Labrador Lifespan: How Long Do Labradors Live?

TL;DR

The typical Labrador lifespan is about 12 to 13 years. In a 2024 UK study of 584,734 dogs, Labrador Retrievers had a median lifespan of 13.1 years, longer than the 12.0 years of mixed breeds, and a UK study of Labradors found a median of 12.0 years. Two things make a big difference. Weight: in a lifelong study, Labradors kept lean lived a median of 13.0 years, against 11.2 years for their heavier littermates. Coat color: chocolate Labradors lived a median of 10.7 years, against 12.1 years for other colors. Labradors have 2.83 times the odds of osteoarthritis, so joints are the main thing to protect. A Labrador is a senior from about 9.8 years.

How long do Labradors live?

In the UK Labrador study, the middle half of dogs died between 9.9 and 13.8 years, and the oldest reached 16.

Labrador age in human years

This uses the share of the breed's typical lifespan a dog has lived, compared with US human life expectancy of 79 years. For puppies and young dogs, the DNA-based method in the calculator below is more accurate. Try any age:

The biggest factor you control: weight

The most famous study of dog lifespan was done in Labradors. Researchers paired 48 Labrador puppies from 7 litters and fed one of each pair 25% less of the same food for life.

• The leaner dogs lived a median of 13.0 years, against 11.2 years for their littermates.
• They developed hip arthritis much later: a median age of 12 years versus 6 years.

Overweight and obesity was the second most common problem in UK Labradors, recorded in 8.8% in a year, and in males it was more common after neutering (11.4% versus 4.1%). Weigh your Labrador monthly, measure meals, and keep treats under 10% of daily calories. See senior dog food for weight loss.

What a practising vet sees

We asked a small-animal vet Morty has known for years, who asked us not to use their name, what brings Labradors into the clinic. Three things:

• Skin disease and inflamed paws. Skin infections come in two main kinds. Fungal infections mostly cause hair loss and flaking, with little redness. Bacterial infections cause red spots, swelling, scabs and intense itching. Labradors also often get inflammation between the toes.
• Obesity. "Labradors put on weight very easily."
• Bloat after exercise. "A lean Labrador that runs hard right after a meal can twist its stomach (gastric dilatation-volvulus). It can kill very quickly, and we have seen many we could not save." Their rule: no hard exercise straight after meals, and keep the weight under control.

Signs of bloat are a swollen belly, retching without bringing anything up, drooling and restlessness. That is an emergency.

What Labradors die of

In the UK Labrador study, the most common causes of death were musculoskeletal disorders (24.5%), such as arthritis and joint disease, and cancer (21.1%). Neutered Labradors lived a median of 12.5 years, against 11.6 years for entire dogs.

Common Labrador health problems

In UK veterinary records:

• Ear infections (otitis externa): 10.4%, rising to 23.4% in chocolate Labradors
• Overweight or obesity: 8.8%
• Degenerative joint disease: 5.5%

A separate UK study found Labradors had higher odds of 12 of 35 common disorders, with osteoarthritis the highest at 2.83 times the odds of other dogs. Labradors had lower odds of some problems, including kneecap dislocation (0.18 times).

Why chocolate Labradors live shorter lives

Chocolate Labradors in the UK study lived about 1.4 years less than black and yellow Labradors, and had more ear infections and skin infections (hot spots). The authors suggest that breeding for the chocolate color, which is recessive, may concentrate genes linked to these problems.

How to help a Labrador live longer

1. Keep it lean for life. This alone was worth almost two extra years in the lifelong study.
2. Protect the joints early. Controlled exercise, swimming, no repetitive jumping in young dogs, non-slip floors and ramps later on. See hip dysplasia treatment.
3. Add daily joint support. In a 2006 trial, 67% of dogs with joint disease improved on green-lipped mussel extract by day 56, against 41% on placebo, and in another trial 82% of dogs with arthritis improved their weight bearing on a fish-oil food, against 38% on a standard food. Our green-lipped mussel powder is a single-ingredient topper. See best joint supplements for senior dogs.
4. Check and clean the ears regularly, especially after swimming.
5. Check for lumps monthly; Labradors are among the breeds most prone to fatty lumps. See skin tags and lumps on dogs.
6. Twice-yearly vet checks from about 9.8 years.

FAQ

What health problems do Labradors have?

In UK vet records, the most common were ear infections (10.4%), overweight or obesity (8.8%) and degenerative joint disease (5.5%), and Labradors had 2.83 times the odds of osteoarthritis compared with other dogs.

How long do Labradors live?

Most Labradors live about 12 to 13 years. A 2024 UK study of 584,734 dogs found a median lifespan of 13.1 years for the breed, and a UK Labrador study found 12.0 years.

Do chocolate Labs live shorter lives?

In a UK study, chocolate Labradors lived a median of 10.7 years, compared with 12.1 years for black and yellow Labradors, and had more ear and skin infections.

Is 10 old for a Labrador?

A Labrador is a senior from about 9.8 years. At 10 it has lived about 76% of the breed's median lifespan, roughly like a person aged 60.

What do Labradors usually die from?

In UK veterinary records, the most common causes of death were musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis (24.5%) and cancer (21.1%). Osteoarthritis is the breed's strongest predisposition, at 2.83 times the odds of other dogs.

How can I help my Labrador live longer?

Keep it lean. Labradors fed 25% less food for life lived a median of 1.8 years longer and developed hip arthritis 6 years later. Add regular exercise, joint support and twice-yearly checks from about 9.8 years.

References

• McMillan KM, et al. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. 2024. PMID: 38302530
• McGreevy PD, et al. Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2018. PMID: 30377534
• Pegram C, et al. Disorder predispositions and protections of Labrador Retrievers in the UK. Scientific Reports. 2021. PMID: 34262062
• Teng KT, et al. Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Scientific Reports. 2022. PMID: 35484374
• Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2002. PMID: 11991408
• Smith GK, et al. Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2006. PMID: 16948575
• Pollard B, et al. Clinical efficacy and tolerance of an extract of green-lipped mussel in dogs presumptively diagnosed with degenerative joint disease. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 2006. PMID: 16751841
• Roush JK, et al. Evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2010. PMID: 20043801
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Feeding treats to your dog. 2025.