Labrador UK: Food, Insurance & Health Guide
The Labrador is a large gundog that the Royal Kennel Club says needs more than two hours of exercise a day. UK studies put its median lifespan at 12.0 to 13.1 years, ear infections (10.4%) and being overweight (8.8%) were the most common problems in vet records, and a 30 kg Labrador's breed food cost about £2.02 a day on 21 October 2026.
At a glance
- Kennel Club group
- Gundog
- Size
- Large
- Exercise a day
- More than 2 hours
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Median lifespan
- 12.0 years or 13.1 years (two UK studies)
Sources: Royal Kennel Club; McGreevy et al. 2018, VetCompass (12.0 years); McMillan et al. 2024 (13.1 years). Checked 21 October 2026. Full links are in the sources list.
Health
The most commonly recorded problems in UK first-opinion vet records (VetCompass) were ear infections, being overweight and degenerative joint disease. The table below also uses the Royal Kennel Club's breed health guidance. Where we could not find a published figure, we say what to ask instead.
- 10.4%had an ear infection (otitis externa) recorded in one yearSource: McGreevy et al. 2018, VetCompass
- 8.8%were recorded as overweight or obese in one yearSource: McGreevy et al. 2018, VetCompass
- 5.5%had degenerative joint disease recorded in one yearSource: McGreevy et al. 2018, VetCompass
| Condition | What the evidence says / what to ask the breeder |
|---|---|
| Ear infections (otitis externa) | The most commonly recorded problem: 10.4% of Labradors in one year of vet records (VetCompass, 2018). |
| Overweight and obesity | 8.8% recorded in one year (VetCompass, 2018). About 23% of Labradors carry the POMC variant linked to food motivation (University of Cambridge, 2016). |
| Degenerative joint disease | 5.5% recorded in one year (VetCompass, 2018). |
| Hip and elbow dysplasia | Ask for BVA/RKC hip and elbow scores for both parents. |
| Cruciate ligament rupture | There is no breeder screening test. See the insurance section below for published surgery prices. |
| Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) | Ask for both parents' EIC DNA test results. |
| Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) and other eye conditions | Ask for prcd-PRA DNA results and a current BVA/RKC eye scheme certificate. |
| Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) | Ask for both parents' CNM DNA test results. |
| Cancer | Cancer was recorded as the cause in 21.1% of deaths where a cause was known (VetCompass, 2018). |
- Ear infections (otitis externa)
- The most commonly recorded problem: 10.4% of Labradors in one year of vet records (VetCompass, 2018).
- Overweight and obesity
- 8.8% recorded in one year (VetCompass, 2018). About 23% of Labradors carry the POMC variant linked to food motivation (University of Cambridge, 2016).
- Degenerative joint disease
- 5.5% recorded in one year (VetCompass, 2018).
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Ask for BVA/RKC hip and elbow scores for both parents.
- Cruciate ligament rupture
- There is no breeder screening test. See the insurance section below for published surgery prices.
- Exercise-induced collapse (EIC)
- Ask for both parents' EIC DNA test results.
- Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) and other eye conditions
- Ask for prcd-PRA DNA results and a current BVA/RKC eye scheme certificate.
- Centronuclear myopathy (CNM)
- Ask for both parents' CNM DNA test results.
- Cancer
- Cancer was recorded as the cause in 21.1% of deaths where a cause was known (VetCompass, 2018).
Health tests to ask a breeder for
- BVA/RKC hip and elbow scores for both parents (RKC Good Practice)
- A current BVA/RKC/ISDS eye scheme certificate (RKC Good Practice)
- DNA tests: prcd-PRA, exercise-induced collapse (EIC) and centronuclear myopathy (CNM) (RKC Good Practice)
- DNA tests: macular corneal dystrophy (MCD), skeletal dysplasia (SD2) and Stargardt disease (STGD) (RKC Good Practice)
- DNA test for hereditary nasal parakeratosis (HNPK) (RKC Best Practice)
The POMC gene and Labrador weight
About 23% of Labradors carry a POMC gene variant linked to greater food motivation and weight gain (University of Cambridge, 2016). In UK vet records, the median Labrador lifespan was 12.0 years, and chocolate Labradors lived a median 10.7 years versus 12.1 for other colours (VetCompass, 2018). The most commonly recorded problems were ear infections (10.4%), being overweight (8.8%) and degenerative joint disease (5.5%).
The practical step: weigh your Labrador's food rather than scooping it, and check body condition regularly. You should be able to feel the ribs easily without seeing them, and see a waist from above. Our dog food portion calculator gives a starting amount; adjust it with your vet if your dog gains or loses weight.
The Royal Kennel Club lists the BVA/RKC hip, elbow and eye schemes and DNA tests for prcd-PRA, EIC, CNM, MCD, SD2 and Stargardt disease as good practice for Labrador breeders, with an HNPK DNA test as best practice. It suggests more than two hours of exercise a day and grooming once a week (Royal Kennel Club breed page).
