Silver Labradors have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years but may live up to 14 years or more in some rare cases.
This is pretty much what is expected for most healthy dogs in the Labrador breed.
The problem with Silver Labs is that their production often involves a lot of in-breeding. As a result, this leads to some health issues unique to the variation in addition to those that affect Labrador Retrievers in general.
Here are some of the health issues you may find in a Silver Labrador.
Dilution alopecia
You may notice that your Silver Labrador sheds a lot and may even lose clumps of hair from some sections of coat. This is likely as a result of a condition known as Dilution Alopecia.
It is theorized that the genes responsible for dilution of the coat also cause weakening of the fur strands at the roots and shaft resulting in heavy shedding.
Hip dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a condition where the hip joint on the Silver Labrador forms abnormally and becomes unstable. With time, this affects all the surrounding structures including the cartilage and tendons and may cause complications like abnormal gait and arthritis.
Exercise induced collapse
Exercise Induced Collapse in Silver Labradors is a rare and dramatic condition. It causes an inability to tolerate exercise for more than 20 minutes after which the dog’s legs literally fail them.
Exercise Induced Collapse is a genetic condition and occurs mainly with inbred Silver Labs whose parents had the same issue.
Obesity
Silver Labradors in general are at a very high risk of obesity due to their high appetite as well as health issues that may affect mobility and activity levels. It is therefore very important to stick to a healthy and balanced diet for the sake of the dog.