Why Are Labradors Always Hungry?
Why Are Labradors Always Hungry
Dogs can’t help but beg for table leftovers after meals. But then there comes Labrador, the breed obsessed with food, no matter how full they are. Have you ever wondered why are Labradors always hungry?
According to the latest studies, Labrador retrievers are more likely to beg for treats and food as compared to other dog breeds.
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Vets have mentioned that Labradors tend to be overweight dogs because of their begging.
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Why are Labradors obsessed with food?
The latest studies in cell metabolism reflect the point that the over-hungry behaviour may be due to some biological factors.
Results show that inability to switch off hunger is due to the modification in a gene, POMC. Most of the dogs who suffer from hunger issues are rich in scrambled DNA at some end within POMC.
Additionally, due to this modification, Labradors cannot produce neuropeptides beta MSH and beta-endorphin, hunger switches.
Therefore, it’s not your Labrador who is at fault; it’s just the absence of these hunger turns-off switches in its body. The same is the reason which causes obesity in dogs and especially in the Labrador breed.
Along with this, there are chances that your Labrador is genuinely hungry, and it is not due to the absence of the mentioned substances.
There is a possibility that the current food you are offering to your Labrador is not enough to complete its nutrient needs.
Sometimes sickness also causes random and abnormal hunger in Labrador. Boredom is another major cause of your dog’s frequent eating behaviour.
Not only this, separation anxiety, along with stress or depression, also forces the dog to eat whatever is coming its way.
Do Labrador retrievers eat a lot?
As mentioned above, all of the explanations directly reflect that Labrador retrievers eat a lot. No matter what quality or quantity of food you are providing to your lab, it is going to demand food after an hour or even after 15 minutes.
Again the reasons are somehow clear at this point it is due to the genetic modification which causes abnormal hunger in your Labrador.
This abnormal hunger forces them to chew toys, socks, and stones.
There is a wide range of methods to train a Labrador to stop begging for food and demand meals at their specific time.
Proper training will teach your Labrador to control hunger rather than exploring the trash and eating grass and dirt.
How many times a day should you feed a Labrador?
Yes, we accept that Labradors eat a lot, but still, you should make a routine of feeding your Labrador so that it will not get an upset tummy or diarrhoea.
Because of the food obsession, Labradors are more prone to get diarrhoea or other stomach problems, so you must feed them on a proper routine.
The routine makes it easy for the Labrador to digest meals, and hence they get a smoothly running digestive system. Check out our article about How much to feed Labrador?
The need and time for food will keep changing with the growing age of Labrador. Or we can say that a puppy will have a different food need as compared to the adult Labrador.
For the Labrador puppies, it is highly recommended to feed them four times a day at the age of 3 months. For the Labradors between three to six months, the advice is to provide them only three times a day.
Once your Labrador is older than six months, feed them twice a day.
It is crucial to mention that parents should avoid feeding their puppy within 3 hours of leading up to bed. In case your Labrador is suffering from diarrhoea or soft stools, then you must feed it with smaller different meals rather than a few large meals.
| Age | Meals in a Day | Meal Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Months | 4 Times | 3 Hours |
| 3 – 6 Months | 3 Times | 4 Hours |
| Above 6 Months | 2 Times | 6 – 7 Hours |
However, if your Labrador is suffering from some disease, you must ask the vet’s recommendation relating to the quantity and quality of food.
Before bringing some new food for your dog, make sure that it is not allergic to some specific food item; otherwise, it may cause problems.
Moreover, a wide range of brands is offering quality food that is suitable according to the needs of Labradors. Along with this, homemade food is another good option when you want to control your lab’s hunger.
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