea in this type of breed

  17. i have 6 months the old lebredor…….the back legs are weak of dog………….doctor say s the joint are not grow according to its wight………………is any good medicine for that problm

  18. hi id appreciate some help with this.. recently my 7 yr old lab is refusing to get out of car when we return home from going on an errant. he sometimes comes along as he loves going on drives.. i dont know weather he just likes in the car for a while or if hes unwell or in pain.. if you could give me your opinion or advise, so i can decide what to do.. thank you. aine

  19. Hello. I have noticed my Lab has been drooling quite a bit lately. She has never ha drooling problems before. This July she will be turning 9, could it be part of her aging? He has also been tearing and her tears are dark and staining her beautiful face. Is this an issue I should take her to the vet for? Or is there a simple fix it with supplements method?? Thank you!
    Jax

  21. My 3 year old dog frodo has got infected by lots and lots of ticks .i have tried every possible way to get rid of them but it’s of no use . I have started putting medicines and chemicals every week but it is not helping .what should I do now ? Are these ticks harmful for my children too ?

  22. i hav a 5 year old lab he is think so suffering from kennel cough since 2 weeks first i thought it is a normal cough but it isn’t stopping now.pls tell me what to do, I am gonna take him tomorrow to the vet still please recommend me something.

  23. My 3 month old lab drinks ALOT of water. Sometimes he even empties the water bowl in one setting. Is this normal? Or should I be worried?

  24. How recommended is it to remove the dew claws from the Lab pubs? And if it is, what are the age limits for doing this? I see that many breeders removed them very early on, but could they be removed later on in the first year?

  25. My nearly 2 year old black lab has never had a season , she is still very puppy like as if she’s not been through puberty. Should we be worried?

  26. I had gotten two females puppies 9weeks old both sisters one is germin & rot & other puppy germen & lab from the first day they got home till now they eat the potty pads how can I stop them from doing that? And they both just got spayed n they both got more high Pier n won’t stop jumping with the stitches please help thank you

  28. Hi,
    My lab is 3 months old and he weighs 5 kg.We give him home cooked food only as he had severe indigestion problems when he was around 8 weeks old fed with dog food like Royal Canin. But his growth doesn’t seem to be as much as it should be. Professional Dog Trainers say that he is underweight while vets say he is just fine.So I am confused what to do?Can you just help me out.
    Thanks,
    Deep

    • Hi Deep, your Labrador certainly sounds underweight, but there is a big variation in healthy weight between different puppies. If a qualified vet says your dog is just fine, then you should be reassured. If in doubt I would get a second opinion from a different vet. You might find this article helpful: How much should my Labrador weigh Pippa

  29. Hi,
    My labrador is about to turn seven. What are the normal signs of aging I would begin to notice now? He seems slower, seems to be sleeping more, his appetite seems to have increased. How do I know I need to panic?

  30. We have added a Black Lab mix to our family back in October, he is fantastic. We bought your book Total Recall we love it and it seems Jackson had already read it, he is catching on to it so fast it is truely amazing. Jackson is starting to lose his baby teeth now, he is showing some discomfort, we have taken his harder chew toys away and replaced them with softer ones and we dampen a rolled up towel and freeze it this seems to bring quite a bit of relief and are mixing moistened dry kibble and canned food he loves this.

  31. Our three year old chocolate lab is having left back leg issues. She is very hyper, jumping, spinning, running.
    After any type of exercise she has a noticeable limp & after resting, has a difficult time getting up & laying down. Occasionally won’t put any weight on that leg. This has been going on for some time. She had a severe case of Lyme diseases at 6 months & recovered after treatment.

  32. Hi

    My parents have a chocolate labrador. She is 8 years old and has always been an early riser.

    Just lately she has been waking up at night barking wanting to go out at 4.00 a.m. Is there anything that can be done because my mum is getting very weary. She has two good walks a day. Why wont she sleep through the night?

  33. my two year old lab has had a problem for about five days he coughs and spits up biol .he has had all his shots.what should I do.

    • Mark. My name is mike. I have a 1 1/2 yr old choc lab that’s been doing the same thing. We took her to the vet and she had an infection in her uterius. They told me she had to be fixed and the symptoms would go away. It did not. Went back to vet and they put her on steroids for about 1 1/2 months. That did the trick until she came off the meds. She is back to hacking and puking. I’m at a loss. I spent over 1200.00 and no results.

  35. Hi pippa have been to our vets they think its his lungs they have given us some pills for him and said if he is no better it might be kind to let him go wé had hope the pills would work but they have not wé have got to go back tomrow to see what the vets but i think i know what they are going to say

  36. hi I have a ten year old black lab he has now got a bad chough he also so has arthritis some times I think it might just be kind to let him go what do you think

  37. Hello, I have a 13 year old lab. She is deaf blind and has diabetes. Recently she has started weeing at night. Can anyone help me how to stop this??

