Pets are sweet, cuddly, lovable and you wouldn’t want to lose them not even for a moment as you have been best buddies. To keep them longer, pet care should not be taken for granted, and this includes showing particular concern for Labrador health.
Labrador Retrievers are sturdy dogs. They can live as long as twelve years or more if properly cared for. Some have even lived for fifteen years. Regular veterinary check-ups are indispensable for canine health and help in prolonging your dog’s life, along with having a comfortable place to live, clean and nutritious food, proper grooming and oral care, as well as regular exercise.
For oral hygiene, regular brushing of your dog’s teeth would help prevent plaque build up. But never use human toothpaste as that would be toxic to them. Only use a toothpaste that is designed for dogs.
Dogs will always be dogs. They never lie, and don’t hide their feelings and pretend to be well whenever they get sick. Thus, owners are warned about a possible dog illness. There are often times where your dog’s condition cannot be diagnosed with ordinary examinations. However current advancements in dog health care now aid in the early detection and prevention of common dog health problems.
Different breeds are usually prone to different dog diseases. The common Labrador health problems are hip dysplasia and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Hip dysplasia is a complex hereditary joint disorder that may occur at any time. This causes pain when walking. Prevent this from occurring by not overfeeding your dogs and allowing only conditioning exercises. Excessive exercise can worsen the condition. Dogs with hip dysplasia are often given pain relievers and bone supplements, while others with a serious problem may need to undergo joint replacements.
On the other hand, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is characterized with the gradual deterioration of the light sensitive rear membrane of the eye and impairs your dog’s ability to see fixed objects. This dog illness may not be detected until your dog reaches five years old. Bumping into objects and fear of coming up and down the stairway are among the signs of PRA. There is no known treatment for this at the moment but this hereditary disease can be prevented by regular eye examination and selective breeding of PRA-free dogs with the help of the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF).
Regular Labrador health checks are most important. Before starting your Labrador Retriever on a regular training regime, or attending an obedience class, performing agility games in the field, or other rigorous activity, make sure that the veterinarian has certified your dog’s fitness to perform such activities. A Lab that is suffering from joint pains may disobey your command, or perform it causing further damage on his body. Never assume that all is well with your dog. Labrador health is a growing concern for most owners and expert advice is needed in dealing with it.
It cannot be denied that no matter how conscious and knowledgeable you are with pet health, your Labrador Retrievers will still have health issues. Labrador health needs to be regularly monitored. However, going to the veterinarian generally entails a lot of costs. It is a fact that not all dog owners are capable of shelling out huge amounts of cash for their pet.
This makes it wise to invest in dog health insurance. Dog insurance has now become quite popular as it saves many owners from having to worry about the cost, especially during emergency cases. Many companies have been offering full coverage for hereditary conditions while others have imposed very strict requirements and disqualified certain breeds. But whatever requirements there are, as long as you meet those, dog care becomes a hassle-free task for every Labrador Retriever owner.
