A Labrador check succeeds or fails on honesty about condition. This breed carries a dense, weatherproof coat over a body that gains weight easily and hides it politely, so hands and written numbers must overrule a fond eye. Build the check into the weekly routine, brush in hand, and cover movement, ears, coat, and mouth in a steady order. A Labrador's enthusiasm will power through minor soreness to chase a ball, which means your observation has to be sharper than the dog's willingness.
Ribs, Waist, and the Honest Weight Call
Stand your dog squarely and run both hands firmly over the ribcage. On a Labrador in working shape the ribs are felt with definite pressure, not seen, and not buried. Look down from above for a waist behind the ribs and from the side for a tuck rising toward the hind legs; a back that looks flat and level from neck to tail is a dog carrying too much. Because steady gain is this breed's default drift, note the rib feel in plain words each month, and if a home scale is available, weigh and record that too, so the trend is undeniable at the appointment.
Ears After Water, Coat Over Lumps
The hanging ears plus a lifelong love of water make ear checks non-negotiable. After swimming or a bath, lift each flap, look for redness, dark debris, or a musty smell, and dry the ear entrance gently; between swims, note head shaking or scratching. Then work the short but very dense double coat with your fingertips, over the neck, back, belly, and legs, feeling for lumps, ticks, scabs, and patches where the dog has been worrying the skin. Check the thick otter tail along its whole length, the big paws for torn nails and split pads, and the mouth for build-up on the strong back teeth and any change in gum colour.
Movement in an Athlete That Will Not Complain
Watch the walk and trot on a hard surface and look for even, springy strides, then think about the week's exercise honestly. A Labrador that hesitates before jumping into the car, shortens a familiar walk, stiffens after a big day and a night's rest, or starts sitting down mid-game is reporting something, even if the ball still gets chased. Feel down each leg for heat or swelling, compare the muscle on both hind legs, and note which activity now costs more than it did. Enthusiasm is not evidence of soundness in this breed, so let the gait and the recovery tell the story.
Findings That Should Reach the Vet Promptly
Book in for any new or changing lump, ears that smell or look inflamed, skin sores that spread, or a limp and stiffness pattern that lasts beyond a couple of rested days. A swollen, tight belly with restlessness or unproductive retching in this deep-chested, food-driven breed is an emergency, as are collapse and laboured breathing. Appetite changes deserve respect in a Labrador: a dog that leaves food, drinks far more than usual, or loses weight without trying should be seen promptly, because this breed's appetite is normally a fixed point.
The Trend Is the Finding
Single checks reassure; trends inform. Ribs a little harder to find each month, ears red after every swim, stiffness creeping earlier into the evening: each is a story told across your notes, not in one session. Recorded in KinsLe, a Pet Passport gathers your Labrador's weight, ear, and movement notes with the rest of the record, so the vet can act on the trend you spotted.