The 'always hungry' Labrador stereotype is partly genetic, not just bad training — about a quarter of the breed carries a gene variant that leaves them feeling less full on fewer calories, which is why this breed gets dangerously overweight more easily than almost any other.
13.1years, median
0.6 years above the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 59,583 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 13 to 13.1 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, large breeds as a group had a median of 11.9 years and medium-muzzled breeds 12.8. This breed is large and medium-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.061.6% of Labrador Retrievers had at least one disorder recorded in 2013.
From the clinical records of 2,074 Labrador Retrievers under veterinary care in the UK that year, read by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme.
Most often recorded, 2013
| Disorder | Share of Labrador Retrievers | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Ear infection (otitis externa) | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Overweight or obese | 8.8% | 7.6–10.1 |
| Arthritis (degenerative joint disease) | 5.5% | 4.6–6.6 |
| Lameness | 4.4% | 3.5–5.4 |
| Gum disease (periodontal disease) | 4.2% | 3.4–5.1 |
| Fatty lump (lipoma) | 4.1% | 3.3–5.0 |
| Vomiting | 3.6% | 2.8–4.5 |
| Diarrhea | 3.2% | 2.5–4.1 |
| Conjunctivitis | 2.7% | 2.1–3.5 |
| Skin mass | 2.5% | 1.8–3.2 |
Compared with other dogs, 2016
1,462 Labrador Retrievers against 20,786 other dogs. The odds of having at least one disorder that year were no different from other dogs (odds ratio 1.00, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.13). Of 35 disorders tested, 12 were more common in the breed and 7 less common.
More likely in Labrador Retrievers — times the odds
- Osteoarthritis2.8×
- Fatty lump (lipoma)2.5×
- Kennel cough2.3×
- Cut (laceration)2.2×
- Stiffness2.1×
Less likely
- Gum disease (periodontal disease)0.43×
- Retained baby teeth0.28×
- Flea infestation0.22×
- Heart murmur0.20×
- Slipping kneecap (patellar luxation)0.18×
The 2021 paper reports these ten odds ratios in its text; the rest of its 12 predispositions and 7 protections appear only in charts.
Age at death in this sample
Median 12 years (middle half 9.9 to 13.8), 2013 data. Of the 147 deaths with a recorded cause: Muscle, bone or joint disorder 24.5%, Cancer (neoplasia) 21.1%, Lump (mass) 7.5%, Brain disorder 5.4%, Liver disorder 5.4%, Kidney disease 5.4%, Hormonal (endocrine) disorder 4.8%. Different sample and year from the measured lifespan above, which is why the two numbers differ.
Color mattered in the 2013 sample. Ear infections were recorded in 12.8% of black Labradors, 17.0% of yellow and 23.4% of chocolate. Overall, a Labrador was no more or less likely than other dogs to have at least one disorder in a year (odds ratio 1.00), just a different set of them.
“The median longevity of non-chocolate coloured dogs (n = 139, 12.1 years, IQR 10.2–13.9, range 0.0–16.0) was longer than for chocolate coloured animals (n = 34, 10.7 years, IQR 9.0–12.4, range 3.8–15.5) (P = 0.028).”— the authors, McGreevy et al. 2018, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8
Health tests to ask the breeder for
The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. sets the tests a Labrador Retriever needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist
- Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) DNA test (CHIC requirement since 6/15/2013)
- D Locus (Dilute) DNA test (CHIC requirement since 11/1/2016)
When to spay or neuter a Labrador Retriever: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is 6 months or later. For females, a year or later. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
Itchy skin: Merck lists the Labrador Retriever among the breeds prone to atopic dermatitis, a lifelong allergy to things like pollen, mold and dust that usually starts between six months and three years of age. Why does my dog keep itching? has how vets tell it apart from fleas, mites and food allergy, and the treatments.
- Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM) DNA test
- Cardiac Evaluation (Advanced Cardiac Exam recommended for breeding dogs)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA) DNA test
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Labrador Retriever near you
Shelters and rescues list Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Retriever mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a Labrador Retriever
Labs are big, strong, mouthy dogs for at least their first two years, and they genuinely need an hour or more of real exercise most days or that energy turns into chewing and general chaos. They're usually easy to train and eager to please, but their food drive means portion control has to be deliberate for life, not just during puppyhood.
Health you should know about
- Hip and elbow dysplasia — malformed joints that lead to arthritis and pain; common enough that OFA/PennHIP screening of breeding stock is standard practice in the breed.
- POMC gene-linked obesity — a University of Cambridge study found roughly one in four Labradors carries a mutation that increases hunger and lowers resting calorie needs, making unintentional overfeeding and obesity far easier to cause than in most breeds.
- Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) — an inherited condition causing hind-end weakness or collapse after intense exercise or high excitement, documented mainly in field-bred lines.
- Cancers, especially hemangiosarcoma — a leading cause of death in Labradors past middle age, as in most large breeds.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Sources — 4 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 4 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.