[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":991},["ShallowReactive",2],{"item:\u002Fpet-health\u002Fobesity-appetite-and-a-mutation-in-labrador-retrievers":3,"platform:site":419},{"id":4,"title":5,"authors":6,"body":11,"canonical":349,"category":350,"categorySlugs":358,"cid":359,"cover":360,"description":364,"extension":365,"featured":366,"language":367,"meta":368,"navigation":369,"noindex":366,"ogImage":370,"path":371,"publishedAt":372,"recipe":349,"related":373,"revisedAt":349,"seo":401,"seoDescription":364,"seoTitle":5,"sortKey":349,"sources":402,"stem":406,"tagSlugs":407,"tags":410,"translations":415,"type":416,"url":417,"__hash__":418},"platformItems\u002Fplatform\u002Fitems\u002F2697.md","The POMC Gene Mutation and Its Role in Labrador Retriever Obesity",[7],{"name":8,"slug":9,"role":10},"Charlie Ross","charlie-ross","author",{"type":12,"value":13,"toc":335},"minimark",[14,19,23,26,29,38,44,47,51,54,67,76,80,83,86,89,96,101,104,108,111,114,118,121,124,127,133,138,140,145,149,152,155,158,164,169,171,176,180,183,206,211,215,218,221,224,229,234,237,242,246,249,252,281,288,293,296,300,303,306,310,324,329],[15,16,18],"h2",{"id":17},"labrador-retrievers-and-their-vulnerability-to-weight-gain","Labrador Retrievers and Their Vulnerability to Weight Gain",[20,21,22],"p",{},"Labrador Retrievers are renowned for their affectionate nature and make excellent family pets. I have personally enjoyed having them as part of my household. However, some individuals of this breed are prone to putting on extra pounds. In fact, many pet experts consider Labradors the breed most at risk for obesity.",[20,24,25],{},"In certain Labs, overeating and lack of physical activity are likely contributors to weight gain. Yet there could be an additional underlying cause. Scientists have found that a notable proportion of Labrador Retrievers carry a genetic mutation tied to higher body weight. This mutation might interfere with the normal feeling of fullness, making the dog more preoccupied with food.",[20,27,28],{},"Misha, my most recent Labrador, was a typical example of the breed's enthusiasm for eating. It's important not to jump to the conclusion that a dog who eats excessively has a genetic issue driving that hunger. Even when a dog does have the mutation, the approach to maintaining a healthy weight remains the same. However, achieving that goal may be more challenging for a dog with the mutated gene.",[20,30,31],{},[32,33],"img",{"alt":34,"height":35,"src":36,"width":37},"",1505,"\u002Fpics\u002Fffd3036d5405caa25de9.webp",1166,[20,39,40],{},[41,42,43],"em",{},"Misha, my black Lab.",[20,45,46],{},"Linda Crampton",[15,48,50],{"id":49},"obesity-among-dogs-what-the-numbers-show","Obesity Among Dogs: What the Numbers Show",[20,52,53],{},"A team of 22 researchers, many affiliated with the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, conducted the investigation into this gene mutation in Labrador Retrievers. Their review of the scientific literature uncovered several key findings.",[55,56,57,61,64],"ul",{},[58,59,60],"li",{},"In developed nations, the proportion of obese dogs ranges from 34% to 59%.",[58,62,63],{},"The recent rise in canine obesity and related diseases parallels trends observed in humans.",[58,65,66],{},"Even so, obesity rates vary across dog breeds, pointing to a genetic contribution.",[68,69,70,73],"blockquote",{},[20,71,72],{},"Of all dog breeds for which data have been reported, Labrador retrievers have the greatest documented obesity prevalence …. and have been shown to be more food motivated than other breeds.",[20,74,75],{},"— Cell Metabolism Journal Article",[15,77,79],{"id":78},"a-genetic-change-that-may-influence-appetite","A Genetic Change That May Influence Appetite",[20,81,82],{},"The gene associated with weight gain and obesity in Labrador Retrievers is called POMC, or pro-opiomelanocortin. (Other genes might also contribute to obesity in this breed.) The mutation involves a deletion of a segment of DNA from the gene. