Pets
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
What's the lifespan for a purebred lab?
I hate asking this question, but I am curious.
We have a purebred lab who is 10 and over the past 6 months, she's slowed down quite a bit. She has arthritis (which we give her cosequin for) and it's harder for her to jump into the back of the car, or up on our bed, where she sleeps. She still can do it, but I'm thinking about getting some sort of ramp/steps, because I think it's painful for her when she does it.
If you've had a purebred lab, how long did they live? Any suggestions for how to make life easier on her as she ages?
Re: What's the lifespan for a purebred lab?
I think the average lifespan is around 12 years for a lab, but every dog is different. DH's mom had a lab that lived to 16. It just depends on a lot of different things.
Has the vet said anything? Is she healthy, other than the arthritis?
I think the meds for arthritis and the steps are both a good step. Still take her for walks, but just be mindful of her limitations, you know?
It sucks when they get older.
Mine(chocolate english) is 13. He has arthritis, he is currently on rimadyl but we are going to be changing/adding that as soon as we get his week of diarrhea under control( we had to do a sudden food change). We have been told by multiple vets that the fact we kept him thinner definitely helped later in his life.
Now,he doesn't do stairs any longer and is slow but we are mindful of his limitations.
Our black lab had to be put to sleep when he was about 9 due to an unfix-able heart condition. Our yellow lab passed at about 11 years old due to age. They were both English labs.
DH's labs growing up were American labs and both lived to be about 12. They both suffered from arthritis and were each on prednisone towards the end.
I would talk to your vet about what you can do to help make things comfortable, and definitely recommend the stairs that a pp suggested. We used them for our yellow lab and we also had a ramp for him to use getting in and out of the car.
Quincy and Dexter, new BFFs
I used to be kris216.
My two labs that I had as a kid lived until they were 12. it is not uncommon for them to develop arthritis - just be mindful of their activity level and see if the vet can give you anything for it.
Controlling weight and arthritis medicines can really make a difference. My parent's lab made it to 13 with good quality of life.
He also really loved this heating pad I found that warmed up when he laid on it, but was designed to not get too hot for him. It was big enough for him to stretch out and he didn't have to be really accurate to lay his whole body down on it.
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