Food Quotas - Skeletal Development and Failure in labradors

Skeletal development and Failure in Labradors

This article is intended to heighten your awareness of the critical role nutrition plays in the production of hormone, vital organ development, muscle and bone density in you Labrador puppy. People will most commonly overfeed their puppy with the intention of maximising growth rates. However this does not contribute to balanced skeletal development in Labradors. The influence of food consumption on the incidence of skeletal disease is reduced when the dog owner practices controlled premium dietary intake in their Labrador puppies. Skeletal failure is markedly increased in the dogs with excessive and exaggerated food intake. The HILLS BODY FAT INDEX should be your guide when considering food intake and body shape.

Skeletal problem and failure in Labradors can in very rare occasions result from congenital or hereditary issues but mostly they are the result of environmental and nutritional factors. It is critical to note that 'later life skeletal issues' are directly related to quality diet and particularly in the adolescent phase. By this I mean the type, quality and the volume of food consumed by your Labrador pup from 8 weeks of age. Environmental issues such as housing, safety and activity levels are under your control as the dog owner, however nutrition is the single most important factor affecting development of the musculoskeletal structure of your Labrador. The balance between energy, protein and calcium is the critical nutritional factor affecting skeletal development. 

If any of these are given excessively and without balance, they can be detrimental to normal skeletal growth. We recommend a commercially available dog food like 'Royal Canin Labrador Puppy / Adult ' for your Labrador. It is a scientifically balanced and complete diet. Avoid feeding your dog table food at all times. The majority of skeletal disorders occurring in large breeds like Labradors are associated with excessive intake and supplementation from the table.

The underlying role of nutrition is a critical but controllable factor. In a growing puppy, overfeeding can result in an imbalance between body weight, muscle development and skeletal growth. This will lead to the overloading of their skeletal structure.

Early development of Arthritis

The most frequently encountered orthopaedic disease is arthritis not dysplasia. This uncommon disorder is often unseen and undetected in a growing dog. It might take up to 8 years to be manifested as a critical problem in an ageing dog.
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a disease and it’s probability can be determined by DNA testing.

Rapid weight gain in Labradors during the first 6 months after birth is directly associated with arthritic conditions in older age. The severity of the arthritis is directly influenced by early age weight gain in growing dogs. Weight gains in Labradors exceeding breed standards have a higher frequency of, and greater severity of arthritis than dogs with weight gain below the breed standards. The period from 3 to 6 months of age is the most critical in (unwanted) development of arthritis. Overfeeding fast growing Labrador pups will cause the growth plates to fuse prematurely. Normal closure of the growth plates in pups occurs from 6 months and is complete by 18 months. Early fusion in the growth plates may result in bone/cartilage disparities in later life and predispose your dog to dysplastic changes. Limiting food intake in growing Labrador Retriever puppies has been proven to reduce the subluxation of the femoral head, hence resulting in fewer arthritic conditions.

Sound skeletal development

Sound skeletal development in Labradors is primarily produced by their genetic make-up. You cannot control the genetic factors, however you are in complete control of the environmental conditions and nutritional factors. You can give your pup a safe environment. The growth phase to 14 months is critical for sound skeletal structure, particularly in the hips and elbows. Ensure your puppy can not easily slip or fall. You should be aware that the growth plates are not set until 14 months of age. This is why you should not allow a bitch to fall pregnant until her 2nd heat.

Large breeds like Labradors are susceptible to skeletal impediments. Food portions, nutritional balance and feeding methods influence bone and growth plate development. Portion control of food plays a critical role in joint stresses. Overfeeding will not increase the growth rate of puppies and does not correlate with optimal adult size. However, it does increase the risk of skeletal abnormalities. Be aware of the dangers of excessive intake of food, particularly unregulated household table foods. You are not doing your dog any favours by feeding them off the table. Large breeds like Labradors are limited in their ability to cope with an excess of minerals such as calcium. They can not regulate their 'full sensation'. They are likely to eat everything in front of them.

Nutritional Management

Nutritional management will be critical in the prevention of bone and joint diseases. In most cases, skeletal disease can prevented by appropriate quantities of feed in a regulated balanced diet with optimal nutrient levels. We use and recommend Eucanuba. It is twice the price as other, lower quality dog foods, but you will use a little more than half the amount of other feeds. Eucanuba has less meal as a filler and more nutrient properties. And you will have less poop to clean up!

Nutrition is the single most important influence upon musculoskeletal development and maintenance. Energy, protein and calcium are the critical components, however, if they are given in excess, they will be detrimental to normal bone and joint growth. Feed your puppy commercial dog food as good brands are formulated as balanced and complete diets. Dietary deficiencies will be of little concern if your pup is fed with a complete and balanced commercial diet, such as Eucanuba Puppy which is specifically formulated for young, growing Labradors. There is a higher potential for harm if you feed you pup randomly and with table scraps. This will lead to excessive consumption with unnecessary and unhelpful supplements. Furthermore, it will lead to habit eating rather than reward eating. Labradors respond best when they work for their food.

Rapid weight gain in Labradors

Diet and exercise during the first 24 weeks of life are critical influences on the onset of CHD in later life. The frequency and severity of CHD are influenced by early life weight gains in growing pups. Weight gains exceeding breed standards produce a high incidence of, and more severe CHD. Labradors with weight gains below the standard at 5 months statically have a normal closure of their growth plates at 14-18 months. Regulating the food intake in a growing Labrador puppy produces fewer signs of Canine Hip Dysplasia. CHD is the most frequently encountered orthopaedic disease in Labradors. In very rare cases this can be a hereditary disorder but it is more likely influenced by nutrition and a lack of proper regulated exercise in structurally sound puppies. The period from 2 to 18 months of age is important in the prevention of CHD. However, the first 6 months is the most critical time. Early signs of CHD include joint laxity and coxofemoral changes.

