Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common is overweight in UK dogs and which breeds are at risk
By Pegram, C et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2021·The Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Frequency, breed predisposition and demographic risk factors for overweight status in dogs in the UK.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In the UK, a study found that 1,580 out of 22,333 dogs were identified as overweight, which means about 7.1% of dogs under veterinary care were carrying extra weight. Certain breeds, like Pugs, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, and English Springer Spaniels, were more likely to be overweight compared to mixed-breed dogs. Factors such as being neutered, middle-aged, and having pet insurance also increased the chances of a dog being overweight. This highlights the need for better weight management strategies, especially for breeds that are more prone to gaining weight.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for overweight status in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study design was used to estimate the 1-year (2016) period prevalence of overweight status. The clinical records were randomly ordered and manually validated for dogs with overweight status during 2016. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modelling were used to evaluate associations between risk factors (breed, brachycephalic status, adult bodyweight, bodyweight relative to breed-sex mean, age, sex-neuter and insurance) and overweight status. RESULTS: There were 1580 of 22,333 dogs identified as overweight during 2016. The estimated 1-year period prevalence for overweight status recorded in dogs under veterinary care was 7.1% (95% confidence interval 6.7-7.4). After accounting for confounding factors, eight breeds showed increased odds of overweight status compared with crossbred dogs. The breeds with the highest odds included the Pug (OR 3.12, 95% confidence interval 2.31 to 4.20), Beagle (OR 2.67, 1.75 to 4.08), Golden Retriever (OR 2.58, 1.79 to 3.74) and English Springer Spaniel (OR 1.98, 1.31 to 2.98). Being neutered, middle-aged and insured were additionally associated with overweight status. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Targeted overweight prevention strategies should be prioritised for predisposed breeds, such as Pugs and Beagles. The findings additionally raise questions about further preventative efforts following neutering. The prevalence estimate suggests veterinary professionals are underreporting overweight status and therefore could be missing key welfare opportunities.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33754373/