How long do Labradors live?
Two UK studies give slightly different medians. In 2013 VetCompass records the median was 12.0 years, with chocolate Labradors at 10.7 years against 12.1 for other colours (McGreevy et al., 2018). A larger 2024 study of 43,428 Labradors from 18 UK data sources found a median of 13.1 years, against 12.0 for crossbreeds, and a hazard ratio of 0.80: a lower risk of dying at any given age than crossbreeds (McMillan et al., 2024, Supplementary Table S3). Cancer was the cause in 21.1% of deaths where a cause was recorded (VetCompass, 2018). Insurance gets dearer with age, so see our older dog insurance guide before your Labrador reaches its senior years.
Pawwala is not a vet. If you are worried about your dog's health, speak to your vet.
What a Labrador costs in the UK
Each line says how it was worked out. Where we have no dated figure for this breed, the line links to the page that compares prices instead of guessing.
| Cost | Figure | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Food: Royal Canin Labrador Adult, 30 kg dog | about £2.02 a day | £62.49 ÷ 12,000 g × 387 g a day (feeding guide for a 30 kg dog). £62.49 for 12 kg at zooplus, checked 21 October 2026. |
| Food: other brands | Compare cost per day | Our dog food comparison works out cost per day from dated prices and feeding guides. Use the portion calculator for your own dog's weight. |
| Insurance | Get quotes | Premiums depend on age, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Compare real quotes. |
| Flea and worm treatment | Compare subscriptions | Monthly prices for flea and worm subscriptions, compared against buying treatment yourself. |
Food: Royal Canin Labrador Adult, 30 kg dog
about £2.02 a day
£62.49 ÷ 12,000 g × 387 g a day (feeding guide for a 30 kg dog). £62.49 for 12 kg at zooplus, checked 21 October 2026.
Food: other brands
Our dog food comparison works out cost per day from dated prices and feeding guides. Use the portion calculator for your own dog's weight.
Insurance
Premiums depend on age, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Compare real quotes.
Flea and worm treatment
Monthly prices for flea and worm subscriptions, compared against buying treatment yourself.
- Checked 21 October 2026. Prices change; confirm on the retailer's page.
Feeding a Labrador
These are foods commonly fed to Labradors in the UK. We have not rated them; see our dog food comparison for cost per day across brands. The worked example in the table above, Royal Canin Labrador Adult at about £2.02 a day for a 30 kg dog, uses the zooplus price of £62.49 for 12 kg and 387 g a day from the feeding guide, checked 21 October 2026. That is about £61 a month. On zooplus Repeat (£53.12 for 12 kg (zooplus Repeat, 15% off)) it falls to about £1.71 a day. The feeding guide gives 335 g for a low-activity 30 kg dog and 440 g for a high-activity one, so weigh your own dog: in UK vet records the mean adult Labrador weighed 33.0 kg (males 35.2 kg, females 30.4 kg) (VetCompass, 2018).
Food is only part of the bill. Our cost of owning a dog guide adds flea and worm treatment and boosters, and our dog vaccination cost guide lists puppy course and booster prices from UK practices.
- Royal Canin Labrador AdultBreed-specific dry food for adult Labradors.
- Orijen OriginalHigh-protein dry food. Calorie-dense, so portion carefully.
- Butternut Box Gobble Gobble TurkeyFresh cooked food delivered by subscription.
- Purina Pro Plan Adult MediumDry food for adult medium-sized dogs.
- Arden Grange Adult ChickenUK-made dry food.
Insuring a Labrador
Pawwala is not authorised by the FCA. We explain how cover works and do not give advice or recommend insurers. Pawwala earns a fee when you get a quote through a link marked Ad. Always read the policy wording. How we make money
Joint surgery is the big cost, and a dog can need surgery on both legs, so look for a high annual vet-fee limit and check how hereditary conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia are treated. Insure before symptoms appear.
- Cruciate (TPLO) surgery£3,400–£6,250
- Hip replacement£6,250–£9,000
Published UK referral-centre prices, checked October 2026. See our average vet bill guidefor how these were sourced. Compare them with each policy's annual vet-fee limit.
| Check in the policy wording | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Policy type | Lifetime cover renews the vet-fee limit each year, which matters for long-term joint problems. |
| Annual vet-fee limit | Hip, elbow and cruciate surgery at referral centres can cost several thousand pounds. |
| Bilateral conditions clause | Some policies treat a problem in the second leg (e.g. the other cruciate) as pre-existing. |
| Hip and elbow dysplasia | Check whether hereditary or congenital conditions are covered and from what age. |
| Excess and co-payment | Many policies add a percentage co-payment once a dog reaches a certain age. |
- Policy type
- Lifetime cover renews the vet-fee limit each year, which matters for long-term joint problems.
- Annual vet-fee limit
- Hip, elbow and cruciate surgery at referral centres can cost several thousand pounds.
- Bilateral conditions clause
- Some policies treat a problem in the second leg (e.g. the other cruciate) as pre-existing.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Check whether hereditary or congenital conditions are covered and from what age.
