Labrador Retrievers - Choosing a Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers - Choosing a Labrador Retriever

By: Dr. B. Sweeney

Common Diseases and Disorders

In general, the Labrador retriever is a healthy dog with few medical concerns. However, the following diseases or disorders have been reported:

  • Gastric torsion, also known as bloat, is a life-threatening sudden illness associated with the stomach filling with air and twisting.

  • Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint that results in pain, lameness and arthritis.

  • Elbow dysplasia is the abnormal development of certain parts of the elbow joint during the growing phase of a dog's life.

  • Progressive retinal degeneration is a disease that causes nerve cells at the back of the eye to degenerate. The condition can lead to blindness.

  • Hemangiosarcoma is a type of cancer that primarily affects the spleen, liver or heart.

  • Epilepsy is a seizure disorder which develops between the ages of 2 and 5 years.


  • Interdigital Dermatitis, also known as pododermatitis, is an inflammation of the paws involving the feet and nails.

  • Atopy is an itchy skin disease of animals that is caused by an allergy to substances in the environment.

  • Food Allergy affected pets develop skin allergies due to a variety of food ingredients.

  • Mast Cell Tumors are malignant tumors than can occur in the skin or within the body.

  • Perianal Fistula is an infection and fistulas of the anal glands and tissues around the anal area.

  • Lymphosarcoma (lymphoma) is a malignant cancer that involves the lymphoid system.

  • Cataracts are opacities within the lens of the eye that affect vision.

  • Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that develops when the pressure within the eye increases.

  • Lipomas are benign benign fatty tumor of the subcutaneous tissue.

    Other diseases that are found more commonly in labs than in other breeds are osteochondrosis, seborrhea, hot spots, diabetes and hypothyroidism. They are also prone to melanoma, a type of cancer. Labradors that hunt and swim are prone to foreign bodies becoming embedded in the ears and under the eyelids and ear infections.

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