Pets
Labradors often suffer from obesity. For at least a quarter of them it is due to their genes. This means that he is always hungry and consumes too few calories.
British researchers from the University of Cambridge have subjected 87 dogs to an almost sadistic test. They put a sausage in a transparent box, but made the opening too small. The dogs could see and smell the piece of meat, but could not eat it. What turned out? Labradors with a genetic defect kept trying to get hold of the elusive sausage, while their colleagues quickly gave up. However, all Labradors had previously been served a hearty meal.
The fact that they kept trying indicates that the group with the disorder is constantly hungry. It didn’t come as a complete surprise. In 2016, the same researchers reported that Labrador obesity can partly be attributed to a genetic characteristic. About a quarter of Labradors (and 66 percent of their relatives, the flat-coated retrievers) carry a mutation on the gene called POMC. This prevents the production of substances that regulate the signals for hunger and satiety in the brain. You don’t find that with other dog breeds. That explains why the Labrador is predisposed to obesity. A Labrador weighs an average of 34 kilograms. A specimen that has the mutation can be 1.9 to 4 kilograms heavier.
In the recent study, which was published in the scientific journal Science Advances, they did a second test. After the meal, they let the dogs take a nap and the researchers measured what they exhaled. It showed that the POMC specimens consumed a quarter fewer calories than the non-genetically affected dogs.
“The carriers of this genetic mutant win twice,” says lead researcher Eleanor Raffan. “They are always hungry, but they burn less of what they ingest. An ideal recipe for obesity.” The same characteristic makes them extremely suitable for training as a guide or assistance dog: give them a treat and they are willing to do anything.
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Professor of Veterinary Medicine Myriam Hesta (UGent) leads the Healthy Weight Clinic for obese dogs and cats. She confirms that Labradors (and all retrievers) are loyal customers. “If they are also neutered/spayed and a bit older, risk factors are added.”
Obesity is a disease in itself and also contributes to other conditions, such as osteoarthritis and bladder problems. Overweight Labradors die up to a year earlier. “It’s a vicious circle,” says Hesta. “The excess weight puts a strain on their bones and joints, causing them to move too little, making them fatter.” You can get an obese dog to slim again, but that takes time and work. Hesta: “It involves a diet prescribed by the vet with a lot of fiber and a lower energy value. We also encourage a more active lifestyle. It can easily take a year for the animal to reach its ideal weight. Afterwards you have to pay attention for life.”
Eleanor Raffan makes recommendations for those who don’t want to let it get to that point. “Keep your dog busy. The busier he is, the less he pays attention to his hunger.”
