Labradors are beautiful and good-natured dogs, whose homeland is the Canadian island of Newfoundland. Initially, they were bred for hunting waterfowl, but today they are successfully used as guides, rescuers and just companions. In today's publication, we will talk about the main diseases of Labradors and the most important features of the appearance and nature of these animals.
Short description
Labrador is a medium-sized, proportionately folded dog, growing up to 50-57 cm at the withers and weighing between 25-36 kg. On a wide wedge-shaped head with pronounced eyebrows, flat cheekbones and a slightly convex forehead, there are dark almond-shaped eyes surrounded by well-pigmented eyelids, and triangular drooping ears. Under the strong rectangular case with a wide neck and a flat top line, there are straight strong limbs with strong joints and paws gathered in a lump. The entire body of such a dog is covered with dense water-repellent coat of black, chocolate or fawn color.
Labrador, whose photo cannot convey all his beauty, is endowed with a good-natured, complaisant and completely non-aggressive disposition. It lends itself well to training and gets along well with other pets. This affectionate and contact dog will enjoy playing with his master's children and will never give up long active walks. With the right upbringing, it makes an excellent companion, a great hunter and a worthy athlete who can win freestyle, flyball or agility competitions. At the same time, they more than compensate for the lack of speed with endurance and dexterity.
Maintenance and care
These animals are equally easy to adapt to life in a city apartment or in an indoor aviary equipped with an insulated booth. But in that and in another case, it is important for him to provide the opportunity to regularly visit active long walks. A dog without adequate physical activity can develop serious illnesses. The Labrador, who is unable to swim and run long distances, has a natural slowdown in metabolism, leading to weight gain.
In general, representatives of this breed are quite unpretentious and do not require special care. Their water-repellent wool does not need to be washed frequently, and it should be combed only a couple of times a week. Since these animals have poorly ventilated hanging ears, they need to be systematically examined for infections. The same attention should be paid to the eyes and claws of the dog. It is advisable to wipe the former regularly, removing the secretions that accumulate in the corners, and the latter - to cut periodically.
A separate item should be the dog’s teeth care, because the health of the dog’s digestive system depends on their condition. They are recommended to be cleaned with a special paste sold at any pet store. You need to teach a dog to this procedure from puppyhood.
Power Features
This is one of the most important factors affecting canine health. An improper and poorly balanced diet often leads to the development of serious illnesses. Labradors who do not receive all the necessary minerals with food begin to gradually lose their health. First, their condition of the coat, teeth and claws worsens, then their immunity decreases and their ability to resist infections is lost. To avoid this, you need to provide the dog with proper nutrition.
The diet of the animal may consist of industrial or natural feed. In the first case, preference should be given to products of a super-premium or holistic class, released by trusted world manufacturers. It is important to ensure that its composition does not contain wheat, corn, legumes and preservatives. In addition, the serving size should be consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations. Systematic overfeeding is fraught with rapid weight gain and then you have to put your Labrador on a diet for obesity.
Those who decide to give their dog natural products need to understand that the basis of such a diet should be raw meat. It can be beef, low-fat mutton, turkey or chicken. Several times a week, it is desirable to replace the meat component with saltwater fish and offal. Also, the dog’s menu is recommended to diversify with rice, buckwheat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, cottage cheese, yogurt and yogurt.
Having dealt with the main permitted products, you need to find out what can not be fed Labrador. Like any other dogs, representatives of this breed are forbidden to treat with chocolate, sweets, pastries, tubular bones and river fish. Smoked, salted, pickled and fried foods should be permanently excluded from the menu of these dogs. You can not feed animals with legumes, cereals, citrus fruits and pork.
Health and Life Expectancy
In general, representatives of this breed are quite strong and hardy dogs. In good conditions and with high-quality feeding, they can live up to 13 years. But sometimes a balanced diet and excellent care are blocked by poor genetics and then the canine organism fails.
Food allergies, interdigital dermatitis, lipoma, eczema, epilepsy, bloating and cataracts were among the most common diseases that Labradors are susceptible to. Also, representatives of this breed are often diagnosed with atopy, angiosarcoma, diabetes mellitus and myasthenia gravis. In recent years, these animals have a tendency to retinal detachment, osteochondrosis, entropy, dysplasia of the elbow and hip joints. Many of these ailments are inherited and in order to avoid them it is enough just to carefully study the pedigree of the puppy you like. And if there are dogs in it that have had similar problems, it is better to refuse the purchase.
Labrador puppy diseases and their symptoms
A lack of calcium and vitamin D leads to the development of rickets. In recent years, veterinarians are increasingly less likely to diagnose this disease, but inexperienced dog breeders should learn about its symptoms, since untimely treatment of this ailment is fraught with irreversible consequences. Rickets can be easily recognized by sharply changed taste preferences, timidity, itching, impaired reflexes and rapid fatigue. At the next stage, the puppy becomes lame and sore with pressure on the bones. Treatment of this pathology includes good nutrition and intake of vitamin complexes containing calcium.
Puppies often have a hernia. This disease of labradors and representatives of many other breeds develops as a result of non-closure of the umbilical ring. A hernia can cause severe inflammation and pain, and you can get rid of it not only surgically and with the help of a special massage.
Another common ailment affecting puppies is the plague. It affects the lungs, nervous and digestive systems. It is easy to recognize by its high temperature, refusal of food, the absence of reflexes and chills. An infected animal becomes lethargic and depressed. The puppy seeks to hide in a secluded corner, he opens vomiting, cushions harden and crusts form on the nose.
Also, small Labradors can get enteritis. This ailment is accompanied by dehydration, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite and rapid weight loss. In the absence of proper treatment, the dog may die.
