Dogs are afflicted with medical problems just as people are. Some diseases are more specific to some breeds than other, and labs have their fair share. These are inherited problems: passed genetically from parent to child through generations. Conscientious breeders may be able to eliminate some of these problems altogether. Certain foundations, such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, keep on a registry labs that are free of certain diseases. If a dog is not on this list, these are the dogs that are kept from breeding, thereby eliminating the possibility of furthering the disease by passing it on. Because there are many diseases that may afflict all different types of breeds, only a few common to labs or the larger breeds will be listed.
Hip Dysplasia is a malformation of the ball and socket which form the hip joint. This condition is usually only found in the larger dogs. Because the weight is so little in toy or smaller breeds, the strain on the hip joint is minimal, meaning this problem is almost nonexistent in these types of dogs. All dogs who eventually develop dysplasia are born with normal hips. The time to diagnose it is at 24 months, performed by an X-ray. There are varying degrees of the disease, so one dysplastic dog may never be lame his entire life, while another dysplastic dog will have crippling pain and lameness that requires surgery. The best way to pick a labrador puppy, is to find out if the parents are listed as having non dysplastic hips on a registry such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
Even though it is classified as a genetic disease, environmental factors do seem to play a role in skeletal problems such as Hip Dysplasia. Unrestricted physical activity needs to be controlled and kept to a minimum when the pup is still growing because it will cause strain on a pup's undeveloped joints. The type and amount of dog food is important to regulate. Avoid feeding the puppy nutritional supplements or food with high amounts of calories.
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Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a disease that causes a normal retina at birth to degenerate later in life. The vision is progressively reduced to blindness, but since dogs adapt well to reduced vision by using all the other senses, the disease is not noticeable by the owner at first. Yearly examinations, starting at 12 months, will help to diagnose this disease.
Osteochondrosis is a disease where cartilage degenerates and flakes off the bone, sometimes even becoming dislodged into the joint, causing inflammation. Front joints, the shoulder and elbow, are usually the areas affected, but the disease my also strike the hind leg joints and neck vertebrae. This disease appears in young dogs, between the ages of 4 and 12 months. The dog becomes lame, and with inflammation continuing, arthritis will develop. As with hip dysplasia, environmental factors such as unrestricted exercise and over supplemented food seem to play a part. These factors should be controlled closely to help reduce the risk or seriousness of skeletal defects, as in this disease and others.