Many Labrador Retrievers can live for over a decade, but others do not have this luxury. Some variations of the breed are found to have shorter lifespans. Let’s look at how long Labradors live and learn what you can do to prolong it.
The Average Life Expectancy of Labrador Retrievers
How long do Labradors live on average? A 2004 survey involving around 500 Labrador Retrievers shows that their median age of death is about 12.25 years.
In 2013, another study was made comprising 400 Labrador Retrievers. Results reveal that their median age of death is around 12.5 years.
A recent study in 2018 was conducted on a large-scale number of Labrador Retrievers, wherein 30,000 dogs participated. Findings indicated that the overall median longevity of the dog breed is 12 years.
Considering all these 3 studies, we can see that the average age for a Labrador is 12–12.5 years.
A most-asked question about Labrador age is “Is 13 old for a Labrador?” Since the average Lab life expectancy is 12 years, it is safe to say that 13-year-old Labs are in their senior phase in life.
A Promising Change in Lifespan of Labrador Retrievers
However, a new study suggests that Labrador Retrievers live longer lives now. Only 39 dogs were a part of the research, but the results imply positive news. It shows that the average Labrador lifespan is increasing to 14 years.
Some Lab pet owners might also wonder: “Can a Lab live 16 years?” or “Can a Labrador live to 15?” The recent study we have mentioned shows a promising outlook. There is a big possibility that Labrador Retrievers can live for over 15–16 years.
Labrador Coat Colours Can Determine Their Lifespan
Scientists discovered that coat colours are a good indicator of how long Labradors live. Certain Lab coat colours suggest a shorter lifespan than others.
Some of the most-asked questions about this topic are: “How long do black Labradors live” and “How long do yellow Labradors live?” Both black and yellow Labradors have an average lifespan of 12.1 years.
What about brown or chocolate Labs? Studies show that chocolate Labrador’s lifespan is 1.8–1.3 shorter compared to its black and yellow counterparts.
On average, brown Labs live only for around 10.7 years. Moreover, they are highly prone to ear infections and skin problems than non-chocolate Labradors.
Looking into the Labrador Retriever breed’s history will give us a clearer picture of how this came to be. In the mid-1800s, solid black Labs were mostly preferred by the masses.
Whilst choco and yellow Lab puppies are sometimes found in a litter, they are often culled since they are not in demand.
In 1899, the first officially yellow Labrador puppy was born. It was not until the 1930s that choco Labs became more accepted. However, they did not become a hit with pet owners until the 1960s.
The late popularity of chocolate Labs is believed to be a big factor that led to the overbreeding of a disease-prone bloodline.
Other experts theorise that inbreeding has played a part in the shortening of lifespans in brown Labs.
As the chocolate coat is a recessive gene, breeders might have resorted to breeding only brown Labradors. This, in turn, resulted in the shallow gene pool of chocolate Labs.
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2 Major Health Issues Commonly Affecting Labrador Lifespan
Diseases are one of the biggest factors that can drastically shorten a Lab’s life. What is the most common cause of death in Labrador Retrievers? 2 health problems are the common causes of death in Labradors, namely cancer and joint disorders.
Cancer
If you ask yourself, “What do Labs usually die from?” cancer is one of the leading reasons. According to studies, 70% of Labrador Retrievers possess a gene that increases their susceptibility to developing mast cell tumours.
Having 2 copies of the said gene will make them 3 or 4 times more likely to suffer from tumour growth. It is estimated that around 1 in 4 Labrador Retrievers may develop cancer in their lifetime.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Whilst this health issue is prevalent in large breeds of dogs, Labrador Retrievers are predisposed to it too. Joint disorders affect around 5.5% of Labs.
Some of the most prevalent ones are elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia, as well as arthritis. These ailments usually develop in old Labrador Retrievers.
How long do Labs live with arthritis? Many Labs live a long life despite suffering from arthritis. However, although this joint problem is not fatal, it can cause excruciating pain.