- Excess and co-payment
- Many policies add a percentage co-payment once a dog reaches a certain age.
Premiums for your dog depend on age, postcode, excess and cover level, so compare real quotes; see our dog insurance comparison table for how the main policies differ.
Getting a Labrador responsibly
Ask to see both parents' BVA/RKC hip, elbow and eye results and their DNA test results before you commit. Rescue organisations also rehome Labradors.
What were Labradors bred for?
Labradors started as working dogs in Newfoundland, where they helped fishermen by retrieving nets and lost lines and pulling small carts of fish. The Royal Kennel Club says crosses with hunting dogs brought over by English traders are thought to have produced the modern breed; English sportsmen valued its retrieving, and the first breed club was founded in 1916 (RKC breed history). That retrieving and working background explains the high exercise need and the love of water and food rewards.
Labrador vs Golden Retriever
On the Royal Kennel Club's own figures the two are close: both are large gundogs needing more than two hours of exercise a day. The difference is the coat. The Labrador's is short and needs grooming once a week; the Golden Retriever's is medium length and needs grooming more than once a week. Both shed.
Median lifespans in the 2024 UK study were almost the same: 13.1 years for Labradors and 13.2 years for Golden Retrievers (McMillan et al., 2024). The health evidence differs: for Labradors we have UK vet records (ears, weight, joints), while for Goldens the main published concern is cancer as a cause of death, mostly from US studies. If you are new to dogs, our first-time dog owner guideexplains how to match a breed's needs to your life.
Supplements for Labradors
Some owners use joint or omega-3 supplements for Labradors. Talk to your vet before starting one, especially if your dog is on other medication; our dog supplements guide compares what is on sale in the UK.
What changed in this update
- 21 October 2026: Re-checked the Royal Kennel Club breed page: added the breed's size (large), its history and four health tests now on the RKC list (MCD, SD2, Stargardt disease and HNPK). Re-checked the zooplus price and feeding guide (unchanged at £62.49 for 12 kg and 387 g a day) and added the cost per month and the zooplus Repeat price. Added a lifespan section with the 2024 study's hazard ratio, a Labrador vs Golden Retriever comparison and links to cost and insurance guides.
Further reading
How we checked this page · checked 21 October 2026ShowHide
What we did
What we did not do
Prices and terms change. Confirm on the retailer's page before you buy.
Sources
- University of Cambridge: POMC variant in Labradors (2016) · checked 21 October 2026
- McGreevy et al. 2018, Labrador Retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK (VetCompass) · checked 21 October 2026
- McMillan et al. 2024, life expectancy of UK dog breeds (Scientific Reports) · checked 21 October 2026
- Royal Kennel Club: Labrador Retriever · checked 21 October 2026
- zooplus: Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult · checked 21 October 2026
Similar breeds
Frequently asked questions
How much does Labrador insurance cost UK?
Premiums depend on age, postcode, excess and cover level, so compare real quotes. Because joint surgery can cost several thousand pounds (cruciate TPLO surgery was £3,400–£6,250 at referral centres in October 2026), check the annual vet-fee limit and how hereditary conditions are treated.
What is the best food for Labradors UK?
There is no single best food. Choose a complete food that suits your dog's age and activity, weigh every meal, and adjust the amount to keep a visible waist. About 23% of Labradors carry a POMC gene variant linked to greater food motivation (University of Cambridge, 2016), so portion control matters more than the brand.
Do Labradors have a lot of health problems?
In UK vet records the most commonly recorded problems were ear infections (10.4%), being overweight (8.8%) and degenerative joint disease (5.5%) (VetCompass, 2018). Choose a puppy from parents with BVA/RKC hip and elbow scores, eye scheme results and DNA tests for prcd-PRA, EIC and CNM, keep your dog lean, and insure before any symptoms appear.
What were Labradors bred for?
To work with fishermen in Newfoundland, retrieving nets and lines; crosses with English hunting dogs then made them a retrieving gundog. The Royal Kennel Club says the first breed club was founded in 1916.
Why are Labradors always hungry?
About 23% of Labradors carry a POMC gene variant linked to greater food motivation and weight gain (University of Cambridge, 2016), and 8.8% were recorded as overweight in one year of UK vet records (VetCompass, 2018). Weigh food, count treats and check body condition.
Labrador vs Golden Retriever: what is the difference?
Both are large gundogs needing more than two hours of exercise a day (Royal Kennel Club). The Labrador has a short coat groomed once a week; the Golden a medium coat groomed more than once a week. Median lifespans were 13.1 and 13.2 years in a 2024 UK study.
How long do Labradors live UK?
The median Labrador lifespan in UK vet records was 12.0 years (VetCompass, 2018), and a 2024 study of UK breeds found a median of 13.1 years (McMillan et al., 2024). Chocolate Labradors lived a median 10.7 years versus 12.1 for other colours in the 2018 study.