Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How obesity affects lung function and breathing in healthy dogs
By Manens, J et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2012·Department for Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of obesity on lung function and airway reactivity in healthy dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy Beagle dogs was studied to see how weight gain affects their breathing. After being put on a high-calorie diet, these dogs gained about 41% of their body weight. The results showed that the heavier dogs had a lower ability to take in air and were more reactive to substances that can cause breathing issues. When given a medication to stimulate breathing, the obese dogs did not respond as well as their normal-weight counterparts. This suggests that being overweight can negatively impact a dog's lung function and breathing response.
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Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of bodyweight (BW) gain on respiratory function and airway responsiveness in healthy Beagles using barometric whole body plethysmography (BWBP). Six adult dogs were examined before and after a fattening diet. The high-energy diet induced a mean increase in BW of 41±6%. BWBP basal parameters were recorded prior to airway reactivity testing (using increasing concentrations of histamine nebulisations). An airway responsiveness index (H-Penh300) was calculated as the histamine concentration necessary to reach 300% of basal enhanced pause (Penh, bronchoconstriction index). The same dogs underwent a doxapram hydrochloride (Dxp) stimulation testing 2 weeks later. Basal measurements showed that obese dogs had tidal volume per kg (TV/BW) that was significantly decreased whilst respiratory rate (RR) increased significantly. H-Penh300 decreased significantly in obese Beagles, indicating increased bronchoreactivity. Dxp administration induced a significant increase in TV/BW, minute volume per kg (MV/BW), peak inspiratory and expiratory flows per kg (PIF/BW and PEF/BW) in both normal and obese dogs although the TV/BW increase was significantly less marked in the obese group. In conclusion, obesity induced changes in basal respiratory parameters, increased bronchoreactivity and a blunted response to Dxp-induced respiratory stimulation. This combination of basal respiratory parameters, bronchoreactivity testing and pharmacological stimulation testing using non-invasive BWBP can help characterize pulmonary function and airway responsiveness in obese dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22099184/