Labrador Retriever — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Hip dysplasiacan shorten life or cause chronic pain
Malformation of the hip joint causing instability and, over time, osteoarthritis. It is one of the top health concerns the UK breed clubs themselves flagged in 2020, with heritability estimated at around 0.3-0.4.
Ask to see: Hip score from a recognised scheme (OFA, BVA/KC or FCI) on both parents
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020) (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf)
Elbow dysplasiacan shorten life or cause chronic pain
A group of developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint causing pain, lameness and a predisposition to arthritis. The Kennel Club's own evidence base describes it as 'a well-acknowledged and serious condition' in this breed, and it was the breed's top-ranked health concern in 2019.
Ask to see: Elbow score from a recognised scheme (OFA or BVA/KC) on both parents
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020) (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf)
Exercise-induced collapse (EIC)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
Affected dogs develop wobbly hindquarters or partial hind-limb paralysis after 5-20 minutes of intense, excited exercise. It is not painful but requires lifelong management around strenuous retrieving and play, and can occasionally be fatal if exercise is not stopped.
Ask to see: DNA test for the DNM1 gene mutation on both parents
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020) (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf) · OFA — Exercise-Induced Collapse (https://ofa.org/exercise-induced-collapse/)
Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A progressive, incurable degeneration of the retina leading to blindness, usually starting with night-vision loss in early middle age. It is caused by a specific, well-characterised mutation in this breed.
Ask to see: DNA test for prcd-PRA on both parents
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020) (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf)
Centronuclear myopathy (CNM)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited muscle disease causing progressive weakness, exercise intolerance and swallowing difficulty from a few months of age in affected puppies. Carriers are unaffected, but an estimated one in seven UK Labradors carries the mutation.
Ask to see: DNA test for the PTPLA gene mutation on both parents
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020) (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf)
Hereditary/early cataractscan shorten life or cause chronic pain
Clouding of the eye's lens that can impair or end vision. The breed's own health co-ordinators ranked hereditary cataracts as their second most important concern in 2019.
Ask to see: Eye examination under a recognised scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme in the UK, ACVO CAER exam in the US) on both parents, repeated annually
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020) (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf)
Copper-associated hepatitis (copper toxicosis)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A build-up of copper in the liver that can progress to cirrhosis in middle age. Two genes affecting copper metabolism have been identified in the breed, and the condition can sometimes be managed with a low-copper diet if caught early.
Ask to see: DNA test for the ATP7A/ATP7B/RETN variants (e.g. Embark) on both parents
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020), citing Fieten et al. 2016 (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf) · Embark — Copper Toxicosis DNA test (https://embarkvet.com/products/dog-health/health-conditions/copper-toxicosis-attenuating/)
Hereditary nasal parakeratosis (HNPK)
A chronic but non-life-threatening condition causing dry, crusted fissures on the nose from a young age. It is not usually painful but is persistent and can be prone to secondary infection.
Ask to see: DNA test for the SUV39H2 gene mutation on both parents
UK Kennel Club Breed Health and Conservation Plan — Labrador Retriever (2020) (https://www.ndlabclub.co.uk/uploads/1/4/9/7/14970630/breed_health_and_conservation_plan_lrv5.pdf)