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Frequently Asked Questions
To serve you better we've prepared this section to cover the most asked questions from the LabWell website E-mail inquiries. As always, if you can't find an answer here, feel free to use the E-mail capability to send us your inquiries. We will do our very best to find the answers for you. Because of the large numbers of emails we receive, it might take a week or more to answer each email.
*Please consult with your vet for serious health problems and emergencies. There is no substitute for professional care.*
We answer all questions privately by e-mail and will post here the most representative questions. We will not use your name unless you want us to.
These are the top 10 most asked questions.
#1. Ear Problems (this is by far the most recurrent)
#2. Skin Allergies (various types)
#3. Joint Related Problems (mostly hip dysplasia)
#4. Injuries, Operations (OCD & Cruciate Ligament repair)
#5. Behavior Problems (bad habits)
#6. LabWell Products Inquiries (questions about our products)
#7. Nutritional Inquiries (about other brands & products)
#8. Inquiries about our kennel & involvement with Labs
#9. Training Information
#10. Breeding & Show related questions (TOP)
Q. "Our Lab was diagnosed with Canine Acute Chronic Otitis Externa." "My Labrador has recurrent yeast infections." "Our Labrador's ears smell and are always full of brown goo." " Our Labrador is always shaking his head and scratching at his ears."
A. I didn't realize this was such a prevalent problem out there, but lately 1 out of 3 e-mail questions have to do with ear related problems. There are a lot of contributing factors that could lead to ear infections. The first thing to do, is to identify the cause for your dog's problem. Have your vet examine your dog's ears.
Ear mites are high on the list for ear infections, specially if the dog is constantly shaking and scratching at his ears. There are several over-the-counter products that are very effective to rid the dog of ear mites. Mitox®, Mita-Clear®, Nolvamite® and Mitaplex® are excellent for mites. Some of the monthly heartworm medications that have Ivermectin as the active ingredient will help to keep the mites at a minimum.
Yeast and other bacterial infections account for more than 60% of ear infections. These conditions call for the use of prescription anti-biotics. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the exact type bacteria and what is indicated against it. In most cases the medication will be administered directly into the ear and sometimes an internal anti-biotic will be given also. Panalog®, Otomax® and Gentomicin® are probably the most prescribed by vets.
Most vets and health care professional will agree that by building up the dog's natural defenses, most infections will self-resolve. Diet plays an important role in many cases, especially if the dog is also displaying skin allergies along with the ear infections. Changing the diet sometimes will help to clear up many of the ear problems. A rice and lamb dog food seems to work well with many of the dogs that have recurrent skin and ear problems. Additional supplements of rice bran is also indicated to aid the dog in the manufacture of anti-oxidants and help to build up the immune system. Anti-oxidants help build up the immune system and aid in preventing many ear infections from getting started. Our Lab Flex MAX DS is fortified with the 3 top nutraceutical of Glucosamine (500mg*), Chondroitin (400mg*) and MSM (500mg*), all working together to form a synergistic anti-oxidant formulation to shore up the immune system. Lab Flex MAX DS combines these 3 super anti-oxidants for a strong immune system.
*2 capsules per day will provide continuous 24 hour chondro-protection.
Keeping the ear clean also goes along way in preventing ear infections. Clean the ear out at least twice a week. (TOP)
Q. "Our Labrador is constantly getting "hotspots". We have taken him to the vet numerous times. Each time they give him a cortisone shot, they shave the area, gives us a topical antibiotic to put on it, oral antibiotic and Rimadyl for the inflammation. This seems to cure the spot, but a month or two later we go through the same thing all over again. Is there anything you can suggest?"
A. I might want a second opinion on the use of Rimadyl, as there have been many cases of liver and kidney complications. You might want to read the article at our Reference Library, about how we treat hotspots here at our kennel. Most skin problems, especially recurring ones, are usually food related allergies. We recommend changing your Labs food to a Lamb & Rice, Turkey & Rice or Fish & Potatoes diet. There are several top brands that make these special formulas, Diamond Professional, Eukanuba, Nutro's and others. You also might want to add our Lab Glo Rice Bran as a supplement for extra protein and essential fatty acids. We have reduced the incident rate of skin problems by about 98% with our own Labs and with our client's other 200+ Labs that are currently on our Nutrition and Conditioning Programs, with the use of the Rice Bran and the vitamin supplement Lab Forte.
