Dr Juliet Mills from Black Rock Animal Hospital in Victoria and Dr Kathryn Hogan of Greencross in Caulfield South warned that pet owners are inadvertently putting their dogs at risk, out of love. We asked her what were the most common preventable problems she sees with much loved family dogs. Here’s some vet advice for labrador owners from two vets who’ve seen it all….
Vet Advice: Chocolate Mishaps
Sadly, Dr Juliet has seen labradors pass away after eating a tray of brownies. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine which impact the dog’s nervous and cardiovascularular systems. These are very difficult for dogs to metabolize and they build up within the dog’s system. So every bite is doing your dog damage. Dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, hyperactivity, racing heart, tremous, seizures and even death. Smaller dogs, older dogs and dogs with heart conditions are most at risk. Grapes, saltanas and a laundry list of other people foods are unsuitable for dogs. Don’t let a little treat turn into a tragedy.
And, Recent Information on Carbohydrates
One of our Queensland vets recently treated a dog with severe malnutrition – why? The owner had chosen a grain-free diet. Why? The owner wanted to protect the dog from exposure to gluten. There is no known cases of coeliac disease in dogs. Gluten is an easily absorbed and important source of protein in dogs and shouldn’t be eliminated from their diets. Dogs like labradors love a bit of grain – and are prone to weight gain from too many carbohydrates. So, while grain free is not recommended, watching your dog’s carb intake may help manage their weight.
Vet Advice: Xylitol is Everywhere
Xylitol is in a lot of common foods now, including several leading brands of peanut butter. In fact, you might even find it in your bread. As an alternative sweetner, it’s been popular because it has fewer aftertaste than traditional sweeteners but it’s highly toxic in even the smallest quantity to dogs. When a dog ingests it, the dogs body floods with insulin which can result in a low blood sugar coma, very quickly. It also causes liver damage and even liver failure in high enough quantities.
Vet Advice: Stop Throwing Sticks (and tennis balls aren’t great either), Don’t Tug-O-War with Socks
Stick mishaps, where the stick lands prematurely and the dog lands on it, open-mouthed, can cause life-threatening injuries to the oesophagus. This is more common than you’d expect. Tennis balls are abrasive to dog teeth, and over time can cause serious damage. Finally, socks are the go to for a bored lab who fancies a game of tug-o-war. Socks can become “stuck” in a dog’s stomach and require surgery to remove. This is also, rather common.
Let’s also Talk About Bones
Bones (raw, not cooked) have long been the perfect treat, loved by dogs and deemed essential for keeping their teeth clean. Bones however, are full of high fat marrow – not great if you’ve got a pudgy labrador! The marrow is very rich, which can cause severe tummy upsets (and the farts, lordy those farts). For labradors that love to chew bones, but also love to swallow food without chewing, bones pose a threat of intestinal blockages and other digestive issues. Some vets advise against bones altogether. Some recommend you opt for lower fat bones, rather than rich marrow bones. Others say that skin free chicken bones are the way to go. Talk to your vet before giving your dog a bone.
Vet Advice: Wait and See is the Worst Medicine
When your dog seems “off” or has symptoms of an illness or injury, waiting to see if they improve can be the worst thing you can do. A lot of common dog ailments are curable if treated early. Leaving it days, or even weeks can mean the condition worsens to the point of no return, or to the point of expensive intervention. If in doubt, get your labrador checked out.
Remember: Labradors are Prone to Health Issues….and Eating Stupid Things
For a smart breed, they do some silly things. They’ll eat ANYTHING they find. From forbidden snacks to poop, to household objects. They’re also genetically predisposed to arthritis, ACL injuries, and ear and skin infections. In short, your labrador may be a more frequent visitor to the vet than other breeds, so it’s worth investing in pet insurance.
Find a Labrador Rescue Approved Vet Near You
Labrador Rescue works with partner vets to provide optimum health care for our many rescue dogs. Because these vets see so many labradors, they’re experts in the breed and we thoroughly recommend taking your beloved labrador to their clinics.