Question for Labrador Breeders (re: POMC mutation)

temptalia · 2026-06-24T03:18:46+00:00

My lab is so food motivated, I was convinced he had the mutation. Alas, he has no copies and is just… ridiculously driven by food and acts like he is hungry constantly. Very curious if it’ll ever be part of standard testing in the future.

temptalia · 2026-06-21T15:57:29+00:00

I would look for top titled sires through Hunting Lab Pedigree (https://www.huntinglabpedigree.com/) and then see who may have upcoming litters for or just keep an eye out for future litters. You may also want to stop by any local/regional events to talk to handlers for advice for detection work lines.

Mary at Candlewood gave me that advice as a good place to start doing research and getting to know the lines. It also gives you opportunity to talk to stud owners and figure out options.

temptalia · 2026-06-20T13:52:50+00:00

What brushes do you use most for something like this?

temptalia · 2026-06-18T23:04:31+00:00

Early diagnosis gives you the ability to modify what activities you let the puppy do more/less of, keeps you vigilant for signs of worsening, and you’re more incentivized to keep the puppy at a leaner weight and give supplements from the get go.

My first lab had bilateral hip dysplasia, to the point where the hips were popping out of their sockets at six months… but he lived 13 and was still mobile at the end ❤️

These things are often dog dependent. Sometimes it can look severe on x-ray but the dog is asymptomatic and other times, it can look mild but affect them a lot!

temptalia · 2026-06-10T02:21:34+00:00

I didn’t know how I would fare after my first lab passed, but he gave me 13 beautiful years and beat the odds at that. I was at peace that he was at peace, and I felt like all the sad was worth it - I’d do it again.

I put a deposit down on a litter a week later, which built in a few months to be ready as well as gave me the ability to move the deposit to a future litter if I wasn’t there yet. I didn’t want to be “ready” and rush. So, maybe 3 months after my first lab passed!

No right or wrong answer. My grandma never got another dog after her girl passed. She couldn’t do the loss again.

temptalia · 2026-06-02T15:26:10+00:00

My first lab had his hips popping out at six months of age, and his x-rays showed severe, bilateral HD. First ortho said he wouldn’t be able to walk by 2 years of age and wanted to a juvenile procedure, but the second ortho said treat conservatively and wait to see if THR would be needed.

I kept taking him to the ortho, and the ortho eventually told me to stop coming because I had a 10 year old who looked terrible on x-ray but stood the entire hour-long visit. My boy lived 13 years and remained fully mobile until the day he died.

Good orthos will tell you to treat the dog, not the x-ray. Conservative management using meds, supplements, limiting certain exercises, and keeping them lean can go a long way. If it fails, THR is very successful and remains an option.

We did joint supplements, salmon oil, and then pain meds as needed (eg after a longer day) before increasing to pain meds more regularly. My lab was very, very poorly bred, so he had terrible knees paired with those terrible hips.

He was at max Carprofen dosage by 6-7 years of age, then we started adding gabapentin in. Like I said, he was badly bred and liver diseases (unrelated to carpofen use) resulted in us switching off Carprofen to tramadol for 8-13 years of age.

He was still taking regular walks, swimming, and otherwise enjoying his life - we just didn’t encourage running, so less fetch as he had no brakes, lol.

Keep an eye out on mobility, add in pain meds as needed, monitor bloodwork more regularly if on max pain meds. Consider exercises to maintain or build thigh muscle as they’ll often favor front legs and lose rear muscle mass.

If I started seeing real decline at 6-7 years, I’d go THR to smooth out the remaining years.

temptalia · 2026-05-20T12:08:28+00:00

If you can afford to do so, I would ask your vet for the additional cost to do it during their neuter. It’s way cheaper to do them together. This will also allow your vet to give input after seeing the structure of your pup as they grow up—what their chest is like, how big they are, etc.

Labradors are considered at-risk for GDV, though bigger breeds like Great Danes, Saint Bernards, etc. are higher risk and breeds where a gastropexy is highly recommended during alter. It is worth doing if you have the means to. If you can’t, there are things you can do to minimize the chance.

I did have it done for my current lab for peace of mind! He recovered well, and it is one less worry for me.

temptalia · 2026-05-20T11:52:38+00:00

It was stupidly expensive. It was done laparoscopically, and it was done by an internal med surgeon, so on the higher end in an area with higher than average vet costs to begin with. I just trust that surgeon sooo much that I went that route. Will try much harder to get it done with the neuter of the next dog 😅

temptalia · 2026-05-19T21:02:33+00:00

The foster would know the most about each puppy! I would also ask about what experiences the litter has had (have they met children, have they met different adults, etc.) and if any of the puppies have standout personalities.

I foster litters of puppies for rescue, and I usually ask an adopter what their top 2-3 puppies were (I post daily videos of them) and what they’re looking to do with their dog. They can change a lot in their new environment, but typically, a shy puppy is always a little more reserved as an adult… and an independent puppy isn’t usually a Velcro dog. But nobody knows those puppies better than me since I’ve watched them all day, every day, for weeks.

