Sizing up the problem

Dwarfism is a relatively common disorder in labradors, but it’s not always obvious if a dog has the condition

- David Tomlinson

LAST SEASON, I watched an unusually short-legged labrador picking up on a shoot. It was performing well, so it never occurred to me that there was anything wrong with it until I chatted to the dog’s handler. She told me that it was a two-year-old bitch that had been given to her by its breeder because it suffered from dwarfism, so he had been unable to sell it. Dwarfism is a relatively common problem in labradors, but it’s not always immediately obvious, and certainly doesn’t stop mildly affected dogs from working.

According to a vet friend who has seen several cases of dwarfism, it can be easily overlooked in dogs that are only mildly affected, while in others it is both obvious and conspicuous. Short legs are usually the most visible indication, but as we all know the length of labrador legs varies enormously. Show-bred dogs are typically shorter-legged than their working counterparts, as show breeders are less concerned with their dogs’ athletic abilities.

Other obvious indicators to look out for are swollen and enlarged knee joints, pigeon toes (feet turned inward) and bowed forelimbs, while dwarf labradors often have unusually shaped large heads, especially in proportion to their bodies. This can lead to breathing difficulties.