Old Labrador Health Problems

As my Labrador Retriever gets older, I wondered what health issues I’d need to be prepared for. I already knew that arthritis could be an issue as my pup slowed down, so I decided to research what other things to watch out for.

What are some old Labrador health problems? Labs can develop arthritis, as well as have many tumors grow. Labradors are also prone to hypothyroidism and allergies as they age. Labradors can develop several different health problems as they age, which can have further affects on their life.

Many dogs, your Labrador included, can develop arthritis as they age. This can cause them to slow down, as well as make it harder for them to get up and down. They may need to be treated with pain medications or joint supplements. Other health issues can also manifest, such as hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland doesn’t work the way it should, an issue that can lead to weight gain and even breathing problems like laryngeal paralysis. 

1. Arthritis

Arthritis is a common disease facing older Labradors.

Arthritis comes in several forms, the main one of which is osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.

The cartilage in the joints, which serves to cushion the joint, thins with this disease and can lead to the bones of the joint rubbing against each other. Aging is a major factor but so are other factors, including old injuries, diabetes, and your pet being overweight.

Friction starts to develop within the joint as the bones rub, and this decreases your pet’s mobility as it causes pain. Inflammation will often start to develop, which can lead to bony growths that can further lead to pain and discomfort. Any of your dog’s joints can be affected, with the most common being the elbows, hips, and knees.

Your dog may exhibit a variety of symptoms with arthritis, one of the earliest signs being your dog slowing down and having issues such as getting up the stairs.

Your dog might sleep more or even have accidents in the house because it’s hard for him to get outside. You may also see a limp or your dog walking with a stiff gait, depending on how severe the arthritis is.

Treatment for Labrador arthritis involves decreasing the amount of pain your dog is in and try to improve their range of motion and mobility.

One of the main medications used is pain medication, often an anti-inflammatory such as Rimadyl that can help control your dog’s pain and decrease the inflammation within the joint itself.

Another type of medication used is a chondroprotectant like Adequan, which helps inhibit the breakdown of the cartilage, allowing some repair within the joint.

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Weight management is another important factor in controlling arthritis because the heavier your dog is, the more stress that is put on the joint.

Additional therapies may be used, including acupuncture and water treadmills, which can help your Labrador lose weight without all of the stress on the joints during exercise.

Your veterinarian may also recommend dog food for arthritis that is high in joint supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids.

2. Obesity

Obesity is a common disease facing older Labradors and is an excess of body fat.

According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, it is the most common preventable disease in dogs, with around 25-30% of the canine population being overweight.

Fat cells are especially problematic in living organisms because they are biologically active and secrete inflammatory hormones that can affect the entire body. It also creates extra stress on the joints, which can lead to issues such as arthritis.

Unfortunately, studies in Labradors have shown that being even moderately overweight can decrease a dog’s life expectancy by years.

Obese dogs are at risk for  variety of secondary diseases, such as the development of bladder stones.

They are also at a higher risk for developing cancers and metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

During the summer months, obese dogs are at a higher risk for having heat stroke, and they can have more issues handling anesthesia if they need to undergo a dental cleaning or other surgical procedure.

Treatment for obesity involves getting rid of the extra weight, and the main ways to do this are increasing exercise and decreasing calories.

Your veterinarian may recommend a weight loss diet, such as Hill’s Metabolic or Royal Canin’s Satiety Support.

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You will also want to carefully increase your dog’s exercise. For some pets, working with a physical therapist or rehabilitation specialist may be needed to utilize therapies such as a water treadmill to help your dog.

3 & 4. Tumors and Cancer

Cancer is another common disease that can affect Labradors.

In fact, according to studies, roughly 31% of Labradors that were evaluated had cancer (NCBI). The types of cancer vary, with the most common cancers affecting dogs being:

• Lymphoma
• Mast cell tumors
• Osteosarcoma
• Hemangiosarcoma

Cancer can greatly decrease your pet’s life expectancy.

Depending on the organ they affect, they can be localized or spread throughout the body, such as the case with lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of blood vessels, in particular.

Treatment for cancer may involve several different treatment modalities.

Discrete tumors often need to be surgically removed, such as in the case of a skin tumor. To help determine what type of treatment may be needed, your veterinarian may need to perform screening tests, such as blood work and X-rays to determine if the cancer has spread to other organs.

Your Labrador may also need chemotherapy or radiation therapy prescribed by a veterinary oncologist.

Dogs typically tolerate chemo better than people do, so this is a major course of action. A common medication used in chemotherapy for dogs is prednisone, a steroid.

5. Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is another common disease affecting Labradors, as it tends to more commonly affect medium and large breed dogs.

With hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck, produce less thyroid hormones, which can affect the entire body. It is commonly associated with either inflammation in the gland or the gland shrinking (WSU).

There are different symptoms that dogs affected with hypothyroidism can display, such as issues with the coat and skin, including:

• Thinning of the fur
• Excessive scaling
• Dull hair coat

Hypothyroid dogs are more prone to skin infections and ear infections, which may make them itchy and have sores.

Dogs affected also often have weight gain and reduced activity.

Treatment for hypothyroidism involves supplementing with a medication to replace the lack of thyroid production, with the most common medication being levothyroxine, which goes by a multitude of names.

To be diagnosed, dogs need to have their thyroid levels checked. These levels then need to be monitored regularly to ensure that treatment is successful.

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