Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart and metabolism changes in small obese dogs compared to ideal
By Tropf, M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2017·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cardiac and Metabolic Variables in Obese Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 46 small-breed dogs, some overweight and some at a healthy weight, were examined for heart and metabolic issues. The overweight dogs showed changes in heart structure and function, including differences in how their heart filled with blood and pumped it out. They also had higher levels of insulin and cholesterol, indicating metabolic problems. These findings suggest that obesity in dogs can lead to serious heart and metabolic issues, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for your pet.
People also search for: dog obesity heart problems · small breed dog weight management · insulin resistance in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The etiology of obesity-related cardiac dysfunction (ORCD) is linked to metabolic syndrome in people. Studies have indicated that obese dogs have components of metabolic syndrome, warranting evaluation for ORCD in obese dogs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate cardiac structure and function and metabolic variables in obese dogs compared to ideal weight dogs. ANIMALS: Forty-six healthy, small-breed (<25 pounds), obese dogs (n = 29) compared to ideal weight dogs (n = 17). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of cardiac structure and function by standard and strain echocardiographic measurements and quantification of serum metabolic variables (insulin:glucose ratios, lipid analysis, adiponectin, inflammatory markers). RESULTS: Compared to the ideal weight controls, obese dogs had cardiac changes characterized by an increased interventricular septal width in diastole to left ventricular internal dimension in diastole ratio, decreased ratios of peak early to peak late left ventricular inflow velocities, and ratios of peak early to peak late mitral annular tissue velocities, and increased fractional shortening and ejection fraction percentages. The left ventricular posterior wall width in diastole to left ventricular internal dimension in diastole ratios were not significantly different between groups. Systolic blood pressure was not significantly different between groups. Obese dogs had metabolic derangements characterized by increased insulin:glucose ratios, dyslipidemias with increased cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein concentrations, decreased adiponectin concentrations, and increased concentrations of interleukin 8 and keratinocyte-derived chemokine-like inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Compared to ideal weight controls, obese dogs have alterations in cardiac structure and function as well as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypoadiponectinemia, and increased concentrations of inflammatory markers. These findings warrant additional studies to investigate inflammation, dyslipidemia, and possibly systemic hypertension as potential contributing factors for altered cardiac function.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28608635/