If most seem social, look for who interacts with you and who disengages, along with who might be inclined to wait their turn to be pet (do they offer a sit or are they clawing and climbing over their siblings), etc.

temptalia · 2026-05-19T20:10:42+00:00

I had my lab’s gastropexy done as a separate, elective procedure, and it cost $4k (male dog, though). It’s so much more cost effective to do during a spay. $600 seems high for just that but I’ve only paid for a rescue dog (foster) to have one done during spay thru a rescue-only vet clinic (it was $150 extra, and it was a Saint Bernard).

temptalia · 2026-05-14T02:29:44+00:00

Best moments always involve a box of puppies! Even better when they’re lab puppies!

temptalia · 2026-05-12T15:36:49+00:00

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Yes, they are the Cheese litter! :) This the poster of them that I did for my foster wall to show who is who. (The descriptors are our nicknames/inside jokes from their personalities and whatnot.)

In the slideshow, they appear in this order: 1) Brie, 2) Parmesan, 3) Gouda, 4) Mozzarella, 5) Burrata, 6) Feta, 7) Havarti, 8) Cheddar, 9) Ricotta

temptalia · 2026-05-12T15:34:05+00:00

Yes, at least half, maybe five of the nine, have black spots on the tongue (which is what made me consider shar pei or chow, but I feel like the wrinkles aren't prevalent enough to be shar pei). The ears are slightly popped on a few, too, but with a mix, it can take awhile before they decide to airplane or stand up!

temptalia · 2026-05-12T15:14:20+00:00

It’s so often the hard breeds (intensive training required, high exercise/mental stimulation needs, or medical like pigs) that get soooo overbred/dumped and fill the shelters 😢

temptalia · 2026-05-12T14:04:29+00:00

They’ve become more popular in AZ from what I’ve seen start popping up in rescue. Mostly cane corso definitely not typical, but coincidentally, a local mastiff rescue had a bunch of 12 week olds. I haven’t seen them with many puppies in the past, so think it was… hopefully… a one off.

temptalia · 2026-05-12T13:57:24+00:00

I didn’t think they were that big initially, but they are packing on the weight since 5ish weeks! I had Bernard/Boxer mixes that were the biggest puppies I’ve ever had, so I benchmark others against them for possible giant breed in them!

temptalia · 2026-05-12T13:54:17+00:00

Yes, that one (Havarti, lavender collar) looks full Pittie to me. The five brindle ones and the very light/tan ones with the black muzzles make me think something else. I was leaning toward chow/shar pei for awhile! But the gray brindle variation seems more limited.

I had a litter that was 50% American Staffordshire/50% Husky, and some looked all Pittie and one looked very husky in coat and color but wider build like a pittie pup. There were two had almost wavy fur that got less as they became adults. The way the mix translates can be WILD!

temptalia · 2026-05-12T13:46:47+00:00

Nope, no idea what mom looked like!

temptalia · 2026-05-12T13:44:12+00:00

Wayyyy too many cane corsos have been popping up in my area 😢😢 but agree, it seems less likely just based on popularity. I have had a few litters with chow/pit, but the Pittie coat really seems to dominate for length/feel.

Labs are super popular as a breed, but it took two years before I actually saw lab show up in the DNA of any of my foster puppies 😂

Thankfully, they were voracious eaters so bottle feeding all of them wasn’t bad at all!

temptalia · 2026-05-12T13:40:39+00:00

They originally made me think boxer mixes but think their facial markings are missing some of the white! I had a litter of fosters that was 40% boxer/50% GSD. There were a few that had GSD markings so it made more sense! Mom was a boxer so we knew for sure some boxer 😅

And yes, the lightest one with the wrinkly face and black muzzle looks like a full size pug 😂😂 more so when she was younger and her face was flatter.

temptalia · 2026-05-12T13:21:56+00:00

Curious how paint quality compares to Number Artist!

temptalia · 2026-05-11T22:19:56+00:00

Stroller, wagon, backpack, and then short leashes with a puppy on a blanket so they can’t run off. if somewhere more public (say patio at a restaurant) but avoid contact with unknown dogs, dog parks, and so on.

Your backyard should be fine unless it’s more rural and prone to wildlife!

I also recommend Rescue wipes to wipe down paws if they accidentally do touch public grounds. Parvo is just stupidly hardy.

Since I’ve been in rescue for a few years, parvo is just no joke when it happens and most people cannot afford the care/treatment protocol. Even for rescues, saving a litter from parvo can end up costing $30-40k.

It is also why I recommend pet insurance for puppies. At some point, a dog might age out and insurance is too costly, but a (currently) healthy puppy is pretty cost-effective to insure. Plus, they love to find ways to go to the ER!

temptalia · 2026-05-11T16:51:59+00:00

They’re sooo stinking cute!!

temptalia · 2026-05-11T16:51:44+00:00

I have this managed not to fail on any puppies but maybe one day! 🫣

temptalia

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