Hi. I have a 10 month chocolate. I read they are more prone to health problems. We had ear infection twice, very itchy skin. We are waiting for a VARL blood test results. Mom was yellow and dad black. The litter was all black with 3 chocolate. I also read they have a shorter lifespan. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge on the research that support that theory. I did read infornation about the reasearch but wanted to know your experiences with a chocolate lab regarding health. Thanks.
We have had 3 chocolates. The first one became diabetic at 12 and lived 4 more years so she outlived the average Lab by about 4 years. Tilly died at 12 from cancer. She did have some yeast infections in her ears , but more a nuisance than serious. We always suspected that they were caused by a food allergy, but could not identify it. She lived about the average life span. Cooper is only 4, but has had zero health problems so far, other than ingesting too much water on an all day ball retrieving trip to one of our lakes. In our experience Chocolates are pretty normal Labs health wise. They just look prettier
I have a black lab age 5 no problems, my sister has a chocolate age 8 and has always had ear infections and problems.
Obviously there will be many healthy chocolate labs out there, but I think there may be more health problems in chocolates compared to blacks/yellows as they tended to be bred for colour rather than health.
Hi, I am by no means a sience wiz, but black dad and yellow mom, not sure why 3 chocolates showed up, but could not have been to breed for colour? I don't know.
