Labrador Retriever

Once again, it all goes back to proper feeding, exercise, grooming and care of your labrador Retriever. But we must also be wary of Labrador Retriever Common Disorders and Diseases.

Allergies

Dogs are not very different from humans for they too have tendency to be allergic to a few things. This can be exhibited by excessive itching and hair loss but these will NOT ALWAYS indicate allergies. There are some tests which can indicate if your dog really has allergies and these tests are not neccesarily expensive. One may give antihistamines as prescribed by the vet or other forms of treatments but there is no cure for allergies.

Allergies may be divided into the following:

• Atopic Dermatitis- a common skin allergen due to mites, dust and other airborne allergens. Common signs maybe be indicated by scratching of the face or licking of the feet. Then later on the occurence of red spots and lesions due to excessive scratching and chewing. The solution is having some shots to build up their resistance but its not a guarantee. Consult your vet for options.
• Contact Allergy – an allergy which results from a skin contact with the allergen of the dog, not really as common as the Atopic Dermatitis
• Flea Allergy- of course due to fleas, a very common allergy among dogs and can cause excessive itching. Try to remove the fleas, and use some anti-flea and tick solution. Avoid infestations by giving your dog regular baths.
• Food Allergy – this is why you should let your dog try a sample of the dog food your buying before you buy the whole sac. Food allergy can be exhibited by the typical redness and itching and even hair loss. Beef, wheat and corn are common allergens.
• Hot Spots -this is not a pretty sight indeed, these sores are due to the allergies and these will worsen when scratched. A solution to this would be washing your dog well with Shampoo. There is a certain powder which can help. Consult your vet for a solution
• Pyoderma – this is an infection from a Staph microogranism on the skin. These can cause lesions and pus whch develop into scabs and crusts. There are oral antibiotics which can be prescribed by the vet.

Cancer

The older your dog gets, the more possible to getting cancer. This is a leading killer in dogs who are 10 years and above. Here are common signs given by the Veterinary Cancer Society:

• Abnormal Swellings that persist or continue to grow
• Bleeding or discharge from any bodily opening
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Loss of appetite
• Offensive odor from the mouth
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• reluctance to exercise or loss of stamina
• Sores that won’t heal
• Weight loss

When you observe these in your dog, it is highly recommended that you bring him to the Vet.

Cold Water Tail (Limber tail Syndrome, Dead Tail, Broken Tail)

Commonly exhibited by a hanging tail or a limping tail. This can occur when the dog is in an activity which involves a lot of wagging such as swimming. This susually returns to normal after a few days.

Dental Diseases

Discolored teeth, foul breath, and red inflamed gums are signs of infection in the oral cavity. When food is stuck on the teeth these will develop into tartar. When there is now an infection of the gingiva then the dog may have gingivits which is indicated by the bleeding of the gums. Oral prophylaxis for treatment, but prevention can be done by proper brushing of teeth.

Ear Infection

This is basically caused by moisture in the ears, and is common in Labradors due to their tendency to swim a lot. It is exhibited by shaking of the head, sratching of the ears and a foul odor from the ears. Routine cleaning with a dry cotton can help prevent such infection.

Eye Diseases

All breeds of dogs can suffer from eye diseases and Labs are no exception. In fact, they seem disposed to many eye conditions, including entropion of the lower eyelid, mild ectropion, medial canthal pocket syndrome, limbal melanoma, uveal cysts, canine anterior melanoma, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal atrophy, optic nerve colobomas and others. One of the most unusual, however is focal retinal dysplasia and drawfism. (from Terra Nova Book on the Labrador Retriever)

Hip Dyslapsia

It is an inherited condition which is a kind of joint “looseness”. This can be from mild limping to even crippling. X-ray is the sure way to diagnosis of this disease.

Arthritis

Which can be due to improper nutrition and lack of exercise. Your dog will exhibit limping and lack of desire to move. This is because it lacks the ground substance for his joints. This can be treated by some prescribed treatment from the vet.

Bloat

One scary condition which is medically known as Gastric Dilatation volvulus. This is due to the closing of the openings of the stomach due to twisting of the stomach. So gas builds up inside. Your dog will try to expell the air and will look like it is trying to vomit but it cannot. Within 1 hour you dog can die. This condition is common in large breed dogs especially those that eat fast. One way to prevent this to let your dog eat a little slowly. But there is no guarantee prevention from this condition. When your dog starts to exhibit these signs (such as the swelling of the stomach) then immediately go to the vet!

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