Medications such as pain relievers and joint supplements may provide temporary relief. But as arthritis progresses, affected Labradors might experience intense pain, which can greatly limit their mobility.
In some cases, dog owners are faced with the choice of euthanising their Labs since their pet’s quality of life is badly affected by arthritis.
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5 Tips on How to Make Labrador Retrievers Live Longer
Your Labrador Retriever’s longevity is not set in stone. The breed’s average lifespan might be around 12–14 years. However, there are several ways to help make him live a longer life with you.
1. Choose a health-tested Labrador Retriever.
If you plan to have a Labrador Retriever, make sure that it has undergone proper health screening.
The Kennel Club suggests elbow and hip dysplasia testing as well as eye testing for the breed. Ask the breeder to provide the necessary documentation to prove that your chosen dog is health-tested.
2. Check your Lab’s coefficient of inbreeding (COI).
Some online pedigree programs will help you calculate your dog’s COI. A good example of this is the Kennel Club’s Inbreeding Coefficient (COI) lookup.
Make sure that your Labrador Retriever’s COI is below 5%. If the results exceed this percentage, he is at higher risk of developing breed-specific health issues.
3. Spay or neuter your Lab at the right time.
Avoid spaying or neutering Labrador Retrievers if they are under 1 year old. Otherwise, they are more likely to have cancer and joint problems as they mature.
It is recommended that female Labs should be spayed during their 1st heat cycle. This phase usually occurs when they are 6 months of age. On the other hand, male Labs need to wait until they reach full maturity, which is around 2 years old.
Labs should weigh 45 pounds (20.4 kilos) when they get spayed or neutered. Being underweight is not advisable as it can slow down the healing process.
4. Keep your Lab from packing pounds.
Your Labrador must maintain a healthy weight. Gaining too much weight will strain their joints, increasing the likelihood of musculoskeletal problems.
Avoid feeding large portions of food to your Labrador Retriever. Divide them into smaller meals to keep him from overeating.
It is also a good idea to check your dog’s weight once a week. This makes it easier for you to know if there is a need to make adjustments to his food portions.
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5. Do not let your dog perform exercise excessively.
Overexercising can damage the joints and increase the danger of musculoskeletal problems. Thus, limit your Lab’s exercise.
If he is a puppy, his exercise should only last for 5 minutes per month of age 2 times a day. For example, a 6-month-old puppy can have 30 minutes of exercise.
Full-grown Labs should have at least an hour of exercise. Breaking it down into 2 sessions will prevent straining your dog’s joints.
Opting for low-impact exercises such as controlled lead walking, swimming, and nose work is advised since these are gentler activities on the joints and cartilages of Labs.
Longest Life Lived by Labrador Retrievers
A dog named Adjutant is one of the oldest Labrador Retrievers ever to live. He also ranks as the 7th oldest known dog in history. However, other sources claim that he is the 5th oldest dog.
Not much is known about Adjutant, but it is established that he lived for around 27 years and 3 months. Adjutant was born in 1936 and died in November 1963. He lived his entire life as a gamekeeper’s dog in Lincolnshire, England.
Another known longest-living Labrador Retriever is Bella. She is a Labrador cross that lived for around 29 years in Derbyshire, England.
Unfortunately, her owner does not have the papers to prove her precise age. Thus, her name cannot make it into the Guinness World Records.
Labrador Retriever Lifespan in Human Years
How long do Labradors live in human years? When calculating your Labrador Retriever’s age, avoid using the most known formula, which is that 7 human years is equivalent to 1 dog year. This is a common misconception that will yield inaccurate results.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) offers a good guideline for knowing your Lab’s age in human years. According to AVMA, the 1-year-old age of Labrador Retrievers is equivalent to 15 human years.
Once they reach 2 years, their age is similar to a 24-year-old human. As Labradors continue to get older, every increase in their age is equivalent to 3–5 human years.