Once again, by maintaining a heightened immune system response, most skin allergies are reduced or totally eliminated. (TOP)
Q. "What is your involvement with Labrador retrievers?"
A. This used to be the most asked question that we got from those not aware of our interest and involvement in the breed. We have been into Labradors for 30 years. Today our "kids" can be found throughout the US and in 4 continents. They excel in many endeavors, from fieldwork to lap dogs, service oriented activities to fly ball tournaments, obedience trials to the conformation ring, they all provide each of their owners much pleasure. Today my wife and I co-breed 3 litters a year with some of our client/co-owners. We participate in about 18 to 20 conformation shows a year, all within a 4 hour distance from the Miami area. Our greatest involvement with the breed is in the training and conditioning sector. Between our group training facility and our home/kennel facility, we work with about 200 to 300 Labradors a month. We do group training, private one-on-one training and in-kennel training. We cover "Puppy Primer' to "Advanced Obedience", conformation training for dogs to show handling classes for the owners, CGC training and testing, WC training and testing, tracking and other owner/dog oriented activities. The administration and management of such a large group of Labradors has led us to the health, care and nutritional sector. For years we have had products specially formulated for our kennel and for our client's dogs. (see Lab Flex article in the Health Reference Library)
Today we offer those same products in use at our facility, to the entire Labrador fancy under the LabWell Products label. (TOP)
Q. "There are many Glucosamine and Chondroitin products on the market, what makes your "Lab Flex" product any better?"
A. You are right, there is a tremendous proliferation of "joint support type" products now available and we should all be very glad that they are available. These are the most sought after "nutraceutical" today, both for human use as well as animal use. The testimonials almost sound to good to be true, but in this case the benefits are astonishing. (see Chondroitin/Glucosamine article in the Health Reference Library section)
- Our product "LabWell's Lab Flex MAX DS" uses all human grade ingredients, some other products on the market use "animal grade" ingredients.
- Lab Flex MAX DS is formulated specifically for the weight of a full grown Labrador retriever, so that there is little waste in its use, other brands are formulated for smaller or larger dogs.
- Lab Flex MAX DS is pure, there are no fillers that might cause adverse reactions, some of the other brands use starch, sugar, gluten, wheat, corn, soy, dairy products and other additives.
- Lab Flex MAX DS gives , 500 mg of Glucosamine sulfate*, 500mg MSM*, 400mg of Chondroitin sulfate*
- The price for this super formulation is wholesale-priced direct to our clients at 120 capsules for $25.00, we KNOW this is the absolute best price on the market today for that formulation. (see LabWell Product page for super special price on greater quantities of Lab Flex MAX DS)
*Two capsules give 500mg of Glucosamine sulfate, 500mg of MSM and 400mg of Chondroitin sulfate. We give 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule in the afternoon for dogs on therapy, high conditioning or post injuries. For regular maintenance only 1capsule will do.
The bottom line is that we feel that all Labs should receive supplementation of MSM, Glucosamine and Chondroitin on an every day basis, since these nutrients are so beneficial to our Labs. We feel that the commercial foods available do not supply enough of these joint support type ingredients in their formulas. If you find a better brand at a better price, then use it for your Labs sake. (TOP)
Q. "Why don't you offer a flaxseed product, don't you feel that it would be beneficial to Labradors?"
A. Absolutely! Flaxseed oil is one of the best sources of essential fatty acid (EFA) Omega 3. While many other sources of fat provide the EFA Omega 6 & 9 in the required quantities for our Labs, flaxseed also produces the high quality and easily digested form of omega 3 that is converted for great coats and skin. The dry dog food we use, Diamond Puppy and Diamond Professional uses flaxseed in their ingredients.
We prefer using the meal form of our ingredients, such as the Lab Glo Rice Bran meal versus the oil form of it, likewise we would prefer using a flaxseed meal, however it is only available seasonally and not suited for marketing as a meal product.
Here are some other products that we have used for years and are now available through LabWell Products.
