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Author:
C. Covington

    Labrador retrievers by nature are active dogs, but sometimes they can get accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle that can be detrimental, as they get older which is not good for them because it puts them at risk for diabetes. As Labradors get older they pose a risk of developing gradual and painful joint conditions that will eventually result in arthritis and dysplasia. It’s important for owners to incorporate a consistent exercise regimen because Labradors have such an appetite and love to eat a lot because you do have the occasional owner who will give them treats of people food. According to pet food manufacturer Purina a good percentage of dogs in the United States almost 30% of them are documented by veterinarians as clinically overweight which is near the level percentage of humans that are overweight or clinically obese.
   
    Purina also conducted a 14 year study on dogs eating and lifestyle habits and learned when the results were released on their website that dogs fed a lower calorie diet and got adequate exercise were adding 2+ years to their lifespan than their littermates that didn’t eat a healthy diet. Labradors should maintain an ideal body weight 65 to 80 pounds (for males) and 55 to 70(for females) when she’s not pregnant with a litter. Anything over the average weight is overweight and can be dangerous to a dog’s health when they get older.  This is why exercise should be an integral part of a Labrador’s life and some good exercises for Labradors are a lot of running and fetching so if you like throwing a ball or stick around this is a good exercise to sharpen a Labrador’s natural instinct to chase and retrieve something.
    
      Labradors that get exercise on a regular basis they will maintain their ideal body weight and be much healthier for their breed. Also owners should not overfeed a dog they should have a set schedule of how the dog gets fed, and to stick to it. Anytime a dog gets fed they should be walked an hour afterward so they can begin to use up their food for energy so it’s not stored as fat and is the contributing factor in Labradors being overweight and unhealthy. Labradors should have a consistent exercise regimen because the exercise is good for staying in shape so they can be less sedentary and having a higher quality of life. Dogs that get regular physical exercise are in better shape health wise than dogs that are sedentary, and have poor diets. If Purina has proven in a 14 year study that if larger breed dogs like Labradors got plenty of exercise regularly the study had found that the dog can add on 2+ years to their life versus dogs that don’t get regular exercise were less likely to develop diabetes and hip and joint problems that can be painful for older dogs and can in the end cause a hefty veterinarian bill for the owner.

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