Labrabull Breed Maintenance
In many ways, a pitbull lab mix is a low-maintenance dog. For a start, their short coats require nothing more than a weekly going-over with a bristle brush to get rid of dead hair. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary and it’s possible to use dry shampoo if they have a bit of an odor that needs addressing.
Along with coat care, the ears of a Labrabull should be checked regularly for signs of infection and cleaned with a damp cotton ball fortnightly. Nails should be trimmed every two to three weeks (or whenever you can hear them clicking on the floor). Teeth should be brushed two or three times a week as well to ward off bad breath and dental disease.
Next up, there’s the matter of exercise. This is a dog with a lot of energy to burn and they should get at least an hour’s activity a day — if you can’t guarantee this, it would be unfair to bring them into your life as they might get bored or overweight. A large backyard helps let them run around while parents are otherwise occupied.Labrabull Health Risks
It’s thought that crossbreeding dogs can make the resultant offspring a little healthier — a scientific theory called hybrid vigor. While that may or may not be true, one thing that can be said for sure is that a lab pit mix (or any hybrid breeds for that matter) aren’t immune from inheriting health conditions from their parents.
Those conditions that a Labrabull parent should be wary of include:
OCD
American Pit Bull Terriers are one of the canine varieties that are more predisposed to developing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Just as with humans, this manifests itself in repetitive and excessive behavior that begins to take over a dog’s life.
The behavior in question could be anything from licking to drinking, but Bull terriers tend to spin or chase their tail. While this quirk might appear largely harmless, it’s best to get a vet involved as soon as you spot it happening so they can try to deduce the cause — sometimes, it can be the symptom of a neurological disease.
After a diagnosis of OCD, a vet might prescribe medication to inhibit serotonin uptake, but they will almost certainly recommend consulting with an animal behaviorist to break habits and set up new routines.
Epilepsy
Labrador Retrievers are one of the breeds more prone to suffering from epilepsy, so it makes sense that the same is true of a lab and pit mix.
This neurological disorder leads to seizures involving tremors, drooling and even collapse if left untreated. Thankfully, there’s medication available that epileptic dogs can take every day to ward off seizures. Regular blood testing will also be required.
Bloat
Bloat — or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) if you want to impress your vet — tends to affect deep-chested dogs, which is often the case with a pit mixed with a lab. It usually occurs after mealtimes when the stomach starts to fill with air. This can force the organ to twist and block blood supply to vital parts of the body. It might surprise you to learn that bloat can often be quickly fatal.
The symptoms to look out for include a painful abdomen, anxiety, retching and difficulty breathing. It’s important to get a vet involved even if you’re not certain it’s bloat, as rapid treatment is necessary to prevent a dog with an extreme case from dying. Yes: it can be that serious.
Parents can also decrease the likelihood of bloat from happening in several ways. One key preventative measure is to space meals throughout the day, rather than feeding your dog huge quantities in one go. Another is to buy a food bowl that encourages your dog to eat at a slower pace.
Hypothyroidism
Both Labrador Retrievers and American Pit Bull Terriers have genetic predispositions for hypothyroidism, so this can also happen when you’ve got a Labrador mixed with Pitbull. This happens when the thyroid becomes underactive and the hormones are out of balance.
One big symptom is a slowed–down metabolism, which can lead to lethargy, weight gain and poor coat and skin health. Many of the other signifiers are quite general and can be confused with other health conditions. Your vet will need to run several tests to confidently make a diagnosis of Hypothyroidism.
When it comes to treating Hypothyroidism, the condition cannot be cured outright, but a thyroid hormone supplement can be administered to alleviate the worst of the symptoms. Most dogs will see an improvement in health once treatment starts and they will need to undergo regular check-ups at the veterinary clinic.
Regular testing can help spot nasty health conditions at an early stage — this is one of the major perks that comes with a wellness plan.
What to Feed a Labrabull
As the Labrabull is one of the more athletic canines, they need plenty of food every day to replenish their energy supplies and this should ideally be high quality.
What does this mean in practice? Parents should look for recipes with good levels of high-quality protein and plenty of vitamins and minerals. At the same time, anything with an excessive amount of bulky carb ingredients or miscellaneous meat byproducts should be avoided.
Although the Labrabull is a hybrid, we have recommendations for best food for both its parent breeds, which provides useful research. You can read our choices for best dog food for Labrador Retrievers here, and best dog food for Pit Bulls here.
Searching high and low for the perfect dog food? Our partner Dog Food Advisor can help — here’s their list of the best dog foods on the market today.