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that forms genes. Genes hold coded instructions for building proteins. When a piece of DNA is missing, part of those instructions is lost as well.",[20,84,85],{},"The POMC gene provides instructions for a protein that is later cleaved into two neuropeptides: beta-MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) and beta-endorphin. Due to the mutation, the production of these neuropeptides is presumed to be disrupted. However, this presumption was not directly tested in the study. These chemicals are believed to play a key role in turning off the feeling of hunger after a dog eats, though other chemicals and brain circuits are also involved in that process.",[20,87,88],{},"If the signal that tells the dog it is no longer hungry is weaker, its appetite may remain unsatisfied even after consuming what would normally be enough food. This could explain the increased food-seeking behavior and higher body weight seen in many dogs carrying the mutation.",[20,90,91],{},[32,92],{"alt":34,"height":93,"src":94,"width":95},1067,"\u002Fpics\u002Fc1d96f45b7ce59e6dc5d.webp",1600,[20,97,98],{},[41,99,100],{},"These Labs look like good friends.",[20,102,103],{},"IDS.photos, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 License",[15,105,107],{"id":106},"how-common-is-the-mutated-gene","How Common Is the Mutated Gene?",[20,109,110],{},"In one trial, the mutated gene was identified in roughly one-quarter of the 310 Labrador Retrievers studied. A separate trial involving 411 dogs from the United States and the United Kingdom found that 23% of the Labrador Retrievers had the mutation. The dogs included both pets and assistance animals. Notably, among the 81 assistance dogs tested, 76% carried the gene. This substantially higher percentage in assistance dogs came as a surprise to the researchers.",[20,112,113],{},"Genes provide many of the traits seen in dogs and humans. A gene can exist in slightly different forms called alleles. The particular combination of alleles an animal inherits for a given trait is its genotype. The mutated POMC allele in dogs appeared to exert its effect whether it was present in a heterozygous genotype (one normal and one mutated copy) or a homozygous genotype (two mutated copies). Dogs with either genotype were frequently overweight or obese.",[15,115,117],{"id":116},"what-the-mutation-does","What the Mutation Does",[20,119,120],{},"Based on reports from owners, dogs with the mutation are more driven to seek food than those without it. They more often display behaviors like scavenging and begging. Additionally, most of the dogs in the experiment carrying the mutation were significantly heavier than those without it. Many were overweight or obese. This was not the case for every dog with the mutation, however. This could be explained by owners who carefully controlled food amounts and portions.",[20,122,123],{},"The researchers also noted that some dogs without the mutation were obese, indicating that other factors—genetic or environmental—also influence body weight in Labs.",[20,125,126],{},"The mutated gene has also been found in flat-coated retrievers and is linked to obesity in that breed. Flat-coated retrievers are close relatives of Labradors. Some mice, rats, and humans also have POMC genes associated with obesity. The mutated dog gene is most similar to the human version, meaning that research in dogs could benefit both us and our canine companions.",[20,128,129],{},[32,130],{"alt":34,"height":131,"src":132,"width":95},1048,"\u002Fpics\u002F443fdb630efa72a45dac.webp",[20,134,135],{},[41,136,137],{},"Owen, my family’s chocolate Lab.",[20,139,46],{},[68,141,142],{},[20,143,144],{},"Assistance dogs are trained to help people with a disability. Some examples of disabilities that can be helped by a well-trained assistance dog are blindness, hearing loss, and paralysis.",[15,146,148],{"id":147},"assistance-dogs-and-the-pomc-mutation","Assistance Dogs and the POMC Mutation",[20,150,151],{},"The researchers have proposed an intriguing hypothesis to explain the much higher prevalence of the mutation in assistance dogs. They stress that this hypothesis is only a possibility and requires testing. Assistance dogs are typically rewarded with food when they perform a desired behavior, at least during early training. Therefore, all else being equal, a dog with a stronger food motivation might be easier to train and thus more suitable as an assistance dog. Adult dogs carrying the POMC mutation and passing it to their puppies might be viewed as producing the best offspring and be preferred as breeding stock. Over time, the mutation would become more frequent in the assistance dog population.",[20,153,154],{},"The hypothesis seems reasonable, though I wonder whether an assistance dog with the POMC mutation might become so distracted by nearby food that it fails to perform its duties properly. Ignoring distractions would need to be a key part of its training.",[20,156,157],{},"I acquired Misha from a woman who breeds dogs to produce puppies for