When your dog is a beloved family member, you want them to be around for as long as possible. Not only do you want them to live for a long time, but you want their quality of life to be as good as possible. Also, veterinary care can often be expensive, so you’ll want to avoid the vet other than during your pup’s regular checkup. Before getting a Labradoodle, it’s good to know about common health concerns associated with the breed. That way, you’ll know what illness to look out for so your dog can get immediate treatment.
With any breed, there is a list of different conditions associated with the Labradoodle. This doesn’t necessarily mean your dog will have any of these health issues. It just means that owners and breeders report that these conditions show up more frequently. With the right care, your dog may be perfectly healthy. However, knowing the associated health issues can also give you a head start in preventative care. On average, the Labradoodle lives between twelve to fourteen years. With the right care, each of those years will hopefully be happy and healthy.
Breeding
There are a few reasons why health issues will pop up in a certain breed. One major reason is breeding. When working with a champion bloodline, breeders will use the dogs that have the best lineage. Sometimes, this means that two closely related dogs will be used in breeding. In some instances, the inbreeding will produce a beautiful dog, but one with disease. It’s a fairly common practice, and it doesn’t always yield the best results.
More likely, problems with breeding will result from an unknowledgeable or careless breeder. A good breeder should have health clearances on their dogs. A bad breeder does not consider the health or temperament of their dogs before breeding. Many of these common diseases are genetic, so a bad breeder risks passing more diseases down from generation to generation. If your breeder cannot answer questions about the health of their dogs, then you should find a new breeder. Lots of good breeders will also do follow ups with you to make sure the pup they bred is healthy.
Preventative Care
Perhaps the easiest way to prevent illness in your Labradoodle is to provide them with a good diet. The right nutrition can improve the overall health of your dog, which may help with disease prevention. Most importantly, make sure your dog’s eating habits do not lead to obesity. You may think your Labradoodle looks cuter when he’s a little chunky, but extra weight can put a lot of strain on the joints and internal organs. Labradoodles are pretty good about burning all of their calories, but make sure your dog gets the right balance of healthy foods and exercise.
Look for a dog food that uses good sources of carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Good carbs include whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice, and barley. Sweet potatoes and other fruits and veggies provide good energy, too. Dog foods with fish or fish oil are great because the Omega fatty acids are believed to be beneficial for many of the body’s processes. Not a lot of dog foods contain a variety of fruits and vegetables, but they provide an easily absorbed source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Before you buy the food, take a quick look at the ingredients list to see if it is good for your dog’s health.
Good hygiene can also prevent future health problems from occurring. Oral health is not just beneficial for fresh breath and white teeth. Tooth and gum disease can cause bacteria to go from the mouth to other places in the body through the bloodstream. It’s possible for a dog to suffer from heart or kidney disease due to bad oral hygiene. Regular brushing may add another year of life to your dog.
Another thing you can do at home is clean your dog’s ears. Labradoodles have floppy ears that are prone to infection. Make sure that your dog’s ears are dry after spending time in water. You can also clean your dog’s ears at home by putting a few drops of ear cleaner in their ear canal, massaging the base of the ear, and wiping the outer part of the ear with a cotton ball.
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