Labahoula

When it comes to grooming, the Labahoula lies on the low-maintenance end of the spectrum. While they’re not hypoallergenic, they shed seasonally and only need brushing during this period. They also don’t need to be bathed regularly — just as and when they get especially filthy.

Parents will need to spend a bit more time tending to other essential tasks, however. This includes brushing teeth a few times a week to ward off the threat of dental disease, trimming nails every so often, and checking ears every six weeks or so for signs of dirt, wax build-up or infection.

Labahoula Health Risks

Although it’s early days in the history of the Labahoula, the good news is that they look to be a relatively healthy hybrid. Like all dogs, however, there are a couple of diseases to which they're more predisposed, including:

• Hip Dysplasia

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy

• Cataracts

Some of these are hereditary, which underlines the importance of only dealing with responsible breeders who carry out screening on their animals and remove carriers of genetic diseases from the breeding pool.

Hip Dysplasia

The Labrador Retriever is one of the breeds most affected by Hip Dysplasia. This is a condition that occurs when the hip bone fails to develop correctly, leading it to move against the corresponding socket with friction. The main symptoms are limping, limited movement and pain.

There are numerous treatment options available for vets. In minor instances, weight loss or supplements might ease the worst symptoms. However, some dogs might require physiotherapy or surgery to help them recover.

Eye problems

It’s also been noted that the Labahoula can be affected by eye conditions over the course of their lives. One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), in which photoreceptor cells at the back of a dog’s eyes start to die off gradually. This can lead to sight loss, starting with night vision and sometimes leading to complete blindness.

Parents might notice a change in the appearance of their dog’s eyes — this might be a cloudiness or decrease in color. Alternatively, they might witness a change in their dog’s behavior suggesting a loss of vision, be that a newfound caution or bumping into objects.

Sadly, there’s no known cure for PRA and the most a parent can do is to keep their dog’s living environment as safe as possible.

The Labahoula stands a better chance of recovery when it comes to Cataracts, another eye condition to which they’re more prone to developing. These are defined as a cloudiness in a dog’s eyes, which leads to partial or complete vision loss.

Dogs who are otherwise helpful should be able to undergo a low-risk surgical procedure to restore their vision. These have a success rate of more than 90%, but might require some aftercare in the form of eyedrops and medication.

Among the benefits of a wellness plan is 24/7 live chat with vets and annual testing to catch illnesses at an earlier stage — find out more perks here.

What to Feed a Labahoula

As a dog that loves nothing more than to run around, the Labahoula has a pretty mighty appetite and this should be satisfied with top-quality dog food. Look for recipes with high protein content to keep their muscles in good shape, as well as lots of vitamins and minerals, too.

With the Labrador Retriever being a notoriously greedy dog, parents should be wary of overfeeding. This is to avoid obesity, which is extra-important for breeds prone to obesity, such as the Labahoula.

Finally, the Labahoula can either be classified as a medium or large breed depending on who you’re asking. If your Labahoula is particularly big, you might do well to consider a dog food that’s been specifically designed for the nutritional needs of large breeds. This is true for Labahoula puppies too, as some dog foods aren’t suitable for the growth of large-breed puppies.

Searching for a dog’s dinner can often prove difficult, but our partner Dog Food Advisor can offer assistance — here’s their list of the best high-protein dog food.