- Rice Bran - in a powdered form to add to the basic dry dog food. It is a great source of vegetable fat and fiber, and aids in digestion. *Now Available at the Labrador Retriever Health Food Store, LabWell's Lab Glo*
- Brewers yeast & garlic + Vit B-Complex - for great coat, skin. Now Available at the Labrador Retriever Health Food Store, LabWell's Lab Forte* Now with added Ginseng. (TOP)
Q. "Doesn't the identification micro-chip slip or wonder around inside the dog?"
A. When the microchips were first introduced, there were some cases of "slippage", however they have come along way since the first prototypes. The Avid microchip comes with a special adhesive that helps it bond to soft tissue. Using the proper procedure for implantation, there is no need to worry about these "next generation' micro-chips to go anywhere, except with the dog. (TOP)
Q. "Does garlic really ward off fleas?"
A. For years many breeders have claimed that garlic indeed keeps fleas at a minimum, these claims are legally un-documented, therefore the products can not claim these benefits even if it did perform that service. In order to document these claims, extensive and very expensive testing has to be performed.
We have been using a Brewers Yeast, garlic and Vitamin B-Complex supplement for years at our kennels, and are very satisfied with the nutritional benefits that come with their use. Many of our clients swear about the "no fleas" effect with the garlic use. We rely on the new topical tick and flea treatments to combat both fleas and ticks. We have been alternating BioSpot and Frontline for about 18 months now and have reduced fleas and ticks by about 99%, however maybe the garlic supplement in the daily diet has helped too.
LabWell's Lab Forte - Brewers Yeast, Garlic, Vitamin B-Complex and Multiple Vitamins & Mineral Supplement, now available through the Labrador Retriever Health Food Store. (TOP)
Q. "Why doesn't your company, LabWell process your own brand of dog food, with all the goodies that Labradors need?"
A. Great question!! We'd love to and maybe someday we will. The way we want it done will take about a cool million, just to get started on our very own processing plant. If we win the Lotto, I promise you that will be one of my first priorities. For the time being, we will keep you apprised of the best commercial dog food to use and which supplements to add to it, to give our Labs the best nutrients possible. LabWell will search far and wide for those supplements and make them available to the entire Labrador fancy at the most affordable prices. (TOP)
Q. "I read your articles on soy, flax and fishmeal as sources of fat and protein, what do you consider are the best ingredients in a dog food and as supplements?"
A. A very complex question, but here goes anyway. Dogs in the wild have a very diversified diet. They basically will eat whatever makes itself available to them. They are opportunistic eaters, at times they forage for vegetation, seeds and berries while at other times they are complete scavengers, eating whatever is leftover from a kill. Then sometimes they do the killing themselves and eat whatever pleases them, usually they gut the prey out, eating the thorax, tracheal and visceral areas first. They run the full gamut, from vegetarians to carnivores and everything in between, even to eating grubs and all kinds of insects.
So, what does all that have to do with the question? Simple, I feel that our domesticated canines also need variety. So here is my list of foods that I think are important to our four-legged buddies. I have divided them into animal and vegetable sources and I also listed them in order of importance of nutritional value to our dogs.
Animal Sources Vegetable
1. Fish (meal and oil) 1. Rice (bran and kernel)
2. Turkey (meal) 2. Tubers (Yams, Potatoes, carrots, etc.)
3. Chicken (meal) 3. Flaxseed ( other seed-type oils also)
4. Lamb (meat & bone meal) 4. Soy (other legumes too)
5. Beef (meat and bone meal) 5. Corn .
To rely too heavily on any source of food is to deprive our dogs the opportunity to extract those nutrients that they naturally need for all types of bodily functions. As you can see, I would include the over-used corn as a valuable source also, however it would not be at the top of my ingredients list. (TOP)
Q. "I have visited your website many times and I don't even own a Labrador, we have Golden Retrievers and are wondering about using your products. Would it be the same for our dogs?"
Q. "We have Poodles", "I have a Boxer".
A. We appreciate and welcome all the visits and queries we are getting from owners of other breeds. My entire experiences and expertise with dogs revolves around 30 years with one breed, Labrador retrievers. So that I do not feel as qualified to give advice on any other breed, however some products such as LabWell's Lab Flex MAX DS (Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM complex) should be made available to all breeds of dogs and also to humans. These are nutrients that are missing in most diets. Labrador retrievers need higher amounts of protein and EFA's (essential fatty acids) than most other breeds, so that the fishmeal would be something more indicative to Labs than those breeds that do not need as much protein in the diet. LabWell's Lab Glo Rice Bran and the multiple vitamin supplement Lab Forte are products with more universal appeal and I would recommend them for all breeds. Consult with knowledgeable breeders about your particular breed. Most of them are like me, chaffing at the bit to share their experiences with anyone that will listen. (TOP)