the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS). The plan was to train some of Misha's litter for PADS. Compared to my other Labs, Misha had an unusually intense interest in finding food. These factors make me wonder if Misha carried the POMC mutation. Knowing for sure would have made me feel sorry for him, but it wouldn't have changed the steps I needed to take to keep him at a healthy weight.",[20,159,160],{},[32,161],{"alt":34,"height":162,"src":163,"width":95},1083,"\u002Fpics\u002Fe95a4c29a63246c4e78a.webp",[20,165,166],{},[41,167,168],{},"Bess, my yellow Lab.",[20,170,46],{},[68,172,173],{},[20,174,175],{},"If your dog needs to lose a significant amount of weight, it’s important to consult a veterinarian. Intensity and frequency of exercise and the introduction of an effective but safe diet are important considerations that should be decided by an owner in conjunction with their vet.",[15,177,179],{"id":178},"maintaining-a-healthy-weight-in-dogs","Maintaining a Healthy Weight in Dogs",[20,181,182],{},"The following steps can help a dog stay at a healthy weight. They are particularly crucial for a Labrador Retriever that may carry a gene contributing to weight gain and obesity. If your dog still gains weight after these steps are followed, it's wise to see a veterinarian. There may be a medical cause for the weight gain, such as hypothyroidism.",[55,184,185,188,191,194,197,200,203],{},[58,186,187],{},"Provide your dog with an appropriate amount of nutritious food at meals.",[58,189,190],{},"Consult a vet or your breeder if you are unsure whether your dog is getting enough (or too much) food. Dog food package labels can offer guidance but may not be entirely reliable.",[58,192,193],{},"Weigh your dog regularly. Ask your vet whether the weight is appropriate and whether any changes to diet or exercise are needed.",[58,195,196],{},"Think carefully about treats. When multiple family members give high-calorie treats at various times, weight gain can result. If you do give treats, check their nutritional and calorie content and decide when and how often they are given.",[58,198,199],{},"Avoid feeding your dog from your plate while you eat. Even as a puppy, a dog should be taught not to beg at the table. If human food is given, it should be part of the regular meal. (Be very cautious: some human foods are toxic to dogs.)",[58,201,202],{},"Some dogs are very cute and persuasive when begging. They quickly learn behaviors that owners find hard to resist. Stay firm and don't give in if your dog begs. That said, if a dog repeatedly asks for food even when you don't give in, consider why it might be doing so.",[58,204,205],{},"Ensure your dog gets regular, sufficient exercise. The type of exercise matters too. Some dogs need more vigorous activity than others.",[68,207,208],{},[20,209,210],{},"Any dog with a problem involving food intake should be checked by a vet. It shouldn’t be assumed that the condition must be a behavioral or genetic problem. There may be a medical reason for the situation.",[15,212,214],{"id":213},"food-stealing-and-scavenging-in-dogs","Food Stealing and Scavenging in Dogs",[20,216,217],{},"Stealing and scavenging food can lead to weight gain and can be hazardous if the dog consumes certain items. It can also harm oral health. Misha was a wonderful dog and generally well behaved, but he did occasionally steal food. After discovering his fondness for food, I made sure to keep most of it out of his reach. Training and discipline definitely improved his behavior, and he would leave food alone when told. Nonetheless, food remained a major temptation for him. It wasn't his only interest, but it was a significant one.",[20,219,220],{},"Of course, training and discipline must never cause physical or psychological harm to a dog. Anyone planning to get a dog should research safe and effective training and discipline methods before bringing a puppy or dog into their home.",[20,222,223],{},"There are at least two important reasons to hide certain foods from all dogs. First, some foods commonly eaten by humans are unsafe for dogs and should never be given to them. Second, eating a large amount of food very quickly has been linked to bloat, a potentially fatal condition in dogs. Raiding a large bag of dry dog food is especially risky in this regard.",[20,225,226],{},[32,227],{"alt":34,"height":93,"src":228,"width":95},"\u002Fpics\u002Fb526455d81c0516b8612.webp",[20,230,231],{},[41,232,233],{},"Some yellow Labs are so pale in colour that they look almost white.",[20,235,236],{},"Photo by Bogdan Todoran