  38. Hi pippa
    I bought a 2 months old lab and when I fed him royal canin maxi starter his stomach has swollen up and it’s not getting back to normal what should I do

  39. My 2 months ols black female Lab is getting dandruff like rahses all over the chest, face and legs…Please suggest something..Urgent suggestione needed.

  40. hi pippa i have two black labs male and female 40 days old…. today i saw brown shade on paws and legs of my max (male).. yesterday he was 100% fine but today l saw his hair look like burned giving brown shade i am so upset about this … it is just like if any human gets heat on his hair looks burned and turns to give brown shade plz help.. and also tell me that if it is due to pee and cleanness problem becz they are too young and pee in their bed….

  41. Hi Pippa, our son has a 3.5 year old, 60 pound, female, spayed, chocolate lab (Lexi) who we absolutely adore, she is our granddoggie. She visits us with our son and his wife often on weekends and we doggie sit sometimes. We had her for 2 weeks while they were having some work done at their house and she was such a good girl BUT she sometimes has little “pee” accidents while she is sleeping. No blood in it, she doesn’t cry or even notice it happened, it doesn’t smell at all but of course it is making some stains on our sofa and bed (yes she sleeps with us lol). We love her so much but this is a little frustrating trying to clean up when it happens. She had 4 little accidents during the 2 weeks,….. it doesn’t happen at her house, she drinks the same amount as she does home, she is out to pee more here than at home because her mom and dad work all day and we are at her beck and call when she is here…….. Any ideas for us?

  42. Hi…
    i have two dogs, a golden lab(male, 14 months) and an american cocker(female 5 months). I have noticed for a few months that my lab have these very strange black tear marks under his eyes, seems he has been crying a lot( i have never seen him crying though)!!! i ain’t got a clue what to do, i tried some tablets a couple of months back recommended by a vet but they seems to have failed miserably.
    Also with the cocker there’s this one huge hair knot on her stomach and even after regular bath and brushing its not going.
    any suggestions on what can be done to take care of these???

  43. I have a 9 week old chocolate lab and she won’t stop pulling up and eating weeds in our back garden. She’s also picking up stones and I think she may have swallowed a couple. Any advice on how I can stop this? I’m worried she’ll do herself a mischief.

  44. hi pipa,

    my 16 month old has now started to get flakely, we have tried to different shampoos but my older dog has also got the same problem but we have taken her to the vets and got some shampoo, we are unsure what to do or has my 16 month getting from my older dog.

  45. my lab is of 2 year bt he is not as healthy as other labs so wht should i do ..his diet is proper maintained bt he is not gaining a good health/.?

  46. Hi Pippa,

    Im very much disheartened due to illness of my 2.5yrs old female mix lab. She has completely lost her weight and become weak from her back. She is unable to walkup the stairs even as earlier in childhood she do. I think she has problm in her bones. She has become very lazy, sady, and inactive. She has lost her appetite even. what should i do. I’ve taken her to the vat many times but no use.
    Please help me out with the solutions or medicines i can go out with. 🙁

    • Hi there, I just read your post. I am having exactly the same problems with my lab. He suddenly lost a lot of weight , he goes to the bathroom and then falls down and then can’t get back up. I have taken him to the vet who says he is old(11 years) which I know and that he has arthritis. I am so distressed about my boy, I am taking him to another vet tomorrow. But I was wondering if you had any more info.

  47. Hi Pippa hi have a 8 week lab every time he eats he gets hiccups and his poo is a bit runny he is only ever had puppy dry food from the vets is it any thing to be worried about

  48. My 4 month old labrador puppy has red eyes and he also scratches or bite himself due to itchyness. The skin is red all over. What can I give him?

  49. Hi, I have a 15 months old male black lab. Our challenge has been related to his food. He likes to be fed by someone by hands only. We really want him to start eating from his bowl. What could be the special steps to change his habit? Is there any link for any details or any videos?
    Also, he keeps developing rashes and dandruff very frequently. Many a times, he has been treated by our local vet using medicines, lotions and injections. But this problem comes back. What could be the reason(s) for this recurrence? Do you have any suggestion on this. Please guide.

  50. hello lab lovers. i would just like to ask anyone of you if what is really the cause of death of my female black lab.
    lovely is a 5 year old female black lab, ill let my auntie take good care of her when i was studying my last 2 yrs of college. i was so so shocked when i visited lovely. she looks very sickly, her coat is starting to fade and its very dry too. and after two days i visited again because my aunt keeps on calling me that lovely is vomiting and she loose her appetite until 3 days. she never eat but she drinks of lot of water then vomit again, she vomits water and there are some part which is colored yellow. i put a dextrose powder on her water to keep her dehydrated and i also give her a tablet, an anti epetic tablet. on the 5th day at 4am dawn, sadly she died. I am very sad of her situation.
    thank you lab lovers for your advices. i really need it. thank you

    • Very sorry to hear of the death of your dog Louie. But you cannot get a cause of death from the internet. If she was treated by your vet, they may be able to help you. Pippa

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