[gautam_mohata]

Hi... I have a lab pup who is a little over 4 months old. He completed his last vaccination last week. He weighs 16.5 kgs as of Sunday which I believe is healthy but according to the vet might be a little overweight. The vet also spoke to me about hip dysplasia which is common in labs and can happen due to overweight. While I feel the pup is super active and is walking/running normally, the vet has asked me to come for an x-ray on the 17th. I have a few things which I would like to clarify:

- My house has a regular apartment flooring which might be slippery for dogs however I take my boy Danny for regular walks on concrete surfaces, grass and sand twice a day for 20-25 mins each time. He also climbs steps- 5 floors once a day. Can the flooring still be harmful enough to cause hip problems?
- Is 16.5 kgs overweight for a puppy who is 4 months and a week old?
- Currently he is on Pedigree large breed puppy kibble which he loves. I have also started giving him one boiled egg daily. What else can I give him to avoid any muscle related problems and to help him develop a healthy set of muscles?

Any suggestions or advise will be appreciated.

Thanks..

[cigwyllt]

I've not had a lab but I have had a golden retriever and my parents have a young lab cross. We got our retriever when she was around 18 months and the vet said that she had the worst case of hip dysplasia he had ever seen.

We were very, very careful with her diet, keeping her slightly underweight rather than the weight the text books would suggest. When it came to exercise, she was discouraged from jumping - no frisbee games for instance - and we would walk her in places where she could swim. At one of her last vet visits before she died peacefully of old age (she was 15!) the vet said that her diet and swimming were what kept her free from pain.

I've no idea what the correct weight should be but my parents' dog was less than that when they had him aged 5 months. He is a very leggy dog - he is part poodle - and very skinny. If your dog was mine I would definitely cut back on the food - much easier to build him up if necessary than to bring him down.

I think the problem with the floor is that he could slip and damage himself that way, not because the floor is hard. We had vinyl flooring in the kitchen but it never caused a problem for our Judy. The dogs would sometimes skid because they were in such a hurry but it never caused any damage to them.

I've no idea about the foods I'm afraid. I buy adult food for my dogs from a small local shop so I don't know about the merits of various big brand names. I have heard however that along with Bakers Pedigree is one of the foods that uses the most artificial colours and flavours.

[lange]

All I can tell you is what I've learned & done. I rather encourage slow growth in a pup and not over exercise or stress the puppy's body. I would look into a much better dog food than the one your using. I don't know what options you have in India for kibble but you should buy the best quality you can afford. If your dog is already over weight and only a pup, that is not good. You want slow growth. I don't think walking on concrete or grass will injure a dog. It's motions like jumping, over exerting their body in weight or distance, long walks or runs that are not good. The general rule for walking a large breed puppy is 5 minutes for each month of age. That means your dog should be walked only 20 minutes a day on a supportive surface. I would personally stop walking in sand until the dog is well developed.

I met a lady last year with a Lab who was 7 months old & already diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Very sad for just a pup.

Some links you might find helpful:
Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR LARGE BREED PUPPIES
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

[lange]

Sorry. I just realized your question was really about your home flooring. I think it depends on how much he runs or slides in the house. And whether he gets enough traction. You could always put more area rugs around the home if he doesn't have much traction inside. I think you'll have the best idea by just watching him in the house whether your floors are problematic.

Are you going to go ahead and have the vet xray him? I took a peek in your photo album. He's a cutie!

[gautam_mohata]

Thanks for the tips and the compliment.. I will pass on the same to Danny..

And I will surely take him for the x-ray as I dont wish to take any chances with the little fellow...

The kibble I feed him is Pedigree Professional puppy for Large Breeds. Suggested by the vet... It is one of the better ones available in India.