You’ve probably heard a lot of stories about Labrador Retriever health problems, from their clingy attention-seeking nature to their lifespan of up to 20 years. Luckily, there are also some solutions for these common problems. In this article, you’ll learn how to prevent joint pain, obesity and congestive heart failure. Read on to discover what you should do to keep your Lab happy and healthy!
Labrador Retrievers live up to 20 years
In general, labradors can live up to 20 years. However, this may be affected by a number of factors, including the parents the dog was bred from and the daily care it receives. Overfeeding and injuries may also decrease the lifespan of a Labrador, checkout thelabradorretriever.com for labrador’s diet. Here are some tips to prolong a Labrador’s life. To help your dog live longer, make sure your home is secure and that it has plenty of fresh water.
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Although labradors can live up to 20 years, the average lifespan is twelve and a half years. Certain health problems can shorten the lifespan of a Labrador, including hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy. Other potential health risks include obesity, traffic accidents, and cancer. A good way to extend your Lab’s life span is to get your dog into good health early. If you’re overweight, a lab may live up to six years shorter.
They are prone to obesity
One study published in the journal Cell Metabolism suggests that labrador retrievers are genetically predisposed to obesity. As the most common dog breed in the United Kingdom, labradors are notorious for being obsessed with food. But could this gene be responsible for their tendency to become overweight? This research is the first to examine the cause of obesity in Labrador retrievers. Here are the findings.
In their study of 310 Labradors, researchers found that some of these dogs had a genetic variant called POMC. This gene controls appetite in some species and helps sense body fat. Without this gene, dogs cannot know when they’ve eaten enough. This gene is found in humans, but deficiency is rare. The researchers plan to investigate the genetic variation and how it might relate to human obesity.
They suffer from joint problems
There are a number of conditions in which Labrador Retrievers may be prone to developing joint problems. The condition known as shoulder osteochondrosis can be very painful and is a common complication of Labrador retrievers. The disease affects the cartilage in the shoulder joint and often leads to chronic arthritis. Symptoms of this condition may not appear for weeks or even months. Approximately 5% of Labrador retrievers will develop shoulder osteochondrosis. Although this disease affects only a small number of dogs, it is particularly common in male Labrador retrievers.
Another common ailment in Labradors is obesity, which can affect joints. However, a daily dose of joint supplements can help promote joint health and cartilage development, keeping your Lab active. Even better, most Labs enjoy swimming. Swimming is also much more gentle on the joints than playing on hard surfaces. In addition, Labradors are known to be excellent swimmers and love water.
They are clingy attention-seekers
If you’re not sure if your Labrador is clingy, consider this: it’s a natural characteristic of these dogs. They are extremely needy, and while this might sound like a bad thing, it may actually be a sign that your Labrador is bored. When your Lab is bored, they can chew up your furniture and get overbearing.
In order to change this undesirable behavior, you first need to determine what triggers the behavior. The most common causes of attention seeking are lack of physical activity, mental stimulation, and nervousness. All of these can be true, depending on the severity of the dog’s current state, but if your dog is consistently engaging in this behavior, the cause is more likely to remain unknown than a good one.
In addition to this, your dog may try to pounce on you in order to gain attention. This is not a fun behavior, and you should address it immediately. If you do not address the issue quickly, your dog will become clingier. Ultimately, you will be the one to bear the brunt of the behavior. In the meantime, take note of these signs and learn how to curb it.