If you’ve been fat-shamed because your labrador is a bit, well… tubby, don’t blame yourself – it may be doggy DNA.
A study has found that a genetic mutation in a quarter of the breed hard-wires them for obesity.
They face a ‘double whammy’ of feeling hungry all the time and burning fewer calories.
Experts say it means dog owners should be particularly strict when feeding and exercising their pets to keep them slim.
The mutation affects the POMC gene, which plays a key role in hunger and energy use and changes how dogs behave around food.
Labradors with the gene are hungrier between meals despite not needing as much to feel full.
In addition, dogs with the mutation were found to use 25 per cent less energy when resting, meaning they don’t need as many calories to maintain a healthy weight.
Two-thirds of flat-coated retrievers also have the mutation.
Cambridge University researcher Dr Eleanor Raffan, who led the study, said, “People are often rude about the owners of fat dogs, blaming them for not managing their diet and exercise.
“But we’ve shown that labradors with this genetic mutation are looking for food all the time. It’s very difficult to keep these dogs slim.”
Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that dog thefts had soared – but the number returned by police was the lowest since 2015, when data began being collected.
Analysis of police crime figures by the insurer Direct Line showed that 2,290 dogs were reported stolen in 2023 – 6 per cent more than in 2022. English bulldogs were most at risk, followed by French bulldogs and XL bullies, which were banned last year.