Q. "How does your product, LabWell's Lab Flex compare to Glycoflex®?"
A. Glycoflex® is another outstanding nutraceutical to use for
healthier joints and soft tissue development. It is made from the Perna Canaliculus mussel
found in the Pacific Ocean. It is high in mucopolysaccharides, the ingredients that help build strong joints. (see article on
Glucosamine/Chondroitin in the Health Reference section) Our product, Lab Flex
MAX DS also contains the same mucopolysaccharides made from the Perna
Canaliculus mussel. The ingredients are MSM, Glucosamine sulfate, Chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin is extracted from many
sources including the Perna Canaliculus mussel. In the past we have used Glycoflex®,
Cosequin®, Arthraflex® and several other great products, all which have had tremendous
positive results with our Labs. That is the main reason that LabWell Products came into
being, to produce those supplements that will be beneficial to Labrador retrievers in
specific and and to make them available to their owners at direct from
manufacture's
prices. Lab Flex MAX DS will cost about .20* a day to use, 1 capsule a per day for a maintenance
regimen or 2 a day for high stress periods, or Labs on a conditioning program or for joint
injury related problems. We split the dosage morning and afternoon.
*(
The 8 month supply of 240 capsules are now on sale for
$47) (TOP)
Q. "I use a dog food that uses avocado as one of the main ingredients, however you don't have avocados listed as one of your preferred ingredients for dog food."
Q. "The dog food I use has barley as an ingredient."
Q. "The dog food I use list potatoes as an ingredient"
A. There are numerous formulas on the market, with different ingredients. Many of these additives serve mainly as a filler, while others are providing our Labs with alternative sources of protein, EFA (fat) and fiber. Avocados are considered to by one of natures "perfect foods" and I don't see why not to offer it to the dog's diet. We have used an avocado-based dog food in the past and the results were great on general health and coats on our Labs. There are several of our client's Labs on a potato-based diet, and those dogs are doing excellent, with super coats and a general well-being. Barley, oats, wheat, rye, hops and several other grains are used in many dog foods, mostly because of the abundance of these grains, however, each one provides very beneficial nutrients needed by our dogs. The general appearance of your Lab is a good indication of the food it is consuming. Labs with little energy and poor coats indicate that either they are sick or that the food they are eating is not benefiting them fully. (TOP)
Q. "I am building an outside run for my Labrador, using concrete for the floor. Will this present a problem with the dog's coat and skin?"
A. We have tried every conceivable type of flooring at our kennel, all had advantages and also drawbacks. Concrete floors are the easiest to clean if they are laid with the proper slope, so that the water will run off into some type of drainage system. Since it takes concrete more than 10 years to cure by itself, special sealers are sold to prevent the acids within the concrete to rise and cause skin problems for the dog. Also, care has to taken when using cleaners, such as bleach on the concrete. Any residue of the bleach will cause discoloration of the dogs coat. One of our clients who has a black Lab. used bleach twice a week on the concrete runs and the was not rinsing the slab off with water, the dog would lay on the wet slab and it wasn't long before the coat turned into an orangey color. I advise making a small wooden deck to place on the concrete slab, for the dog to lay on occasionally. (TOP)
Q. "Our Lab goes through periods of dry and flaky coat, and then begins to shed all over the place. We have changed her food many times and nothing seems to work. Do you have any suggestions?"
A. You need to have her thyroid checked to make sure that is not the problem. The foods you are feeding might not be providing the proper amounts of essential fatty acids (EFA). There are several great products on the market that might be of some aid. Lipaderm®, Theralin® and some biotin products might help. We produce several supplements that might help out with skin conditions. LabWell's Lab Glo Rice Bran contains easily assimilated EFAs and other ingredients that promote healthy skin and coat. Our fishmeal product LabWell's FiBo is high in the EFA's to promote great thick coats and also minimizes shedding. The 1lb tub of the Lab FiBo fishmeal will last a full grown Lab about 3 months and cost $8.00 which comes to less than .08 a day (8 cents). The Lab Glo Rice Bran supplement cost $8.00 for a 1lb tub and will last about 90 days. Feed her a rice and lamb diet and add 1 level teaspoon of the Lab FiBo fishmeal plus 2 full teaspoons of the Lab Glo Rice Bran for about 3 weeks. We recommend also using the multiple vitamin supplement Lab Forte. This is a special blend of Brewers yeast, garlic, kelp, Beta Carotene, multiple vitamins and minerals PLUS fortified with the entire Vitamin-B Complex. (TOP)
Q. "Our 2 year old Labrador has been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis of the elbow. Will your product, Lab Flex help? What else can I do to help her as far as therapy and the sort?"
