Now dogs are like people, eating better and better, and the result is that they are getting fatter and fatter. According to surveys, the obesity rate of pet dogs is as high as 45%, especially large dogs like Labrador, which seem to be more likely to gain weight. However, scientists found that it turned out that a certain gene had undergone a sudden mutation.
Fat Labradors
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Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom reported in the latest issue of the American magazine "Cell-Metabolism" that if a gene called POMC mutates, it will lead to some types of dogs such as Labrador retrievers. Food becomes more exciting and becomes fatter easily. This is the first time a genetic mutation linked to canine obesity has been identified.
Study leader Ruffin said that analysis found that about a quarter of the obesity reports they collected were due to this gene mutation. Because of this inherent genetic change, they become addicted to food.
According to reports, POMC mutations are more consistent among Labradors trained to be used as assistance dogs such as police dogs and drug detection dogs. This may be because they are more sensitive to food and can more easily accept food as a reward for training.
The researchers used 33 Labrador retrievers, of which 15 were obese and 18 were thin. After genetic analysis, a mutation in the gene called POMC was identified. In obese dogs, a section of DNA at the end of this gene is arranged in a disordered manner, causing a specific chemical in the brain that controls the signal of bloating to be suppressed, so that even if bloating has been eaten, it will still be suppressed. Eat more where you live.
When the study sample was expanded to 310 Labrador pet dogs and assistance dogs, the researchers found that Labradors with POMC gene mutations were more likely to gain weight and were more likely to suffer from obesity. When you want food, you will also join when eating items. A comparison of body weight showed that the average weight of Labrador dogs with POMC gene mutation was more than 2 kilograms compared with the same kind.
After analyzing different dogs, it was found that the gene function of POMC only exists in Labradors and Golden Retrievers (Golden Retriever), and it will have an effect on their weight and eating behavior. Therefore, current research shows that the POMC gene is not effective for all dogs. We dog owners still need to pay more attention to it in our daily lives and raise it scientifically.We need to let obesity bother our dogs.
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