Labrador Retrievers are known for their friendly nature, intelligence, and boundless energy. To maintain their health and happiness, providing them with a balanced and nutritious diet is paramount. This article explores the dietary needs of Labradors at different life stages, discusses various feeding methods, and addresses common health concerns related to their diet.
Nutritional Requirements of Labradors
Labradors benefit from a diet that meets their specific age, size, and activity level requirements. These attributes have been rated by dog trainers, expert vets and pet behaviourists.
Protein: The Building Block
Labradors require plenty of protein to fuel their muscles. The best Labrador food is high in fat and protein, but low in carbohydrates. Animal-based protein should be a cornerstone of their diet, helping to strengthen and maintain their muscles. High-quality ingredients, such as real meat and vegetables, should be prioritized. Clean animal proteins like chicken, turkey, eggs, and beef also have a ton of amino acids, which support the body functions mentioned above.
Carbohydrates: Energy Source in Moderation
While dogs are facultative carnivores and don't require a large amount of carbohydrates, they still need some for energy. Limiting carb intake is one way to maintain your dog’s healthy weight. Typically no more than 20% of your dog’s diet should be carbohydrates, but that also depends on other factors such as your dog’s age, activity level, and other health conditions. Ingredients like beet pulp, corn, wheat, barley and maize are not only packed with nutrients but they also aid digestion. Labrador food that contains digestible ingredients helps when it comes to supporting a healthy gut.
Fats: Essential for Overall Health
Fat often gets a bad reputation, but it is essential in your Labrador’s diet. Moderate and controlled amounts of fat, in addition to Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids, are necessary to support a healthy coat as well as healthy skin. These ingredients are important for Labradors to ensure they do not suffer from issues like flaky and itchy skin. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) states that the minimum crude fat level for adult dogs is 5% and 8% for puppies. When it comes to fat in your dog’s diet, it’s essential to look for the “good” fat with ingredients like eggs, fish oils and flaxseed. Good fats contain triglycerides and fatty acids, which are great for your dog’s health. Triglycerides support dogs' energy and make food taste good. They also help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Fatty acids are vital to cell structure and function. When looking at dog food ingredient lists, watch for the following fatty acids: omega-6, omega-3, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
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Vitamins and Minerals: Supporting Vital Functions
Dogs eating an AAFCO-compliant diet should receive all necessary nutrients and won’t need extra supplementation. Most dogs need a balance of about 1:1 calcium to phosphorus in their diet. This is especially important for puppies who are still growing. Phosphorus is also important for dogs to support healthy bones and teeth.
Supplements for Weight Management and Joint Health
Labrador Retrievers are susceptible to obesity. Therefore, an important supplement to look for in Labrador food is L-Carnitine. L-Carnitine is known to help with metabolism and also supports healthy weight management. Since Labs are more at risk for bone and joint issues due to their larger size, it’s important to keep them at a healthy weight. Extra weight can exacerbate joint issues. For example, supplements like Nutramax® Dasuquin® and Cosequin® can help a Labrador Retriever that has hip or elbow dysplasia and help slow the onset of arthritis. Therefore, an important supplement to look for in Labrador food is L-Carnitine. L-Carnitine is known to help with metabolism and also supports healthy weight management.
Feeding Puppies vs. Adult Dogs
The nutritional needs of puppies are different from those of adult dogs. A puppy's diet should be higher in protein and calories to support its rapid growth and development. Labrador Retriever puppies have rapid growth spurts, so feed them a high-quality puppy formula when they are under 12 months of age. Puppy food will provide the extra calories they need to grow to their full potential. My rule of thumb is that puppies up to six months of age need four meals a day. From eight to twelve weeks your puppy will benefit from four meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, tea and supper. Space the meals at least three hours apart to give him chance to digest them properly. Once your puppy gets to three months old you can divide his daily ration into three portions, and by six months to two. Breakfast and supper. Recommended quantities can be found on kibble packaging and these will vary quite widely from brand to brand. They are also often on the high side.
Feeding Methods: Kibble vs. Raw
The majority of Labrador owners feed their dogs on dried kibble pellets. All major pet food companies now supply a dried version of their brands. The main advantage of being able to open a packet and instantly pour food into your dog’s bowl is convenience. Busy modern homes are pressed for time. Kibble also stores well. It doesn’t need refrigerating or freezing and it doesn’t smell very strong. However, these fillers mean that kibble fed dogs produce much greater quantities of poop and much smellier poop, than dogs fed on raw meat and bones. Kibble fed dogs may also need their teeth cleaning on a daily basis.
Raw feeding (the BARF diet) was once considered an extremist fad. Raw feeding is quite a big topic. It is both complicated and simple. Raw feeding is not as convenient as kibble feeding, It requires plenty of freezer and refrigeration space, a designated preparation surface, and good meat preparation hygiene. Small puppies need more research to be raw fed, as they are growing fast and are vulnerable to diets with a poor nutrient balance. I don’t recommend raw feeding in families with very small children. This is because raw fed dogs get messy.
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Both methods of feeding Labradors have their supporters and detractors. At one time a lot of dogs were fed on canned food with an added biscuit mixer. Although majority of dogs are now being fed kibble, a substantial minority are fed raw. Unfortunately, raw feeding does seem to attract a few extremists.
How Much to Feed
The amount you feed your Lab will vary depending on his age and the type of food you are giving him. However, these serving sizes will change depending on the food you use, and only apply to dry kibble! To determine how much to feed your Labrador Retriever, check the feeding guidelines on the bag. If your dog is a little overweight, feed about a third less than recommended for a few days and then re-assess his appearance. Your dog may well need less food than you think.