on Unsplash",[68,238,239],{},[20,240,241],{},"Like humans, an overweight or obese dog has an increased risk of developing a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular problems, breathing difficulty, diabetes, joint disorders, and cancer. The dog is also at risk for a reduced lifespan.",[15,243,245],{"id":244},"tips-to-prevent-food-theft-by-dogs","Tips to Prevent Food Theft by Dogs",[20,247,248],{},"There are two main strategies to stop a dog from stealing food: train them to leave food alone, or hide it from them. I use a combination of both. Training is especially important when a dog scavenges outdoors where food cannot be hidden. They might pick up something dangerous while doing so.",[20,250,251],{},"Here are some tips for hiding or removing food so a dog can't reach it. I follow many of them myself.",[55,253,254,257,260,263,266,269,272,275,278],{},[58,255,256],{},"Put all food out of a dog's reach as soon as it is brought home. An enclosed space like a high cupboard or refrigerator is ideal.",[58,258,259],{},"Don't leave food on tables, countertops, or other exposed surfaces.",[58,261,262],{},"If you must leave the kitchen while preparing a meal and food is exposed, close the kitchen door. If that's not possible and your dog likes to counter-surf, have someone supervise the pet or temporarily place it in a secure, comfortable area such as a crate.",[58,264,265],{},"If you need to leave a meal before finishing and your dog can't be trusted around unattended food, ask someone to watch it, take it with you, or put it in an inaccessible spot.",[58,267,268],{},"Store unused pet food in a secure place.",[58,270,271],{},"If your dog steals another pet's food the moment you turn away, supervise the other pet during meals or feed it in an area your dog can't access.",[58,273,274],{},"Remove food left or dropped by other pets to prevent your dog from scavenging.",[58,276,277],{},"Put food scraps, empty containers, and garbage in a secure container or a place your dog can't reach.",[58,279,280],{},"Never leave your dog alone in a car with human or pet food.",[20,282,283],{},[32,284],{"alt":34,"height":285,"src":286,"width":287},642,"\u002Fpics\u002Feb85101b068441d16692.webp",960,[20,289,290],{},[41,291,292],{},"A chocolate Lab puppy.",[20,294,295],{},"Unsplash, via pixabay.com, CC0 public domain license",[15,297,299],{"id":298},"learning-more-about-the-pomc-gene","Learning More About the POMC Gene",[20,301,302],{},"It is hoped that researchers will uncover more about the mutated POMC gene and how it affects both dogs and humans. I would also be interested in studies comparing the mutation's frequency in show line versus field line Labrador Retrievers. Show line dogs tend to be stockier than field line dogs.",[20,304,305],{},"It would be great if researchers found a safe way to counteract the mutated gene's effects through biological or chemical means. Until then, dog lovers should aim to keep their Labrador Retrievers at a healthy weight to lower the risk of disease. This should help them enjoy life and live longer.",[15,307,309],{"id":308},"references","References",[55,311,312,315,318,321],{},[58,313,314],{},"Why Labrador Retrievers are more interested in food than other breeds: a news release for the general public from the Cell Metabolism Journal",[58,316,317],{},"A Deletion in the Canine POMC Gene: the research report from the Cell Metabolism Journal",[58,319,320],{},"Weight problem in Labradors from New Scientist",[58,322,323],{},"Obesity in dogs from PetMD",[20,325,326],{},[41,327,328],{},"This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.",[20,330,331],{},[332,333,334],"strong",{},"© 2016 Linda Crampton",{"title":34,"searchDepth":336,"depth":336,"links":337},2,[338,339,340,341,342,343,344,345,346,347,348],{"id":17,"depth":336,"text":18},{"id":49,"depth":336,"text":50},{"id":78,"depth":336,"text":79},{"id":106,"depth":336,"text":107},{"id":116,"depth":336,"text":117},{"id":147,"depth":336,"text":148},{"id":178,"depth":336,"text":179},{"id":213,"depth":336,"text":214},{"id":244,"depth":336,"text":245},{"id":298,"depth":336,"text":299},{"id":308,"depth":336,"text":309},null,{"slug":351,"name":352,"path":353},"pet-health","Health",[354,357],{"slug":355,"name":356},"animals","Animals",{"slug":351,"name":352},[355,351],2697,{"src":361,"srcset":362,"width":363,"height":363,"alt":5},"\u002Fpics\u002F3d4b6f6de22de5ba5f99.webp","\u002Fpics\u002Fb2ba3d243a3186f7dd7b.webp 400w, \u002Fpics\u002F3d4b6f6de22de5ba5f99.webp 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