A. Osteoarthritis usually involves the erosion of articular cartilage at the ends of bones. This condition is also accompanied by a decrease of synovial fluid in those same joints. With a diminished synovial fluid reservoir it is most likely that the ends of the bones will rub, causing excessive wear and erosion of the articular cartilage. The ingredients in Lab Flex MAX DS , are Chondroitin and Glucosamine sulfate and MSM, which are members of proteins called mucopolysaccharides. They help build up eroded articular cartilage, plus restore healthy levels of synovial fluid to act as shock absorbers for joints. Start her on 2 pills of the Lab Flex MAX DS a day for about 3 weeks, then keep her on one a day. Introduce the Lab FiBo fishmeal to her diet, one level teaspoon a day. The fishmeal contains fish cartilage that will also aid in the joint areas. LabWell's Lab Glo Rice Bran contains special nutrients for joint and soft tissue growth and repair. Recent research also indicates that the addition of vitamin C also helps with the repair of joint related injuries. An enteric coated aspirin will also aid in keeping inflammation down. Keep your Lab's weight on the lower end, to help reduce wear and tear to the joints. Exercise lightly for the next few months, with swimming as the best bet, as this keeps weight off the joints. (TOP)
Follow-Up To Above. " We received the Lab Flex Glucosamine/Chondroitin & Lab Fi-Bo fishmeal supplements and have had our Lab, Xena on them for a month, she is doing wonderful, please send me a 3 months supply of both and anything else you recommend." Dr. & Mrs. Strassberg
A. Thank you for the good news, it is always great to hear that we can help in any way. I will be sending you our LabWell's Lab Glo Rice Bran along with your recent order. You can reduce the Lab Flex to 2 a day, increase the fishmeal to a full teaspoon and now add 2 teaspoons of the Lab Glo Rice Bran. You might also reduce the total amount of dry food by 1/2 cup a day. (TOP)
Q. "Our Labrador puppy has been diagnosed with Panosteitis. We have heard different opinions on the treatment. What do you recommend?"
A. Wondering lameness, Pano, EOPan, ping pong syndrome, growing pains, and maybe a few more names all identify a condition that affects young, fast growing and large boned dogs, including Labradors. In most cases the condition is self limiting in a few weeks, in others it last for months. In Labradors it affects the front legs more often than the rear legs, most of the time the bone affected will be the long bone of the forearm and the condition will come and go and even alternate between the different legs. On radiographs, it appears as a denser area within a bone. Years ago the usual treatment was for the dog to be crated as much as possible with very little exercise. In our experiences this treatment led to atrophy of the muscle system, so we have taken a different approach when this conditions has affected our dogs. On the nutritional front, we double up on the daily dose of the Chondroitin & Glucosamine sulfate and MSM, we add one pill of DiCalcium Phosphate and we cut back on the amount of food per day by 1/2 cup. On the conditioning front, we limit the amount of play with other dogs, we will walk on a flexi-lead on soft ground such as sand or grass and we provide as much swimming as the dog wants. Before any physical activity we will give the dog an aspirin to relieve pain in order for the dog to have full range of motion. However, we are cautious not to let the dog run wild, all activity is kept under control. Usually the dogs will outgrow this condition by the time they are 10 months old. (TOP)
Q. "Our Labrador retriever is having surgery for Cruciate Ligament damage and we have been advised that he will need to be put on a Glucosamine/Chondroitin product. When we compared prices with your Lab Flex to this well known brand, your product was 1/2 the cost, yet was stronger, according to the ingredients listed. How is this possible?"
A. There are several products on the market that are excellent sources of nutrients for joint, bone and ligament damage. They aid in the healing process and also help to strengthen those areas before injuries occur. All of the products formulated for LabWell Products are sold directly to the consumer. There are no expensive color catalogs, no full color page ads in every dog related magazine, no fancy labels or eye catching packaging, no distributors, no dealers, no middleman. Each one of those mentioned would require a serious markup. We deal directly with the ultimate consumer, thus saving you all those mark-ups that make other products cost twice as much. We trust that Labrador owners are willing to do without all the marketing markups and take advantage of essential supplements for our breed at the most affordable price.
