One of the most popular breed of dogs here in New England is the Labrador Retriever. They are smart, fun and food obsessed. I love treating labs. They are usually good natured and very well behaved for their acupuncture sessions as long as there is food involved. It is very important to maintain a balanced and healthy diet for labs since they can become overweight.

This information is from Wikipedia

The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador, Labby, or Lab for short) is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in the world, and is by a large margin the most popular breed by registration in the United States (since 1991), and the United Kingdom. It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States, Australia, and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities. They are exceptionally affable, gentle, intelligent, energetic and good natured,and Labradors are generally considered good companions for people of all ages (including a high level of patience and tolerance for children), making them both excellent companions and working dogs. With training, the Labrador is one of the most dependable, obedient and multi-talented breeds in the world

There are three recognized colors for Labs: black (a solid black color), yellow (anything from light cream to gold to “fox-red”), and chocolate (medium to dark brown). There are no such things as silver or golden Labradors, a common mistake for the Yellow variant. There is also a black-and-tan coat type, but this coat color is the least popular as it renders the Labrador un-showable except in the UK.

Inherited disorders

* Labs are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially the larger dogs, though not as much as some other breeds. Hip scores are recommended before breeding.
* Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A luxating patella is a common occurrence in the knee where the leg is often bow shaped.
* Eye problems are also possible in some Labs, particularly progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia. Dogs which are intended to be bred should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist for an eye score.
* Hereditary myopathy, a rare inherited disorder that causes a deficiency in type II muscle fiber.
* There is a small incidence of other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and deafness in labs, either congenitally or later in life.”

Many of the ailments that labs suffer from can be treated with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine for relief of painful symptoms. For more information on acupuncture for your lab please visit www.fourpawsacupuncture.com

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