OSTEOCHONDROSIS (OCD)

Osteochondrosis occurs in the growth cartilage. This disease can be generalised or systemic. It is more common among young, rapidly growing, domesticated dogs like Labradors, and is associated with age, gender, rapid growth rate and nutrition. Nutritional and dietary excesses can cause OCD lesions and there is increasing evidence that excessive calcium intake results in retarded bone maturation and cartilage maturation. There is a subsequent increase of bone and cartilage lesions.

Excessive Protein & Calcium Intake

Excess protein has been thought to be associated with skeletal disease. While not directly responsible for skeletal disease in the growing dog, protein consumed in excess of metabolic requirements is processed in the liver and used for energy. This results in increased plasma levels of insulin-like growth factors, and contributes to an increased rate of growth. If the essential amino acid requirements are met then there are no benefits to feeding excess protein to healthy growing dogs.

The minimum level of protein in a diet depends on digestibility, amino acid composition, proper ratios among the essential amino acids, and amino acid bioavailability from the protein source. Energy density of the food and the physiologic state of the dog play a role as well. A growth diet should contain more than 28% protein which will supply at least 16% of the dietary energy. Remember that in a normal healthy dog, dietary protein requirements decrease from 3 years of age.

Excess calcium is directed to the dogs bones. High intake of calcium in large breeds is directly associated with retarded bone maturation, a higher percentage of total bone volume and retarded maturation of cartilage. Calcium excess is a major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of skeletal disease in the growing of large breed dogs like Labradors.

Clearances

The ANKC (Australian National Kennel Control Council) rules stipulate that to receive Pedigree Papers, a puppy must come from parents who have been x-rayed for hip and elbow dysplagia.

The most "talked about" condition in the Labrador Retriever is their hips. X-Rays must taken and professionally scored by an accredited facility. Each hip is scored out of a possible 53 with a number of scientific measurements being taken. The lower the score, the better the degree of "soundness". A score of 0:0 or even 5:5 are near perfect. The individual scores are added together to give a total rating. A 4:4 score would equal a total 8 and be given a rating against Australian and International averages. In Australia, the median score of Labrador Retrievers is total 14. It is obviously a median score because not all Labradors are X-Rayed and nor are all X-Rays submitted for scoring. If all X-rays were submitted for scoring then the "breed average" would likely be 18 - 20.

Elbow Dysplasia is the far more serious hereditary defect affecting Labrador Retrievers. Elbow X-Rays are almost always taken at the same time as hips, however elbows are "scored" very differently. An elbow score of 0:0 is perfect whereas a score of 3:3 would be affected. Each additional point above 0 reflects a millimetre of variation (or gap) in the elbow joint.

Labrador puppies up to 18 months of age particularly can easily injure themselves in these fast growing stages of their early life with their heavy bone structure unless looked after properly. Puppy buyers need to ensure optimal health, prevent potential environmental hazards and avoid situations which may be harmful to their puppy, such as slippery floors, staircases and jumping in and out of cars. Take care not to over-exercise your dog and maintain an appropriate diet. Avoid feeding young puppies household leftovers or varying their diet. Royal Canin Labrador Puppy / Adult food is highly recommended.

Desexing your labrador pup

For the health of the labrador puppy, we recommend that a male is not desexed before 18 months so as to promote proper skeletal and vital organ growth. We recommend that you allow your female to have 1 'season / heat before desexing. Speak to an experienced vet regarding desexing and the subsequent 'animal health' issues. 

Heat

Labradors usually come into heat every six months and the heat, or fertile period, can last up to two weeks. After the dog has pups and they are weaned it should be 6 months before the next heat. If she came in season in April, was bred, had pups in June, she can be expected to come into heat again in October. This is of course using April 1st as a random date.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited disease of the retina in dogs, in which the eyes are genetically programmed to go blind. PRA occurs in both eyes simultaneously and is not painful. PRA occurs in most breeds of dogs and can occur in mixed breeds also. It is recessively inherited, and found primarily in male dogs. A clear parent bred to aanother clear parent will always result in clear offspring. The claim "Clear by Parentage" simply means that the parents of that particular dog or bitch were both tested clear of PRA. That individual offspring must also be genetically clear of PRA.

A genetic test for Labradors to test for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) can determine if a Labradors is PRA clear (normal) as breeding stock. Dogs that are carriers can still be used in a breeding program as long as they are mated to a dog that is clear and subsequent progeny screened to ensure only clear dogs are bred from. Dogs who are affected must not be bred from. Our dogs are checked at 12 months for PRA and other eye problems.

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)

Exercise-induced collapse EIC is a genetic syndrome predominantly occurring in Labrador Retrievers. Affected dogs show signs of muscle weakness, in coordination and life-threatening collapse when participating in strenuous exercise or activity. Affected dogs can tolerate mild to moderate exercise, but just 5 to 20 minutes of strenuous activity, or even extreme excitement such as that seen in field trials or hunt tests, can induce weakness or collapse. Dogs affected with EIC usually cannot continue with intense retriever training but can live normal lives as house pets.

Dogs that have EIC are prone to mild to severe collapse that can range from dragging of the hind legs to complete collapse. Signs become apparent in young dogs as they enter heavy training - usually between 7 months and 2 years of age. Dogs of either sex can be affected. Dogs with this condition are always normal at rest and are usually described as being extremely fit, athletic specimens of their breed. Nervous system, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal examinations and routine blood analysis are usually normal during an episode of collapse. There is a DNA test available to identify the EIC mutation among the several breeds affected by this genetic syndrome.

All Pawling Labrador retrievers are EIC & PRA clear.