Obesity Diabetes Genetics and Diet in Dogs and Cats

Obesity in Dogs and Cats

Obesity and Diabetes in Cats and Dogs

Unfortunately, we are not the only species to suffer from our over-indulgences and lack of proper dietary nutrition. Cats and dogs can also become victims of obesity and diabetes. The research has found that there are both genetic and dietary elements to obesity and diabetes within the two species, and that focusing on a proper diet can help vastly reduce an animal's chances of avoiding obesity and also help manage diabetes more effectively.

Recent research on genetics and diet of obesity has uncovered some major elements as to who is prone to obesity, how it comes about in a variety of species, as well as how it can be avoided. Recent research has clearly shown the impact dietary choices have on obesity and later diabetes. One of the latest bits of research that helps clarify the nature of obesity and diabetes was in discovering the peptide Ghrelin. According to the research this is "a new gut-brain peptide that is a natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)" which is made up of 28 different amino acids Beck, Richy & Stricker-Kron, 2003 (Beck, Richy & Stricker-Krongrad, 2003). It is a major stimulator of growth, as it is thought to be a common growth hormone. Yet, the peptide also plays an important role in the eating process, as it is released just before feeding and "one of its main side effects is the stimulation of food ingestion" in both humans and other species like rats (Beck, Richy & Stricker-Krongrad, 2003). Right before eating, Ghrelin is produced in high amounts in correlation with high blood glucose levels, and is then decreased after food ingestion has already started. As such, recent research has shown that when produced chronically, it can play a genetic role in weight gain which can eventually lead to obesity. This same research identified the peptide as a major element which was causing obesity in Zucker rats, which are a specific type of lab rat bred to help facilitate research on obesity and diabetes. The obese Zucker rats are unfortunately resistant to insulin, based on high numbers of lipids and cholesterol. As reports show "the Zucker fa/fa rat is a genetic model of obesity related to a default in the leptin receptor" (Beck, Richy & Stricker-Krongrad, 2003). Thus, it the discovery of Ghrelin and the use of Zucker rats have been profound in discovering genetic elements that can lead individuals to obesity. Still, diet plays a large role in activating already present genetic components that can lead to obesity and diabetes.