Is my Labrador Retriever a mixed breed?

Subject: Is my Labrador Retriever a mixed breed?

From: Carrie-Ann (USA)

Labrador Retriever Name: Bella

Reader's E-mail - Carrie-Ann Writes:

Hello I was directed to your site by someone as me and my fiance are trying to figure out what my dog is mixed with so hopefully you will be able to help us we were told she was a purebred chocolate lab but we know for a fact she is definitely not purebred so I will attach some pictures hopefully you can help us thanks a lot.

Carrie-Ann, Kevin, Chico & Bella

All About Labradors Answer:

Hello Carrie-Ann,

The information given here is to help you learn more about your Labrador Retriever and not to replace your veterinarian's advice. Disclaimer

Thank you for writing and visiting the All About Labradors blog. This question is becoming a very popular one.

I'm assuming you have no no history (origin or pedigree) on Bella. Any reputable breeder would have supplied a copy of the dogs pedigree and registration papers.

You take a trip over to the AKC website where you can look up the overall standards for the Labrador Retriever, seeing if Bella meets the requirements, then chances are higher that she is a purebred Labrador. What you have to remember with this is that these standards are for the show ring.

Here is a website that provides the breakdown of the Labrador Retriever standards from the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), Kennel Club U.K. (KC), and the Federation Internationale Cynologique (FCI).

http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/labrador/labarticle6.htm

There are companies out there that can help determine what type of breeds were involved in making up your Labrador Retriever. I have previously posted an article on All About Labradors, Dog DNA Testing, which has information about a company named Canine Heritage that may be helpful to you.

Some other helpful information:

Here is another post from All About Labradors: DNA Samples Can Determine A Dog's Breed



DNA Diagnostics Center - http://www.vetdnacenter.com/canine.html

Metamorphix - http://www.canineheritage.com/

WisdomPanel.com -http://wisdompanel.com/

I hope this will be of help to you. If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask. If you do use one of the tests mentioned please let us know the results.

Take care of the beautiful Bella, Chico, Kevin and yourself.

To see the beautiful Bella visit: Bella 2/27/09

Related Articles:

Chocolate Labrador - Mixed Breed or Purebred

Looking to adopt a Labrador Retriever

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Free $20 Veterinary Voucher

Here's your chance to receive a $20 Veterinary Voucher good toward preventive veterinary care (vaccinations, wellness exams, flea and tick treatment and prevention , heartworm preventative, dental care, etc.)

With today's economy and the price of veterinarian care this is very helpful to all!

Please be sure to follow the directions for this vet voucher. Vouchers are offered from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET every hour on the hour. More than 80 vouchers are distributed every hour, with up to 1,000 vouchers distributed each day.

It took me a few different tries to finally get my veterinarian voucher as the 80 per hour go really quick. You have to be ready and quick at the top of the hour!!

You will download and print your veterinarian vouchers on your computer printer and then take to a licensed veterinarian between February 16, 2009 and May 31, 2009 for a preventive care visit (e.g., vaccinations, wellness exams, flea and tick treatment and prevention, heartworm preventative, dental care etc.).

You will fill the voucher out and have your veterinarian fill out some information and then send it in to receive your check.

Be advised, the offer is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 or older who are owners of a cat or a dog. One voucher per email address and household.

Visit the Help Your Pet, Get to the Vet website to learn more about this offer and to redeem your free $20 Veterinary Voucher. Make sure you read the Official Rules on their website.

Have a wonderful day!!

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$5.00 Coupon for Halo Dog Food

Here's a little savings for anyone who feeds their Labrador Retriever(s) Halo dog food. It's a printable $5.00 store coupon which should be good for a couple of free cans of Halo.

Information from Halo - "Our holistic approach to dog care is based on treating the “whole animal,” using pure, natural ingredients in optimum formulation to stimulate the body’s ability to heal and maintain itself.

The result is a happier, healthier dog — inside and out. That’s why our Spot’s Stew has been the “Gold Standard” in natural dog food for 20 years.

Our commitment to using only the highest quality ingredients in our dog food has never wavered. We guarantee you will see a difference in your dog’s health when you use our products."

Be advised, you do have to sign up for exclusive offers, pet care information and new product developments from Halo to get the printable store coupon.

Visit the Halo website to learn more about their products and to sign up to receive your free $5.00 coupon for Halo dog food. You can also sign up on the homepage of the Halo website. The coupon can also be used for Halo cat food.

