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Popular dog breed is naturally prone to obesity and always hungry, reveals study
Doggos and food are synonymous. However, one dog breed is always hungry and burns fewer calories than the rest due to a genetic mutation.
Pet parents often give into the puppy eyes and overfeed their dogs. But vets couldn’t emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy weight in their puppy for a quality life. Sadly, one breed is naturally prone to obesity.
Study reveals one dog breed that’s always hungry
Any dog is susceptible to obesity when the pet owner doesn’t monitor their diet and physical activities. But a recent study found that Labradors and Flatcoated Retrievers can face a double whammy of always being hungry and burning fewer calories from an altered gene.
A mutation in the gene POMC can alter the pathway in the dog’s brains associated with body weight regulations. So, dogs with the mutated gene tend to get hungry easily between meals and burn less energy while resting.
“Around 25% of Labradors and 66% of flatcoated retriever dogs have the�POMC�mutation, which researchers previously showed causes increased interest in food and risk of obesity,” notes the study published by the University of Cambridge.
It further points out that these dogs don’t eat extra to feel full, but they are always hungry in the gap between the meals, which increases the risk of being overweight from overfeeding.
“All owners of Labradors and flatcoated retrievers need to watch what theyre feeding these highly food-motivated dogs, to keep them a healthy weight,” said Dr. Eleanor Raffan, a researcher at the University of Cambridge.
She added: “But dogs with this genetic mutation face a double whammy: they not only want to eat more but also need fewer calories because theyre not burning them off as fast.”
Keeping them slim is hard, but not impossible
Obesity in dogs is concerning and it’s said to reduce their lifespan drastically. While Labradors and Flatcoated Retrievers can become overweight easily, simple feeding hacks can be extremely helpful.
The researchers suggest owners keep their pooch distracted from constant hunger by spreading out each daily food ration. You can reduce the speed with which they eat by scattering their food on puzzle feeders, which take longer to eat from.
Ensure your retriever is physically active and check with a vet for a diet suitable for weight loss. While social media is full of homemade diet tips for your furry buddy, a vet told The Focus it isn’t ideal to prepare their meals at home – she recommends feeding kibble from certified brands.
