About 1 in 10 Labradors suffer from hip dysplasia, a condition that's caused by abnormal development of the hips – it can happen if pups grow too quickly by having too much calcium or too many calories during their important growth phase. That's why we're super careful that the nutrients in Lyka meals are within recommended guidelines, and why we 1) make sure calcium and phosphorus levels in particular allow for you to give your pupper a bone or two without putting them at risk of excess calcium and 2) customise our pouch sizes to suit your pooch!

Weight control is a constant challenge for Lab owners! Most Labs want to eat like kings, but don't blame them too much for their weakness over food - research has shown it could be in their genes! Greedy guts or not, portion control is critical to help prevent Labs from piling on the kilos, while still ensuring they get the nutrients they need to keep them healthy and energetic. When you sign up to Lyka, we'll ask for your pup's body shape so that we can tell if they're over, or underweight – then we'll work out the portion sizes that are best for them.

Labs are a breed that are at risk of bloat, a condition where the stomach swells and twists and that can be very dangerous, and even fatal if left untreated. Smaller, regular meals are best for Labs, and you should try to slow down their eating if possible (by using a puzzle feeder, for example). Don't use a raised food bowl, and leave an hour between meals and strenuous exercise.

Keep an eye out for ear infections – signs like head tilting or shaking or scratching at their ears. Check for unusual odour or gunk which is a sign of infection, and you may also notice your pupper seems restless and irritated. Your vet can show you how to check and clean your Lab's ears.

Lyka meals are specially created by our vet from delicious human-grade meats, vegetables and superfoods. They're perfectly cooked in batches, slowly in order to preserve the vitamins and minerals required to maintain your pupper's health. With Grass-Fed Beef, Grass-Fed Lamb, and Free-Range Chicken-based meals to choose from, Lyka makes mealtimes a nutritious treat for your Lab.

Lyka comes in meal pouches customised to your dog's size, as well as their weight, age and activity levels, so we can help ensure your pupper gets the correct number of calories – no more, no less. For overweight dogs, we recommend a pouch size that's 10% smaller to help with weight loss, and we'll help you manage meal sizes as they lose weight.

With Lyka, you can be confident you're meeting your Labrador's nutritional needs, even while you're controlling their calories! Freshly prepared and delivered to your door, you and your Lab will love Lyka.