Besides LabWell's Lab Flex MAX DS Glucosamine/Chondroitin sulfate/MSM complex, you might want to supplement your Lab's diet with the Lab Glo Rice Bran and the Lab Forte multiple vitamin supplement, as both of these nutritional products are high in mucopolysaccharides and other joint support nutrients. If you are now feeding 3 cups a day, cut back to 2 1/2 cups and add 1 level teaspoon of the Lab Forte and 2 full teaspoons of the Lab Glo rice bran product. You might want to also give your Labrador, extra Vitamin C, as recent studies have shown that it also aids in the recovery time from injuries and surgery. (TOP)
Q. "We have been going to conformation classes with our 9 month old male Labrador, and recently someone mentioned that our Lab has a serious fault. Something about hyper-extension of the hock and that it might be genetic. We asked our vets about it and they didn't seemed to be too concerned. Can you give me more information on this?"
A. It sounds like we are dealing with several different situations here. One would be a medical condition and the other would be more of an aesthetics condition. On the medical front, your vet might not consider the condition as anything to worry about. If the dog is not limping or is not in pain, and he seems to walk without any problems, then they might figure that " let's leave well enough alone". However, on the conformation front, it is a totally different story. Breeders should have the "standard" for the breed in mind when considering a pairing of two dogs. We want to produce the absolute best specimens and then take them forth to a venue such as a dog show to be compared with other outstanding examples of the breed. A dog that hyper-extends his hocks would not be a candidate for a breeding program. This is a serious fault in structure, much like a cow-hocked dog, or a straight stifle, bow legged and many other faults that could be passed on to their offspring's. My suggestion to you, is to have a knowledgeable Labrador breeder, a show judge, a professional handler or someone involved with show dogs to give you an honest evaluation of your dog. If he is not of conformation quality, you might want to work with him in obedience or other non-conformation activities. (TOP)
Q. "My yellow Labrador has a reddish nose color, is this a birth defect or is it a food deficiency. Is there anything I can do about it?"
A. More than likely your Lab also has yellowish or green eyes, red eye rims and reddish inner lips. This is a genetic manifestation of a yellow Lab that is carrying 2 genes for the color chocolate. A yellow Lab that carries either one gene or two genes for the black color will have a black nose, black eye rims and black inner lips. Sometimes a black nose will fade to a brownish color in the winter time, however the eye rims and inner lips will remain black. A zinc deficiency will cause pigmentation discoloration, that will affect the black nose pigment. It usually appears as pink around the edges of the black nose. Supplementation with zinc, biotin and multiple vitamins will usually reverse this affect. (TOP)
Q. "I use a top of the line brand of dog food, do I need to add supplements? Shouldn't this dog food meet the daily requirements of my Labrador Retriever?"
A. For economic reasons the dog food companies formulate their foods with all breeds in mind. However, the Alaskan sled dogs will wither away if fed the foods we feed our Labs, likewise the Taco Bell Chihuahua will certainly expire of heart disease if fed the high fat diets that the Alaskan sled dogs are fed. Since we have bred the different breeds to become each so specific in structure and in function, we must recognize that they each have very specific dietary demands. Unfortunately, there has been no long term research done on the dietary needs of each specific breed, most of the time generic dogs are used by the research centers for their studies. In addition to the different structural and functional demands of each breed, another major consideration that has to be taken when feeding each breed the correct diet is the various climatic conditions that the dogs are exposed to. Labs living in Canada, certainly will have considerably different dietary needs than those living in South Florida. If your Labrador retriever is in good health, has a good, thick, healthy coat that does not shed a lot and he has plenty of stamina, then more than likely he is doing well with the diet you are providing him. (TOP)
Q. "Our Labrador just had a bout with gastro-enteritis, our vet recommends a bland diet of cooked rice with chicken canned dog food. Do you have a remedy that you use for your Labs with digestion problems?"
