Is Dog Obesity Genetic?
Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by doglover in Featured, Medical Topics
Are some dogs genetically prone to dog obesity? You may think so, given that some breeds just seem to put on the weight with no effort at all.Labrador Retrievers are known to eat anything, and it’s almost expected that they will be overweight.
Researchers have found a gene in rats that appears to be related to obesity. However, they still haven’t been able to identify if such a gene exists in other animals such as dogs (and people, for that matter).
There is, however, a genetic condition that can lead to obesity in dogs. Some dogs have a genetic thyroid problem where the gland doesn’t produce enough hormone. The result is a sluggish metabolism, weight gain, skin problems and a hang dog expression. Treatment is supplementing your dog with thyroid hormones, and life will be back to normal for him very quickly.
If your dog has a medical condition that leads to weight gain, you’ll not be able to trim him down until that condition is properly diagnosed and treated. Having said that, I’m not sure what the treatment would be for genetic dog obesity!
In most cases, obese dogs are a result of the same old mismatch of calories in and calories used up. Too many calories taken in and not enough calories used up in exercise will mean those calories will plant themselves on your dog’s waistline.
If you’re concerned that your dog has a medical reason for not losing weight, have a chat to your vet. She can run some tests very easily to rule out the common medical causes of dog obesity. If all’s clear, then it’s a matter of self discipline!
