This is to help prevent overpopulation, unsafe breeding practices, and unwanted puppies in the future. Did you know that getting your Labrador spayed or neutered increases its longevity? Pyometra is one of the most prevalent, potentially life-threatening uterine infections that are specific to labs. The good news is that spaying or neutering ultimately reduces the risk of contracting this infection!
Males will also have a decreased risk for testicular cancer, and females are less likely to get mammary, uterine, ovarian, or cervical tumors. When a male lab enters adulthood, he might begin exhibiting some unwanted behaviors that come with puberty, such as:. Neutering is the most effective way to reduce these habits.
Additionally, females will stop going into heat throughout the year, which will eliminate howling and bleeding during her reproductive seasons. November 7, November 5, November 4, The pros and cons of neutering a Labrador Retriever is a bit of a sensitive topic among pet owners and even veterinarians.
That said, this article is not meant to persuade you to neuter your dog or not. This will only serve as a fact sheet for what you need to know, and then you can make the decision yourself. A good pet owner is one who knows how to gauge situations, analyze the pros and cons of neutering dogs, and consider the potential effects of neutering a dog too early.
It might be intimidating at first to think about neutering your dog. But while there are downsides, there are also significant benefits. These benefits may not specifically cater to your Lab personally. But, they are still good benchmarks to help you think over the pros and cons of neutering a Labrador. Ultimately, deciding to neuter your dog is a personal preference and is a choice that no one else should make for you.
This may require further professional opinion, so do not treat this article as a substitute for veterinary advice. Think of it as supplementary information only to help you balance out your choices and learn more about what you need to know. Essentially, neutering is a means of preventing an animal from reproducing. In dogs, neutering can be an umbrella term for both male and female removal, but the common use of neutering is for castration, specifically, removing testicles in dogs.
This will affect their aggression as well as completely prevent them from reproducing. In fact, even though neutering is an invasive process, modern technology makes it quite safe and low-risk. Nonetheless, neutering is still a serious consideration on your part. Many pet owners think about it and sit on the decision for months or even years before coming to a final conclusion. This is because there are a lot of conflicting ideas in the veterinary and pet world regarding the pros and cons of neutering a Labrador.
The pros and cons of neutering will be discussed further so we can see why there is an existing stigma on the procedure. This question on what is the best age to neuter a male dog is where the lines become even more blurred. Traditional veterinary medicine will tell you that neutering your Labrador at 6 months is the ideal way to do it. However, current views on the practice vary, depending on who you are talking to and what their experience with neutering is.
Have a non-urgent question for a veterinarian? Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid.
Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. Back To News. By Mary Robins Nov 20, 5 Minutes. Nov 20, 5 Minutes. Research shows that spay-neuter can increase the risk of joint disorders and certain cancers. The likelihood of negative health outcomes varies widely between breeds and sexes. Decisions about whether to spay-neuter should be reached through informed discussion with a veterinarian.
So, Should You Spay-Neuter? It is very important to feed a super premium food. Don't skimp on food quality because a cheap unbalanced food with fillers may cause growth problems with your Lab. In the end a cheap food will end up costing you more because of the increased veterinary bills. As well, if your Labrador Retriever doesn't have the required balance of nutrients while growing they may not develop sound hip and elbow joints. This could contribute to hip or elbow dysplaysia.
A raw diet is discouraged by many veterinarians along with the government of Canada because the benefits don't outweigh the risks. Feeding a raw diet also requires you to be the nutritionist. You can't simply feed a slab of raw meat and expect your dog to get all of the nutritional requirements.
For this reason it is best to purchase a whole life food that is balanced and would come recommended by your breeder. Labrador Retriever Temperament. For the most part the Lab breed is friendly, lovable, playful and eager to please. The temperament is set in the breed and also within the genetics of the specific dogs who are chosen to mate. There is sometimes an exception if the Lab is not properly socialized as a puppy and during the first puppy year.
Socialization within the litter happens via the mother from birth, then the litter mates between weeks 6 and 8, and then the outside world with numerous people, animals and situations. If the puppy is not properly socialized then it may have issues as an adult.
Or if the puppy is taken away from it's litter mates too early, for example at 6 weeks old, then it doesn't have the opportunity to learn doggie manners in the litter. It is possible to supplement this outside the litter but often more difficult because finding the same sized puppies to play with is not always possible. There are two main considerations for exercising your Labrador. The first being how often you exercise and the second being how high the intensity of the exercise.
For example, an 80 year old man taking his Lab for a walk will not normally be a high intensity activity for his Lab.
Walks are great but often Labs need to up the intensity and run to fetch or swim. If your Labrador Retriever is not exercised enough you will begin to notice him chewing everything he can. There are also food puzzles, small games where you hide pieces of kibble under sliding and rotating and flipping doors.
Your Labrador will smell the food and then has to figure out how to open the door to get it. So for those rainy days indoor games and mental stimulation is the key to keeping your Lab from sliding to the hyper side of things. Finding a reputable breeder. There are many factors to consider when choosing your Lab Breeder.
Some things to consider are:. Are they breeding to develop and improve a blood line or are they simply making puppies? Do they provide a written health guarantee? Will they take their dog back and re-home it if necessary for the life of the dog? Do they qualify applicants by using an application form or do they simply sell to anyone with cash? Are they actively supporting an organization such as Veteran Service Dogs, Breed specific clubs, or other? Does the breeder offer puppy training?
A breeder who won't train their own puppies may just be selling for cash. Do they offer life long support for you and are they available for questions after you take your puppy home?
Finding a Labrador Retriever Puppy. For the most part, when someone begins their search for a Lab puppy they look close to home. With our busy schedules not too many people want to drive a great distance to pick up their puppy. I understand that, and if you can find a quality Labrador Retriever puppy close to home that's great! But don't make driving distance the first criteria when looking for a puppy.
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