Greenstone Labradors

06/30/2024

06/08/2024

Brick earned a WCI title this past weekend at the HOTLRC Working Certificate Series. He gives all he has to give. Truly a special dog.

01/26/2024

Murph, whose footprints are those?

01/20/2024

Dangerous to dogs.

01/17/2024

Potential Health Implications of Early Neutering in Large Breed Dogs.

There has been ongoing research into the potential effects of neutering and spaying large breed dogs prior to them reaching “Puberty”, around 11-12 months in males and the first “heat” or estrus in females.
A recent research paper looking at samples of around 1500 dogs per group, specifically Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, assessed the incidence of orthopedic diseases including hip and elbow dysplasia and ACL (Cruciate) injuries as well as several forms of cancer.
The results show a significant increase in the risk for orthopedic problems in both these breeds if neutered before sexual maturity. The cause of this increased risk is thought to be due to the effect that rising hormones have on long bone growth. The rise in estrogen/progesterone and testosterone with puberty in dogs induces closure of the growth plates in the long bones, stopping further growth. Dogs neutered before puberty don’t experience this rise in hormones and their long bones particularly continue to grow for a longer time resulting in greater height when growth does cease than their un-neutered counterparts.
This increased height changes the bio-mechanics of joint function and appears to cause some instability in developing joints leading to an increased incidence of orthopedic problems.
The effect on the incidence of certain cancers seems to be the most pronounced in Golden Retrievers and especially in female Golden Retrievers. The assumption is that hormones and especially estrogen have a protective effect or improve immune surveillance in decreasing cancer incidence. There appears to be no or minimal effect on increasing the risk of cancer in the Labrador Retrievers in the study.
The authors of the study also have soon to be published data on German Shepherds showing the same increased risk of orthopedic problems with neutering before puberty.
Although this research was directed at the 2 most popular dog breeds in North America we see ACL or Cruciate injuries as the most common orthopedic injury in all large and giant breed dogs.

Based on this information, we recommendation consider delaying neutering of Labradors until they are 18 months of age.

01/15/2024

The Labradors here sure do LOVE the cold weather. Assuming Labs everywhere in the USA are enjoying the temps?

01/15/2024

Petsmart has ProPlan on sale 50% off your first Autoship. code is PROPLAN50.

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01/11/2024

"When you get your 8/10 week old puppies, please keep this image in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet."

This is something everyone should see. This xray is of a 2 week old puppy.

When you get your 8/10 week old puppies, please keep this image in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

But when you're letting puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

Once grown - around 12-18 months depending on their breed, you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.



Credit