Recently research British researchers from the University of Cambridge subjected more than eighty Labrador dogs to what is called…Hot dogs in a can'-Exam. In the test, dogs were shown and smelled sausage in a transparent box. The opening of the box was deliberately made very small so that the animals could not eat.
Labrador puppies with an abnormal gene continued their constant quest for sausages, even when their four-legged companions had long ago given up the fight. This behavior can be attributed to a mutation in the so-called “POMC” gene, which plays an important role in hunger and energy consumption.
The POMC mutation activates a hunger signal that tells the body to eat more and conserve energy, although this is not necessary. About 25% of Labradors are said to be carriers of the mutation, which means they are constantly hungry, even after eating.
At the same time, this makes Labradors good helpers, as they are easy to train with a piece of food.
Eat more, burn less
Additionally, dogs carrying the POMC mutation have been found to expend approximately 25% less energy at rest than dogs without this mutation, meaning they require fewer calories to maintain a healthy body weight.
Labradors with the mutation therefore suffer twice: not only are they always hungry, they also burn less of the food they eat. This is a dangerous cocktail for obesity.
Researcher Eleanor Raffan stated that we should therefore be more lenient towards those with 'Chunky Labs': “People are often harsh on owners of fat dogs and accuse them of not managing their diet and exercise properly. But these Labradors are looking for food all the time and trying to increase their energy intake. It is very difficult to keep these dogs thin.”
Dog owners can distract their dogs from their constant hunger by distributing food each day, for example using puzzle feeders or hiding food in the garden so it takes longer to eat, researchers say.
POMC mutation in humans
According to researchers, a parallel can even be drawn between Labradors and humans. The area of the brain affected by the POMC gene is the same in dogs and humans, confirming findings that people with POMC mutations experience extreme hunger. They also tend to become obese at an early age and thus develop a range of clinical problems.
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