Here's a store locator to find your nearest pet store that sells Halo dog food.

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Pesticides in Pet Products pertaining to Flea and Tick Control

A few days ago, February 10, 2009, I had a post on the All About Labradors blog titled Over-the-Counter Flea Treatments - A word of warning.

The post was read by Teri, owner of the Dog Health 1 website and she linked to the post in an article she wrote about pesticides in pet products pertaining to flea and tick control. Her article is very insightful and of great importance to all of us pet owners.

Quote from article - "Pets are indeed dying because of the inaccurate and dangerous application of pesticides in flea and tick products sold over the counter and 25,000 pets have died already.

Many of these products do not require a prescription from your vet so that consumers are using them without the full knowledge or warnings that a competent vet would or should give you the whole story."

To read the full article visit A Dog’s Health at Risk Pesticides in Pet Flea Products.

A big thanks to Teri and make sure you explore the Dog Health 1 website further as she has done an outstanding job providing dog health and nutrition information.

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Pet Steaktopia Treats Sample

Request a free sample of Pet Steaktopia treats.

Information from Pet Steaktopia - "Pet Steaktopia treats have a flavor and aroma that pets can't resist because they are made with the very best beef available - USDA Prime.

* 100% USDA Prime beef from the country's leading provider of Prime beef

* 100% table quality beef

* No Salmonella or E. coli! - guaranteed food safe using the latest technology - no heat, no chemicals

* No preservatives, no dyes or coloring, no sugar and no salt added"

Visit the Pet Steaktopia website for more information on their treats and to request your free Pet Steaktopia treats sample.

I have never personally used Pet Steaktopia treats before so I don't have any information I can tell you about them. If anyone has used them before, please tell share your likes or dislikes.

The offer is only open to residents of the USA.

I would also like to thank my sis-in-law Sammie over at Freebie Fanatics for sharing this with me (not to mention a little promotion for her!).

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Over-the-Counter Flea Treatments - A word of warning

I just finished reading a very interesting article in regards to over-the-counter flea and tick treatments that I wanted to bring to everyones attention.

The article is titled, Pesticides in Pet Products: Why Your Dog or Cat May Be at Risk, by M.B. Pell and Jillian Olsen of The Center for Public Integrity. It goes on to explain how a growing number of pets are dying from flea and tick treatments because of a dangerous pesticide.

"At least 1,600 pet deaths related to spot on treatments with pyrethroids were reported to the EPA over the last five years, according to an analysis of EPA pesticide incident exposure data by the Center for Public Integrity."

"These pyrethroid-based flea and tick treatments -- from Hartz, Sergeant's, Farnam, and Bayer -- are approved for sale by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and they are readily available at grocery stores, specialty pet retailers, and hardware stores. But they are also linked to thousands of reported pet poisonings, and they have stirred the ire of pet owners, the concern of veterinarians, and the attention of regulatory agencies."

"The concentrations of pyrethroids in over-the-counter spot on pet treatments range from a 40 percent to an 85 percent solution, eight to 17 times stronger than the strongest pyrethroid product currently approved for use on humans. Neither the EPA, which generally regulates topically applied products, nor the Food and Drug Administration, which generally regulates orally applied pet products, has a product registered for human application containing a pyrethroid concentration above 5 percent, and that FDA-approved product requires a doctor's prescription." Credit: alternet.org

To read the article in full visit Pesticides in Pet Products: Why Your Dog or Cat May Be at Risk.

Please share your thought and stories after reading the article.

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Finding a new Veterinarian for my Labrador Retriever

Subject: Finding a new Veterinarian for my Labrador Retriever

From: Alexandra (USA)

Labrador Retriever Name: Tasha

Reader's E-mail - Alexandra Writes:

I am wondering if you can be helpful in finding my Labrador Retriever a new veterinarian. My old vet has retired about six months ago and I am not happy with his replacement.

I loved my old vet and dealt with him for many years with both of my Labrador Retrievers but do not feel the same love provided to my dogs from the new vet. If you could provide me with some help with the best way to find a new vet I would be grateful. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Alexandra

All About Labradors Answer:

Hello Alexandra and thank you for visiting All About Labradors.

Disclaimer

I'm sorry to hear that your not happy with your new Labrador Retriever veterinarian. Finding the right veterinarian for your dog can be time consuming, but very well worth it.

