Obesity / food motivation (POMC-related) - Labrador Retriever and Flat-Coated Retriever

What does this test analyse?

This genetic test analyses the POMC c.561_575del variant in the Labrador Retriever and Flat-Coated Retriever. The trait is described as obesity, excess body weight, increased food motivation, stronger appetite and POMC-related obesity and food motivation. The test does not measure the dog’s current body weight; it detects an inherited variant that helps explain why some dogs are more food-driven and more prone to weight gain.

What does this trait mean?

Canine obesity is influenced by genetics, diet, activity level, age and daily management. A genetic risk variant can increase predisposition, making a dog more likely to seek food, respond strongly to food rewards or gain weight more easily. For POMC, the result is therefore useful genetic context for weight management and breeding selection.

Practical value of this test

This test gives breeders, owners and veterinarians useful information to identify dogs with increased inherited predisposition earlier. For breeders, the result supports transparent use of risk variants in selection and mating plans. For owners, it helps tailor feeding, reward use, body-condition monitoring and follow-up to the dog’s individual predisposition.

• Reveals hidden genetic predisposition for obesity and food motivation.
• Supports targeted breeding selection in Labrador Retrievers and Flat-Coated Retrievers.
• Helps build a more proactive plan for diet, training, treats and weight control.
• Adds context when dogs are unusually food-driven or gain weight easily.

Inheritance and result

Obesity predisposition is multifactorial: the tested variant is important, but it is not the only factor determining final body weight. The result shows whether the dog carries zero, one or two copies of the deletie. More risk copies indicate a stronger genetic signal for increased predisposition within the tested variant.