Looking for Links between Lifestyle, Gut Microbiome and Obesity

Obesity presents an important health challenge for domestic dogs and is common in golden retrievers. Recent research indicates that many risk factors play a role in the development of obesity. In human studies, the intestinal microbiome (the viruses, bacteria, and other microscopic organisms that occupy our intestine) has been implicated as having a role in obesity. However, few studies have looked at these factors in dogs. Researchers will characterize the fecal microbiomes of golden retriever lifetime study participants and identify microbiome differences between dogs with a healthy body condition and those that are obese. This study also will help to train undergraduate students in sequencing the microbiome and correlating findings with owner-reported information about their dogs.