A. Labradors seem to eat anything they find, the yuckier the better, so occasionally we do encounter digestion problems. Diamond carries a very good Rice & Lamb formula for dogs with delicate digestion and this formula is also good for dogs with food allergies. There are other excellent brands that are as good as Diamonds. If we have to go to a lower fat and protein diet, we will supplement it with our Lab Glo Rice Bran product, that is now available through our Labrador Retriever Health Food Store. We add 2 full teaspoons to 2 cups of Rice and Lamb dog food per day for dogs recuperating from gastric problems. We gradually increase the dry food plus the 2 teaspoons till we reach the normal daily intake. On most of our Labs we will switch back to the Diamond Professional, plus adding the Lab Forte vitamin supplement on a daily basis. If the dog has food allergies, we will keep it on the Rice and Lamb formula and add the Lab Glo Rice Bran plus the Lab Forte vitamin supplement. Both of these supplements give our Labs extra joint support nutrients, high digestible EFA's (essential fatty acids), super source of anti-oxidants and readily available proteins for normal body functions, not to mention the great skin and coats that they both promote. (see article on Rice Bran Supplement in the Labrador Retriver Reference Library). (TOP)
Q. " Our 3 year Labrador retriever will sometimes come up lame after excessive exercise. We have done X-rays and nothing shows up, he is hip and elbows, OFA Good. Sometimes it is the front and other times it is the rear. Within a couple of hours after resting, it seems to go away. What do you think?"
A. We have had similar experiences with new Labs coming into our training environment. We believe that what is occurring with this condition is that the dogs are depleting their natural stores of glycogen from their muscular system. Thus the dogs are experiencing muscle fatigue. Another condition that we have seen after heavy exercise, is stiffness of the joints, this is very similar to the above condition, however, we feel that this is a depletion of the synovial fluid reservoir in the joints. With both of these symptoms we have recommended the addition of Lab Flex for the joints, Lab Glo rice bran and Lab FiBo fishmeal for joint support and for the EFA's (essential fatty acids) that provide extra glycogen production and instant release of energy from the fat rather than depleting the glycogen stores found in the muscles. Also, the multiple vitamin supplement Lab Forte on a daily basis to guard against vitamin deficiencies. (TOP)
Q. "Our 13 year Labrador gets these tumors or growths and also small gray warts on her body. Our vet doesn't know what to make of them. Do you have any solutions or any supplement that might be of some help?"
A. It is always sad when our Labs get older. I would recommend a "Seniors Diet", one with a lower amount of fat and protein. Many of the leading brands of dog foods, carry these geriatric type diets. The only supplement that I would recommend, is our Lab Flex product. This helps with joints and is a natural anti-inflammatory. Some of the older dogs seem to do a lot better with the addition of this nutraceutical. (TOP)
Q. "Our Labrador occasionally gets digital cysts between the toes, do you have a remedy for this condition?"
A. There are many opinions and treatments for these "cysts" or warts. Many vets opt for lancing and removing them surgically, while others will lance and treat with antibiotics. Our approach has been to deter them from occurring. There is a train of though that says that these warts are viral in nature, much like the herpes virus and some of its kin. When the immune system is compromised, then this virus will show up. We provide all our Labs with zinc found in the Lab Forte multiple vitamin supplement to maintain a healthy immune system, especially those that have had these warts in the past. Once the dogs get them, we treat them with Desenex foot spray. This is an anitfungal spray, whose main ingredient is zinc. The Desenex seems to speed up the process and lessen the duration of the warts. Once the wart ruptures, it seems to heal much sooner. Since we started this procedure about 5 years ago, the incident rate of these digital cysts has almost disappeared. As always, if you are not sure of a correct treatment, consult with your Health Care Professional. (TOP)
Q. "We have been feeding our Lab a Brewers yeast and garlic supplement. What makes your new Brewers yeast and garlic product any better than those already on the market?"
A. We have been supplementing all our Labs and those of our clients that participate in our management system with a brewers yeast and garlic supplement for years. However we have been adding the whole series of Vitamin B complex extra, also the daily required multiple vitamins and minerals needed by our breed. All this in one mix, so that no further vitamins are needed. Labradors need extra Vitamin B complex for coat and healthy skin (biotin). They also need extra zinc mineral in their diet for a stronger immune system. We believe that LabWell's Lab Forte Brewers Yeast/Garlic, Vitamin B-Complex + Multiple Vitamin & Minerals is the best and most potent Brewers yeast and garlic supplement on the market today at the best price. We have had it specially formulated for the special needs of our active breed. It is packaged in 1lb, 3lb, and 5lbs. By purchasing it in the 3lb & 5lb tubs you get the best product on the market and you save big $$$$$. (TOP)
Come back to this section frequently, as we will be updating the Q & A's that we received from your E-mail inquiries.
PLEASE EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: info@labradorwell.com
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