The Labrador Retriever is one of the most beloved dogs in the world, as they are adorable creatures with a big heart. Labradors like to receive attention and be hugged by everyone, especially children.
Although labradors are very healthy dogs that do not usually get sick, there are diseases of the breed and hereditary pathologies that we must know and take into account to better understand the life of our animal.
- If you have a labrador or plan to have one in the future.
- We invite you to read this Animal Expert article where we explore the most common diseases of the labrador retriever.
Some labs have eye problems. Pathologies that can develop are eye defects, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. These are inherited diseases that damage the dog’s visual system. It is important to correct problems such as cataracts in a timely time, as they can get worse as they can cause glaucoma, uveitis or dislocation. They may even experience total blindness if left untreated. There is a treatment to correct these problems or even surgery to eliminate them completely, as the case may be.
Retinal dysplasia is a deformation that can cause everything from the reduction of the visual field to total blindness, which is an insoluble condition. It is important that you first consult your veterinarian, as many eye diseases cannot be cured, but they are delayed with proper treatment and the inclusion of foods and products with antioxidant properties.
This pathology, which can frighten many owners of retriever dogs, is also known as the “wet cause” and usually appears in dogs, but is not exclusive to this breed. Myopathy in this area is characterized by flaccid paralysis of the tail.
Myopathy can occur when a dog is overtrained or physically stimulated. Another example occurs when the dog makes a long journey in a travel box or when bathing in very cold water. The dog feels pain to the touch in the area and it is important to give rest and anti-inflammatory treatment to recover all his faculties.
Muscle dystrophies are inherited diseases. These are problems that occur in muscle tissue, deficiencies and changes in the dystrophin protein, which is responsible for keeping muscle membranes in a correct state.
This condition in dogs is found in males than in females and symptoms such as stiffness, weakness when walking, repulsion to exercise, increased thickness of the tongue, excessive drooling and others, can be observed from the 10th week of labrador life. , when he’s still a puppy. If you have shortness of breath and muscle spasms, this is a sign of gravity.
There is no treatment for this disease, but veterinarians experts in this field are working to find a cure and have conducted studies where muscular dystrophy appears to be treated by stem cell administration in the future.
It is one of the most common diseases among recuperator labs. It is a completely inherited disease and is usually passed down through families. There are several types of dysplasia, but the most common are hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. This occurs when the joints fail and develop properly causing, in many cases, degeneration, wear and dysfunction of the cartilage.
Dogs with pain, abnormalities in the back of the leg, or injuries (primary or secondary) in one or both elbows should undergo a physical exam and x-ray to determine if they have dysplasia and at what stage of the disease they are. Basic treatments are anti-inflammatory and restive, but if it is a very advanced case surgery can be performed.
If you have a dog of this breed as a faithful companion, also read our article on how to train a labrador.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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