The Labrador is the friendly, food-loving family favourite of the dog world — and that food-loving part is more than a personality trait. Labradors are, quite literally, built to be hungrier than other dogs, and that single fact drives their number-one health risk. The good news is that a Labrador's biggest threats are also among the most preventable, if you know what you're managing. Here's the breed-specific playbook.
Typical lifespan is around 11–13 years, and keeping a Lab lean is the closest thing there is to a longevity cheat code.
The master risk: weight (and the "hunger gene")
Labradors are one of the most obesity-prone breeds, and it's partly genetic: a significant proportion carry a variant in the POMC gene that increases appetite and reduces the feeling of fullness — the same dogs are more food-motivated and more likely to gain weight [1]. In other words, your Lab isn't being greedy; their biology is working against them.
This matters enormously, because excess weight is the single biggest accelerant of nearly every other Labrador health problem — joints, diabetes, heart strain — and lean dogs live years longer than overweight ones [2]. Practical defence: weigh meals rather than eyeballing them, feed to ideal (not current) weight, keep treats to a small share of daily calories, use food puzzles to slow eating, and do the body-condition test monthly. If you own a Lab, weight management isn't optional — it's the whole game.
Joints: hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis
Like many large breeds, Labs are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia and the arthritis that follows [3]. Choose a breeder who screens hips and elbows, don't over-exercise growing puppies, provide steady moderate exercise, and — you'll notice the theme — keep them lean, because every extra kilo lands on those joints. Raise stiffness, limping or reluctance on stairs with your vet early.
Ears, and a water-lover's warning
Labradors adore water and have floppy ears that trap moisture — a recipe for ear infections [3]. In the UAE, where many Labs swim in pools, dry the ears thoroughly after every swim or bath, and check weekly for redness, odour or head-shaking. It's a small habit that prevents a lot of misery.
Exercise-induced collapse and other conditions
- Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) — a genetic condition where intense exercise triggers weakness or collapse in the hind legs; there's a DNA test, and affected dogs need their exertion managed [3].
- Laryngeal paralysis in older Labs can cause noisy breathing and heat intolerance.
- Progressive retinal atrophy and other eye conditions (DNA tests available).
- Cancers, including in older age, warrant attention to any persistent change.
Life-stage screening priorities
Confirm hip/elbow status and consider EIC/eye DNA tests; make weight management the lifelong priority; keep ears dry and checked; brush teeth and follow core preventive habits; and from about age seven, move to twice-yearly exams with screening bloodwork to catch organ and endocrine disease early.
Caring for a Labrador in the UAE heat
Labs are enthusiastic and won't self-regulate — they'll fetch until they drop, which is dangerous in Dubai's heat. Exercise only in the cool of early morning and evening, keep sessions sensible, provide constant shade and water, and never let a keen Lab overexert on a hot day. Older dogs and any with laryngeal issues are especially heat-sensitive. Learn the signs of heat stroke and the 7-second pavement test. Swimming is great exercise in the heat — just dry those ears afterwards.
The bottom line
A Labrador's health story is dominated by one manageable factor: weight. Their genetics make them hungrier, their joints and organs pay the price of excess, and keeping them lean protects nearly everything else — while screened breeding, dry ears, awareness of EIC, and heat-smart, sensible exercise handle the rest. Master the food bowl, and you've mastered most of what threatens this wonderful breed.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Labrador always hungry? Many Labradors carry a variant in the POMC gene that increases appetite and reduces fullness, making them genuinely hungrier and more food-motivated than other dogs [1]. It's biology, not misbehaviour — which is why portion control and measured feeding matter so much for the breed.
What are the most common Labrador health problems? Obesity (their leading, and most preventable, risk), hip and elbow dysplasia and arthritis, ear infections (they love water), exercise-induced collapse, and some eye conditions and cancers [1][3]. Weight management protects against most of the others.
How long do Labradors live? Typically around 11–13 years. Keeping them lean, protecting their joints, and screening early as they age all help them reach the top of that range.
How do I stop my Labrador getting fat? Weigh meals rather than eyeballing them, feed to ideal body weight, keep treats under about 10% of daily calories, slow eating with puzzle feeders, exercise sensibly (in the cool in the UAE), and do a monthly body-condition check. For a food-driven breed, structure beats willpower.
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Important note
This article is decision-support information, not veterinary advice, and does not diagnose your individual pet. Breed predispositions are tendencies, not certainties; your veterinarian will advise on your individual dog.
References
- Raffan E, et al. A deletion in the canine POMC gene is associated with weight and appetite in obesity-prone Labrador retriever dogs. Cell Metabolism. 2016;23(5):893–900.
- Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002;220(9):1315–1320.
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals / AKC Canine Health Foundation. Labrador Retriever health and DNA testing. https://www.ofa.org/