Often, young, rapidly growing animals are diagnosed with panosteitis. In dogs suffering from this disease, there is a decrease in appetite, the appearance of pain and lameness. Treatment of this pathology comes down to limiting physical activity and taking special medications. With age, puppies outgrow this disease and become full-fledged healthy dogs.
Acral Dermatitis
This disease occurs as a result of the obsessive licking of different parts of the limbs. Such actions lead to the development of the inflammatory process to thicken the skin. If the dog does not leave the affected area alone, then redness, swelling and abscesses appear on it.
In order to diagnose lysing granuloma, the veterinarian not only conducts a visual examination, but also prescribes a bacillus, scrapings, or skin biopsy. The treatment of this disease requires an integrated approach. First of all, you need to make the animal refuse to lick the affected areas. To do this, the skin is lubricated with a special liquid that has an unpleasant taste. To stop the development of skin infection, the dog is prescribed antibiotics. If the licking is psychologically motivated, then the veterinarian may recommend antidepressants.
Cataract
This is an ophthalmic pathology, manifested in clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts in labradors and representatives of other breeds leads to impaired vision and occurs as a result of injuries or metabolic disorders. In addition, this disease can be of a hereditary nature.
The main sign by which this ailment can be recognized is a change in the color of the pupil. Ideally, it has a dark shade, and with cataracts it becomes white or cloudy. At the initial stage, changes can be almost imperceptible. But over time, the affected area increases in diameter, occupying the entire space of the pupil. Later, the animal's visual acuity decreases and it begins to run into various objects.
Cataracts are a common ophthalmic disease. In old age, this pathology often develops in Labradors, which can be detected by examination with a veterinarian. For its diagnosis, visual inspection, ophthalmoscopy and tonometry are usually used. And you can completely get rid of it only surgically. But in this case, the owners need to be prepared for the fact that after the operation the dog will need special care.
Otitis
This is a fairly common ear disease. In Labradors and other similar breeds, it occurs very often, since they have insufficient ventilation of the auditory canals. This pathology may be viral, bacterial or allergic in nature. Usually it develops as a result of neoplasms, herbs, infections or parasites.
Otitis is easily recognized by copious discharge from the auditory canals. Often, the disease is accompanied by anxiety, lethargy, loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes. An unhealthy labrador, whose photo does not convey all the suffering of the dog, constantly shakes his head and constantly scratches his ears. The shells themselves become swollen and hot. It is necessary to treat the disease, taking into account the cause of its development. Most often, veterinarians prescribe chlorhexidine treatment of the ears and prescribe appropriate drops, which contain antibiotics or antifungal agents.
Osteosarcoma
Popularly, this pathology is called bone cancer and can affect animals both at a young age and in old age. In Labradors, the disease occurs more often than in representatives of small breeds. It is an aggressive cancer that forms on the bone and requires amputation of the affected limb. According to one theory, it develops in an injured area or at a fracture site. It is easy to see on an x-ray. And to clarify the diagnosis of the dog, a biopsy is performed.
You can get rid of osteosarcoma only by amputation of the affected limb, followed by a course of chemotherapy. Modern veterinarians do not know the methods of preventing this pathology. But they recommend a thorough examination of animals whose ancestors had this disease.
Dysplasia
This is a common and quite serious joint disease. In dogs of the Labrador breed, it is found more and more often. Therefore, before using the animal in breeding, it is advisable for him to take x-rays. According to experts, this pathology develops under the influence of several different factors. Genetics, overweight, an unbalanced diet, high levels of calcium and phosphorus, excessive physical activity or injuries to the limbs can provoke it.
Labrador paw disease is accompanied by limping and swaying when walking, swelling or swelling of the joints. Also, the symptoms characteristic of dysplasia include pain in the elbows or hips, asymmetry of the body, unusual posture, stiffness of movements and fatigue.
You can diagnose this pathology through x-ray, and get rid of it really only surgically. To alleviate the condition, a sick dog is usually prescribed maintenance therapy, which includes a whole range of medications. As a rule, veterinarians prescribe chondroprotectors, antispasmodics and anti-inflammatory drugs to four-legged patients.
Osteochondrosis
This is a severe pathology, accompanied by joint damage and cartilage degeneration. It occurs in dogs of different ages and leads to irreversible consequences. Most often, it affects the hock, knee, elbow and shoulder joints. But sometimes the pathology extends to the spine.
Osteochondrosis develops gradually. In the initial stages, the dog reluctantly gets up and moves cautiously after rising. In some cases, the four-legged patient has an increase in the affected joints. The animal experiences severe pain and rarely changes the position of the body. In severe cases, the dog loses control over the limbs, but retains their sensitivity.
This pathology begins to develop due to trauma, overweight, hypothermia, increased physical exertion, excess calcium and rapid weight gain with insufficient bone strength. In addition to all of the above reasons, labradors have a breed predisposition to osteochondrosis. Heredity affects the degree of development of capillaries located around the joints, and the elasticity of the cartilage tissue.
The treatment of osteochondrosis should be handled by an experienced veterinarian who is able to correctly assess the condition of the animal and the degree of damage. Therapy of this pathology is aimed at eliminating inflammation, restoring cartilage tissue and reducing pain. For this, four-legged patients are prescribed a special diet, which implies minimizing the intake of calcium and increasing foods containing zinc, manganese, omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated acids.
To stop attacks of pain, the dog is prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, first in injections, and after a couple of days in tablets. To improve cartilage, the dog is given ascorbic acid and B vitamins. From the same considerations, he is prescribed complexes containing glucosamine and chondroitin.
Good results can be achieved using hormonal drugs, massage and darsonvalization. Osteochondrosis is successfully cured in the initial stages. Therefore, having noticed the first symptoms, such as a slight limp or stiffness of movements, immediately make an appointment with your experienced veterinarian for your Labrador.