Content
- Why does the Labrador have an insatiable appetite?
- Why not give in to your Labrador's wishes
- Healthy Eating and Exercise for the Labrador
The human family sits down at the table to eat, and suddenly the dog becomes alert, gets up and approaches with great curiosity, sits down beside you and looks at you. And if you look back and observe her attentive, tender face and mesmerizing gaze, it will be practically impossible not to feed her.
Of course we are talking about the Labrador, a dog with a beautiful appearance and an irresistible character for dog lovers, since few dogs are so kind, docile, friendly, affectionate and also very good for work. There are many characteristics that make the Labrador one of the most popular puppies, but among them we must point out that its appetite is voracious and it seems to be a practically insatiable dog.
This is the specific topic that we are going to address in this PeritoAnimal article, the labrador and his obsession with food.
Why does the Labrador have an insatiable appetite?
Canine obesity is a very dangerous disease for our pets and, unfortunately, it occurs more and more frequently, for this reason several studies were carried out in the veterinary field that tried to identify the genetic causes of this pathological condition.
A study carried out at the University of Cambridge identified a variant of the first gene related to the appearance of obesity in dogs. gene called POMC and which was precisely discovered in Labrador dogs.
It is precisely the variety or mutation of this gene that gives Labradors a voracious and continuous appetite. Does this mean that we have to respond with food to this genetic characteristic of the Labrador? No, this is a harmful idea.
Why not give in to your Labrador's wishes
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, resisting while you are eating and your adorable Labrador looks at you with such a sweet face is difficult, very difficult, but if you want the best for your pet, can't share your food with him every time he asks you.
You should know that the Labrador is one of the breeds most prone to obesity, which implies the following risks:
- What you might consider a pampering or a show of affection for your dog is actually a contributing factor to the development of obesity, as the Labrador is very prone to getting fat.
- Obesity can result in heart disease, respiratory problems and joint conditions, with a consequent decrease in the dog's mobility and quality of life.
- If you always give in to the requests for food that your Labrador makes, you will be acquiring a very harmful habit, so it is better to prevent this type of habit.
Healthy Eating and Exercise for the Labrador
It is recommended to feed your Labrador with kibble whose calorie content is reduced compared to the reference food. You might also want to offer him homemade food, but doing so while you're eating is not a good option, as this involves adding calories that your dog doesn't need.
In any case, you can substitute a food meal for a homemade meal, but it is best not to mix both types of preparations, as the digestion time varies from one to the other and this can lead to gastric problems.
Although the Labrador is a dog prone to obesity, it has the advantage of having a very robust physical structure and suitable for physical activity, so it's important to exercise it daily. In addition, there are several exercises for Labradors, such as swimming and playing with the ball, which will help keep your pet healthy and prevent obesity.