Some people leave food down for their dog’s to ‘graze’ on. I prefer my dogs to eat their meals up fairly quickly. Some dogs are more likely to be ‘picky’ if they know they can come back to their dinner later on. I recommend you take up your dog’s bowl after ten minutes if he hasn’t finished. He won’t come to any harm if he hasn’t devoured the lot. A much more common problem in Labradors, is the dog that scoffs his dinner in a heartbeat and then begs for more with pleading eyes. There is an association between bloat and rapid eating, so if you can slow down your dog a little, it is probably good thing. If you notice your dog gobbling food down, consider a slow-feeder bowl.
Many dog owners continue to feed their dogs twice a day throughout their lives. Some people feed their dogs once a day after twelve months of age. Labrador Retrievers do best with twice-daily feedings, morning and evening. We do know that there is an association between bloat and large meals. Though this may only apply to kibble. Once daily feeding is probably fine if you decide to feed raw meat. But with kibble it may be too much dry food in one go.
The Importance of Fresh Water
Puppies and older dogs need water available to them at all times during the day. It is ok to take your puppy’s water away an hour before bedtime to help with housetraining. Kibble fed dogs drink quite a lot of water, raw fed dogs drink very little.
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Addressing Specific Health Concerns with Diet
Generally, Labrador Retrievers are healthy dogs, but like all breeds, they are also prone to certain health issues.
Obesity
As mentioned, bone and joint issues are common in labs (and many other large breed dogs), but a number one problem for labs is obesity. For this reason, it’s important to start labs off on a nutritious diet that will help maintain a healthy weight as early as possible to avoid them becoming overweight. Recent research by scientists at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the U.K. uncovered that Labs are 1.6 times more likely to be obese than other dog breeds.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is an inherited orthopedic condition where the head of the femur does not sit snugly in the hip joint. Hip dysplasia can develop in one or both hip joints. Elbow dysplasia encompasses several inherited orthopedic conditions that ultimately lead to degenerative joint disease (DJD) within the elbow. Elbow dysplasia can occur in one or both elbows, and the condition is often diagnosed via X-rays or advanced imaging (CT scans).
Heart Conditions
The tricuspid valve pumps blood on the right side of the heart from the right atrium into the right ventricle. Labrador Retrievers with tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) have a valve that doesn’t function properly and allows blood to leak backward into the right atrium. Labrador Retrievers with TVD may or may not have a heart murmur that can be heard during a routine physical exam.
Other Conditions
A Labrador Retriever with EIC will have episodes of decreased muscle tone in the hind legs after exercise or excitement. Dogs usually recover but can have more episodes of EIC later on. During an episode, a dog’s temperature can reach a life-threatening 107 F. Labrador Retrievers with EIC usually start having episodes around 1 year of age. A DNA test can be done to detect whether a Labrador Retriever puppy carries the genetic mutation and is at risk for EIC. Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a rare congenital disease that affects the skeletal muscle. Signs include an abnormal gait and an inability to perform physical exercise, like go on a walk or a run. Usually, symptoms first arise in Labrador Retriever puppies 2-5 months old. By age 1, the dog’s head, neck, and leg muscles generally become atrophied (diminished), which causes weakness. A muscle biopsy is needed to diagnose this condition, and genetic therapy is the treatment of choice. Dog DNA testing is available to determine if a puppy carries the genetic mutation for CNM. Hemangiosarcoma (HAS) is an aggressive form of cancer in dogs that most often originates in the spleen, liver, or heart. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a disease of the eye. The retina slowly degenerates over time, leading to blindness. PRA can be diagnosed with an eye exam. Because the Labrador Retriever dog breed is susceptible to PRA, take note of any changes in your dog’s eyes or vision.
Safe Foods and Foods to Avoid
Many people will add household scraps to their dog’s dinner bowl. In theory, there is a risk that this will ‘unbalance’ his diet. In practice, most adult dogs will come to no harm if they occasionally get some ‘extras’ in their bowl. Make sure that your leftovers don’t contain sugar, onions, cooked bones or any common human foods that are toxic to dogs.
Choosing the Right Bowl
Good dog feeding bowls are dishwasher safe and not easily breakable. Cheap and colorful plastic bowls can look tired after a few trips through the dishwasher, so I like stainless steel(paid link)*. Although I admit it is quite noisy, and not as pretty as some of the ceramic products.
Monitoring Your Labrador's Health and Appetite
All puppies need regular veterinary check ups and when you take your puppy to the vet for his vaccinations. All dogs may eat less in very hot weather. But changes in appetite, especially sudden changes, can be a sign that your dog is not well. If your Labrador goes off his food, don’t just put it down to old age.
Additional Considerations for Labrador Owners
Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Labradors are active and energetic dogs that require regular exercise to keep them healthy and happy. Good exercises for Labradors include walks, runs, hikes, and play sessions. Mental stimulation is essential for Labradors to prevent boredom.
Grooming
Labradors have short, dense coats that require minimal grooming. Labradors have a dense double coat that sheds moderately throughout the year. They undergo heavier shedding periods during seasonal changes. Due to this double coat, Labrador Retrievers shed a lot and require frequent brushing (two to three times each week) to manage the shedding. Labradors also need an occasional bath to keep their skin and coat clean.
Ear Care and Dental Hygiene
Labradors have floppy ears that can be prone to infections. To minimize the risk of ear infections in Labrador Retrievers, clean their ears with a vet-recommended ear cleaner that contains a drying agent, such as Epi-Otic® Advanced). Regular nail trims are essential for Labradors to prevent painful splitting or cracking. Regular brushing of teeth prevents tooth decay and gum disease in Labradors.