Retriever obesity risk

This mutation has been reported by: the BBC, The Guardian, The Independent, and others.

New research has shown that around 25% of Labrador Retrievers and 66% of Flatcoated Retrievers face a double-whammy of feeling hungry all the time and burning fewer calories due a mutation in the POMC gene. This combination means that owners need to be strict with feeding and exercising their dog in order to keep them at a healthy weight.

Dogs with the POMC mutation use around 25% less energy at rest than dogs without it, meaning they don't need as many calories to maintain a health weight but are also hungrier between meals.

We are delighted to introduce a test for the obesiity predisposition mutation so you can look after your dogs with help from the latest scientific discoveries.