Due to this “double whammy” impact, dog owners need to be very careful to maintain their pets’ weight.
Two thirds of flat-coated retrievers and one out of every four Labrador retrievers were discovered to have the gene.
The principal scientist comments, “It shows us the power of our genes to change how we feel about food.”
According to Dr. Eleanor Raffan of the University of Cambridge, dogs’ genes affect their metabolic rate as well as their need for food.
“If we get dealt a genetic hand of cards that makes us feel hungry or always want to eat, it takes greater effort to stay slim,” she told the news.
