AssetID: 53564330
Headline: RAW VIDEO: For Fat Labradors Weight Problems Are All In The Genes
Caption: If your Labrador retriever is carrying a bit more weight than a Crufts winner it may be down to genetics rather than greed. New research from scientists at the University of Cambridge has found that around a quarter of Labrador retrievers have a genetic mutation that means they are constantly hungry and burn fewer calories than other members of the breed. 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. The new study also reveals how the mutation profoundly changes the way the breeds behave around food. It found that although they don’t need to eat more to feel full, they are much hungrier in between meals. Dogs with the mutation were also found to use around 25% less energy at rest than dogs without it, meaning they don’t need to consume as many calories to maintain a healthy body weight. “We found that a mutation in the POMC gene seems to make dogs hungrier. Affected dogs tend to overeat because they get hungry between meals more quickly than dogs without the mutation,” said Dr Eleanor Raffan, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience who led the study. She added: “All owners of Labradors and flatcoated retrievers need to watch what they’re feeding these highly food-motivated dogs, to keep them a healthy weight. But dogs with this genetic mutation face a double whammy: they not only want to eat more, but also need fewer calories because they’re not burning them off as fast.” The research was conducted through tests like the 'sausage in a box' experiment, First, the dogs were given a can of dog food every 20 minutes until they chose not to eat anymore. Dogs with the mutation didn’t eat more than those without it. However, on a different day, the dogs were fed a standard amount of breakfast. Exactly three hours later they were offered a sausage in a box and their behaviour was recorded. The box was made of clear plastic with a perforated lid, so the dogs could see and smell the sausage, but couldn’t eat it. Dogs with the mutation tried significantly harder to get the sausage from the box than dogs without it, indicating greater hunger. The dogs were then allowed to sleep in a special chamber that measured the gases they breathed out. This revealed that dogs with the mutation burn around 25% fewer calories than dogs without it. The solution to this obesity-driving combination of genes? The same as for those of us humans who are predisposed to overindulge - keeping to a strict diet and exercise. Raffan said: “People are often rude about the owners of fat dogs, blaming them for not properly managing their dogs’ diet and exercise. But we’ve shown that Labradors with this genetic mutation are looking for food all the time, trying to increase their energy intake. It’s very difficult to keep these dogs slim, but it can be done.” Another tip is to keep your retriever distracted from this constant hunger by spreading out each daily food ration, for example by using puzzle feeders or scattering the food around the garden so it takes longer to eat. The study mirrors similar findings in humans with POMC mutations, who also suffer from extreme hunger and can become obese at an early age. The results are published today in the journal Science Advances.
Keywords: labradors,dogs,feature,animals,pets,video,photo,weight,science
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