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The first option you might try when searching for a new veterinarian is to ask friends, family, and co-workers who they see and why they like that vet. You can also call your local breed club in your area and ask whom most club members use.

I have written the following article which should be of great help to you.

Finding the right veterinarian for Your Labrador Retrievers

One of the most difficult things the owner of a Labrador Retriever must do is chose the right veterinarian. With a little work upfront, you will be able to find a veterinarian that you will be comfortable with, and one that will be able to serve all of your Labradors long term needs.

One of the best ways to find a good veterinarian is to start by asking your family members and friends whom themselves own pets. Neighbors, groomers, and your fellow co-workers are other good sources. You can also search your local yellow pages under dog hospitals, veterinarians, and animal clinics. An excellent online source is located at www.pets911.com (punch in your zip code and it will locate veterinarians in your area).

Now that you have a potential list of vets, your selection process can begin.

Give each veterinarian a call and explain that you are looking for a new veterinarian for your Labrador Retriever, and you would like to meet with them to ask a few questions and to see their facility.

Typical questions and what to look for:

Fee and Services – some veterinarians are higher priced then others. Don’t be hesitant to ask about prices.

* What methods of payment do they take?
* Do they accept a pet insurance plan?
* Is full payment expected on the day of visit?
* Are there discounts for multi-pet households?
* What is the range of services that the veterinarian provides (x-rays, blood test, heartworm test, etc)?

Office Hours

* What are regular office hours?
* Who will take over if the veterinarian is on vacation or out sick?

Emergency Care for your Labrador

* What should I do if the veterinarian is closed and my Labrador Retriever gets hurt or is sick?
* In case of an accident that requires an overnight stay, will someone be with my Labrador Retriever non-stop?

Observe the Staff

Observe the interaction with the veterinarian and with the other staff. Are they courteous and caring?

Facility

* Is the facility clean and well kept?
* How many veterinarians are in the practice?
* Are appointments required?
* Are the animals in separate cages?

The last thing you might want to do is to check with the Veterinarian Medical Board to check if any complaints have been filed against the practice.

Once you have finished making your visits with the veterinarians on your list, you should have a clear picture on what veterinarian you would like to use. If for some reason your first choice doesn’t work out, you can always switch veterinarians to your next choice on your list.

By utilizing the above guidelines, you will be able to match the right veterinarian to what you are looking for, and to serving all of your Labrador Retrievers needs.

© Fay Fernandez allaboutlabradors.blogspot.com

I hope this helps Alexandra. If you should have any further questions or don't understand anything, please let me know.

Take care of yourself and Tasha,

Fay

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Nature's Variety Dog Food Coupon

For those of you that feed your Labrador Retriever Nature's Variety dog food, here's a link to receive a coupon for a "buy one, get one free" bag of their foods.

They have three product choices to choose from:

Raw Frozen Diet
Instinct Kibble
Prairie Kibble

Information from Nature's Variety - "Nature’s Variety is passionate about providing authentic, holistic nutrition for your cherished dog and cat. Our wholesome foods are full of natural goodness. Every ingredient is chosen with care for the health and happiness of your furry friend.

Our foods are 100% free of corn, wheat, soy, chemical preservatives, and artificial colors & flavors. Each diet is rich in meat, poultry or fish proteins to give your pets everything they need for a long and happy life with you. Experience the difference of holistic nutrition from Nature's Variety."

Visit the Nature's Variety website to learn more about their products and register to receive your Nature's Variety Dog Food Coupon.

I would like to thank Amiee for alerting me to this coupon offer.

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National Pet Dental Health Month - February 2009

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. For the past 15 years, veterinarians around the country have been using this month as an extra opportunity to educate pet owners about the importance of dental health.

Proper dental care can actually help improve your Labrador Retriever's overall health, comfort and quality of life.

Now is they ideal time to start a regular oral hygiene regimen that is key to preventing tooth and gum disease for you Labrador Retriever.

For some helpful tips on how to take care of your Labrador Retriever's teeth visit the Pet Dental Health website. Read through the Dental Health Facts and watch the video of a dog's teeth being brushed.

For those of you that use Nylabone products, I was also sent a coupon for $2 off any Nylabone product. Nylabone has a full line of durable and flexible dental chews to help clean teeth and message gums.

Visit the Nylabone website to print out your $2 off Nylabone coupon.

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