Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Environmental factors linked to obesity in UK dogs
By Courcier, E A et al.Ā·Published in The Journal of small animal practiceĀ·2010Ā·University of Glasgow, United KingdomĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: An epidemiological study of environmental factors associated with canine obesity.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that many dogs are overweight or obese, with about 20% of the dogs evaluated being classified as obese. Factors that contributed to this included the owner's age, how much exercise the dog got each week, and how often the dog received snacks or treats. The research highlighted that owners with lower incomes were less aware of the health risks associated with their dog's weight. To help manage your dog's weight, consider adjusting their exercise routine and treat frequency, and consult your vet for personalized advice.
People also search for: dog obesity causes Ā· how to help my dog lose weight Ā· exercise needs for overweight dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationships between socioeconomic and other environmental factors with canine obesity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study of dog owners attending five primary veterinary practices in the UK. Owners were asked about dog age, neuter status, feeding habits, dog exercise, household income and owner age. The body condition score of the dogs was also assessed. Factors hypothesised to be associated with obesity were investigated. RESULTS: In total, data from 696 questionnaires were evaluated. Out of those data evaluated, 35.3% of dogs (n=246) were classed as an ideal body shape, 38.9% (n=271) were overweight, 20.4% (n=142) were obese and 5.3% (n=37) were underweight. Identified risk factors associated with obesity included owner age, hours of weekly exercise, frequency of snacks/treats and personal income. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Environmental risk factors associated with canine obesity are multifactorial and include personal income, owner age, frequency of snacks/treats and amount of exercise the dog receives. Awareness about health risks associated with obesity in dogs is significantly less in people in lower income brackets. This phenomenon is recognised in human obesity.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20402841/