Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using bioelectric impedance to measure body fat in obese and lean dogs
By Stone, Richard et al.·Published in Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine·2009·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of a bioelectric impedance device in obese and lean healthy dogs to estimate body fat percentage.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy dogs, both obese and lean, were evaluated using a hand-held device that measures body fat percentage. The results from this device were compared to traditional physical exams that assign a body condition score on a 9-point scale. The study found a strong connection between the two methods, suggesting that the bioelectric impedance device could be a helpful tool for veterinarians in diagnosing and managing obesity in dogs. This could lead to better weight management strategies for pets struggling with excess weight.
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Abstract
A hand-held bioelectric impedance device was used to obtain body fat percentages from obese and lean healthy client-owned dogs. Bioelectric impedance values were compared with body condition scores assigned on a 9-point scale during physical examination to evaluate the correlation of these two methods for assessing body composition. A good correlation was revealed between body fat percentage as measured by the bioelectric impedance device and body condition score. The results of this study suggest that bioelectric impedance measurements of body fat percentage could be used by veterinary practitioners as an objective measure of adiposity when diagnosing and managing obese dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19742449/