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How Long Do Labradors Live?

Labrador retrievers are loved all over the world. These dogs are very kind, quick-witted, playful, and most importantly, they are not at all aggressive. But for potential owners, not only the character traits of the dog play a significant role, but also its life expectancy. In this article, we will figure out what century is given to the handsome Labradors.

How Long Do Labradors Live?

On the web, you can find information about long-lived dogs. So, the Australian shepherd’s dog Blue lived to 29 years and 5 months, the Collie Teffy from England, which pleased the owners with its presence for almost 28 years, lived a little less. That is, some dogs may well live for two or more than two decades, but this is, rather, from the category of exceptions. On average, dogs live about 12-13 years, only pocket-sized dogs live longer – up to 17-19 years. And what about the heroes of our article? How many years do Labradors live?

It is believed that 14 years is the maximum lifespan of Labradors. The average lifespan of a Labrador Retriever at home is about 12 years (10 to 14 years). This is a good indicator for such large dogs. For example, for the same German shepherds, 10 years old is very old age, English Bulldogs rarely celebrate their 7-8th birthday. But giant dogs like the Great Dane live 5-7 years. But back to Labradors.

Comparison of the Ages of Labradors and Humans

10-14 years allotted for a pet, in the understanding of many owners, is negligible. But one should not equate the term of a dog’s life with the term of a human’s life. The fact is that the body of almost all domestic animals wears out quickly, and already at 8-9 years old age comes to the doggie. To make it clearer, let’s present a table comparing the ages of a dog and a person:

Dog (years)     Human (years)
9 years              63 years
10 years            65 years
11 years            71 years
12 years            75 years
13 years            80 years
14 years old      84 years old
15 years old      87 years old

Based on the data of the table compiled by dog handlers, who correlated the state of the dog’s body with the human one, we can conclude: 14 years is not so little. Moreover, there is a possibility that a pet, with good care and excellent health, can last a little more – up to 15-16 years (87-89 years by human standards).

What Affects the Lifespan of a Labrador

Is it possible to guarantee that every Labrador Retriever will live up to at least 10 years? No, it cannot be promised with 100% certainty. Consider what affects the lifespan of a retriever:

Control of the dog’s behavior on the street by the owner. A dog of any age can die under the wheels of a car. Given the natural carelessness of Labradors, they may well run out onto the roadway if they walk with the owner without a collar and leash. From an early age, it is required to teach the dog to obey the owner during the walk, walk next to him on demand and resort to the command “to me”;

Heredity. Parents with poor health are more likely to give birth to sickly puppies, just weak or with any genetic diseases. In order to avoid such problems, it is better to buy a Labrador baby in a breeding nursery, and not according to an advertisement in a newspaper;

Food. The worse the food a dog eats, the weaker its body is. For example, ready-made food economies often cause allergies, dermatitis, pancreatitis, gastritis, colitis, renal failure, urolithiasis, and other unpleasant ailments. A little more benefit and from cheap sausages or food leftovers after human meals. The best food for a Labrador is high-quality extra premium food or natural meat, vegetables, cereals, dairy products, eggs;

Timely contact with the veterinarian. Unfortunately, some owners take and bring their pets to the doctor when the situation is stalemate (for example, bleeding has opened or the limbs have become paralyzed, etc.). Meanwhile, even a healthy young dog for prophylaxis should be shown to a veterinarian at least once a year, an elderly one – 2 times. Plus, do not forget about vaccinations and the elimination of external and internal parasites – worms, fleas, and other parasites;

Conditions of detention. Usually, Labradors are kept at home: in a warm place, where there are no drafts. But sometimes the owners keep the dogs in outdoor enclosures. Without an insulated kennel (booth) in winter, an animal can easily catch a cold, even if we take into account that Labradors can easily endure subzero temperatures. Needless to say, it is unacceptable to allow a pet to sleep in cold weather on a concrete floor or in the snow;

Bad ecology. Usually, dogs living in small settlements (villages, villages, stanitsa, etc.), where there are no large enterprises and few cars, are much healthier than their urban counterparts. And provincial dogs live longer;

Health status. Basically, Labrador retrievers are not painful. The main problems of the breed include dysplasia of the joints and obesity (Labradors are food lovers). Some older dogs develop cataracts. In the early stages, these diseases are quite curable, it is only important not to delay a visit to the doctor. But no one can guarantee that the animal will not develop any serious illness (for example, heart problems, oncology, etc.). Naturally, the poorer the dog’s health, the more chances the animal will live a short life;

Control of the emotional state of the animal. Labradors are sociable dogs, they need communication with the owner like air. The less a person plays with and caresses the dog, the more likely the animal is to develop stress. It has been scientifically proven that frequent depression causes early aging and premature death in pets. The best cure for a dog’s blues is occupational therapy and communication with an adored owner;

Physical activity. Labradors are very agile animals and require long walks. And not boring slow walking around the house, but running, jumping, overcoming obstacles. Passive stay-free time in the four walls of the apartment is fraught with the development of obesity due to poor metabolism, problems with the heart and blood vessels, nervous system, skeleton, and joints;

Sterilization and castration. Such operations can also affect the lifespan of Labradors. Hunting in an animal is a headache for the owner, but neither hormones nor overexposure in an apartment is an option. It is better to go to the clinic for the pet to have an operation (removal of testes in males or uterus and ovaries in females . In untreated animals, there is a high risk of developing many diseases of the reproductive system, from prostatitis in males to tumors of the uterus in females.

How to Help Your Labrador Live a Long Life

From all of the above, we can conclude: in order to help your tailed Labrador friend to live in this world for as long as possible, you need:

Watching the dog while walking (and there is not only the danger of the roads but also meeting with stray packs of dogs and the risk of poisoning). It is imperative that the dog knows the commands and obeys the owner;

Feed your pet correctly, excluding all dubious products from the menu. Plus, it’s important to make sure your dog doesn’t overeat. You can always consult your veterinarian about the diet;

For a routine examination, show the dog to a specialist at least once a year. And urgently contact the veterinarian, regardless of the time of day, if the dog is unwell (fever, diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, etc.). All doctor’s prescriptions must be followed strictly;

Do not forget about vaccinations, most of which need to be given to the dog annually;

Eliminate ticks, fleas, lice, lice, and worms. Or take preventive measures to prevent such parasitic infestations;

If the Labrador lives on the street, make sure that the dog does not catch a cold (insulate the booth, cover the floor of the enclosure with a tree, on very cold days it is better to invite the animal to the house);

Communicate with the Labrador on a daily basis, involving all family members in games;

Take the dog for daily walks (twice or three times a day for 40 minutes or more), joint trips, outings, cycling;

Neutering or neutering the animal, if the plans are not to breed puppies.

Alice White

Written by Alice White

Alice White, a devoted pet lover and writer, has turned her boundless affection for animals into a fulfilling career. Originally dreaming of wildlife, her limited scientific background led her to specialize in animal literature. Now she happily spends her days researching and writing about various creatures, living her dream.

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