The Labrador retriever is a fairly fast-growing dog breed, reaching its adult height between six to twelve months and filling out its frame typically within the first two years. As one of the large-dog breeds, a premium is placed on its sheer size and growth. But what are some of the reasons some dog owners observe slow or no growth in their Labrador retrievers?.
Some of the reasons your Labrador is not growing are genetic factors that control growth, intestinal worms, litter size, illnesses, or malnutrition. Although you cannot change your dog’s genetics, you can control dietary facets and intestinal pathology to promote healthy growth.
This article will explain how these factors individually affect your Labrador’s growth and some of the actions that you can take to arrest the situation. It also provides a height growth chart for Labrador retrievers to make it easier for you to access and evaluate your dog’s growth against standard benchmarks.
Labrador Retrievers’ Height Growth Chart
According to the American Kennel Association, a male Labrador grows to up to 22.5 inches (57.15 cm) and 24.5 inches (62.23 cm) while a female Labrador grows to 21.5 inches (54.61 cm) and 23.5 inches (59.69 cm). The table below charts the monthly height growth for Labrador puppies up to eighteen months, based on data collected by UK researchers on 3,180 Labrador retrievers.
Based on the chart above, the mean heights for male and female Labradors after 18 months are 58.9 centimeters (23 inches) and 55.1 centimeters (22 inches), respectively. This data is on UK Labradors, which are 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) shorter than the American breed. Still, it illustrates that the first six months have the highest growth rate, with only minimal height increases seen from the 7th month onwards.
Therefore, the above chart suggests that you should see rapid growth in height within the early stages of development (first six months). It also highlights that your dog’s age may explain the perceived stunting in growth after seven months.
Keeping the above in mind, the rest of this article will discuss some of the factors most likely responsible for your Labrador not growing.
Factors Affecting a Labrador’s Growth
– Genetic Factors
A 2007 publication on Scientific American highlighted the relationship between dog size and an insulin-like growth factor hormone. Accordingly, this article suggests that genetic differences could explain the size differences in similar or different dog breeds. A later 2013 study confirms the findings of this publication, referring to a form of dwarfism in Labrador retrievers caused by an inherited recessive trait.
The study on mutation-related dwarfism mentioned above introduces several discoveries. Some genes are associated with short-legged phenotypes in canines or dwarfism, which can manifest in stunted growth in Labrador puppies. This finding is backed by Wilding’s study on the quantitative genetic variation among dog breeds, highlighting the role that genetic variation can play in the size and growth of dogs.
Sarah Wootten from PetMD, however, explains that these kinds of mutations are pretty rare but worth a visit to your local veterinarian.
– Intestinal Worms
The presence or absence of various forms of worms could be the reason why your Labrador isn’t growing. Portuguese researchers conducted a 2020 study on stunted growth in puppies that linked intestinal parasitism and dwarfism in dogs, particularly from the fifth week of growth. These worms included Giardia and Coccidia species, which are pretty common.
The above research is consistent with Wooten’s assessment; most puppies exhibit stunted growth due to hookworms or roundworms in the stomach. The worms take enough calories away from your dog to slow down growth, mainly when this infestation is high.
Intestinal parasitism is easily treatable. In the study, the researchers treated the affected puppies using a combination of metronidazole, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim to counter the worms. They also fed the puppies wet food.
With the above intervention from your veterinarian or using other effective dog dewormers that target these parasites, you should start to notice signs of growth after some time.
– Litter Size
A recent study into factors that may cause stunted growth in Labrador puppies observed a link between growth rate during early development and litter size. The Italian researchers discovered that puppies from large litters tend to have significantly slower weight gain relative to those from smaller litters.
Therefore, even with proper nutrition, you may notice significant variations in relative weight gain in Labrador puppies from the same mother the bigger the litter size. Such variations will decrease the smaller the litter size.
The study also suggests that maternal factors can affect the growth rate among puppies, especially during the neonatal period.
For breeders, one of the ways to minimize chances of stunted growth as a result of large litter size is to effectively manage the breeding cycle.
In a study on the management of breeding colonies, the researchers explain that maintaining smaller litters helps to minimize problems with maternal behavior and slowed growth among puppies, particularly during the neonatal period.
Alternatively, you may adopt different feed management practices to supplement the puppies diet if the litter size is large, reducing maternal stress and also ensuring that all puppies get adequate nutrition during early development.
– Illness
Dogs, especially in their developmental stages, are susceptible to various diseases which may hamper their growth. A 2017 study by Carina Salt and her colleagues on dogs’ body weight reveals that growth pattern deviations can indicate the presence or the potential of a disease. Accordingly, the researchers affirm that some early illnesses can cause slow or stunted growth, as elaborated below.
Diseases during your dog’s early stages of development, such as musculoskeletal disorders, may affect growth standards. Just like in human beings, a wide array of diseases can affect your dog’s growth patterns. Additionally, infections can result in poor appetite or unwillingness to feed.
In this case, I recommend taking your dog to a pet clinic for a checkup as early as possible. This way, you can determine whether your dog’s stunted growth may be related to an underlying illness and provide an excellent opportunity to intervene before the disease progresses further.
– Malnutrition/Diet
Lots of studies show a linkage between proper nutrition and healthy growth and development in dogs. A 1998 study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition states that most skeletal diseases – especially in large dogs, are the result of poor feeding approaches.
The above research raised concerns that the growth of commercial feeding products used to feed growing dogs could cause malnutrition. According to the authors, most breeders and owners aren’t confident about creating a balanced diet for puppies, suggesting that it’s a common issue.
A more recent study in the Canadian Veterinary Journal raises similar concerns, observing that dietary imbalances cause stunted or slowed growth. This indicates that getting the proper nutritional plan for your dog can be a challenge, even for seasoned breeders and dog owners.
I’d recommend visiting your pet clinic, where you can ask for assistance in creating a suitable meal management plan for your dogs, including all appropriate supplementation. Here, you can also get crucial insights into your dog’s nutritional deficiencies, and how to address these problems.
If you’re looking for high-quality dog food options, be sure to check out our list of top-rated dog foods for healthy and balanced meals.
Conclusion
Whether a dog owner or a breeder, you want to ensure your pup’s optimal health and growth.
While some other factors could explain why your Labrador is not growing, this article highlights four of the major courses to guide you to the next step. I suggest seeking information from your veterinarian or dietary expert regarding developing a sound plan to improve your dog’s nutrition and health.
This way, you are better suited to counter most of the factors discussed in this article. If you are concerned about your dog’s growth, you are not alone.
