Determinação da prevalência da obesidade e factores de risco em cães atendidos no Hospital Escolar Veterinário e na BIOVET

Abstract

Obesity is a nutritional condition with greater prevalence in small animal clinics which influences quality of life and animal welfare. However, there are no studies in the country related to prevalence, assessment methods, risk factors, complications and forms of prevention. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and risk factors in dogs treated at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and at the BIOVET clinic. For the diagnosis of obesity, healthy dogs of equal or greater age were selected. four months, docile (to ensure that the assessment was carried out without risk to the guardian and the clinician); both sexes, any breed and reproductive status (entire or castrated). The methods used for the diagnosis of obesity were the following: Body Condition Scale (ECC); Canine Body Mass Index (BMI) and Morphometry. The dogs were distributed in four categories: underweight, ideal, overweight and obese. The data has been inserted into the package Excel 2019 and analyzed by the SPSS 25.0 statistical package. During the period of study, 49 animals were evaluated, of which 51% were males and 49% were females, aged between four months and nine years. The breeds found were: No Defined Breed (19), German Shepherd (12), Boerboel (7), Pitbull (3) and Chow-Chow (3), Belgian Shepherd and Rottweiler (2) and Labrador (1). The percentage of dogs in the overweight category (overweight and obese) was 71.4% IMCC, 53% ECC and 95% Morphometry. The risk factors identified (p<0.5) were: Boerboel breed, lack of physical activity and up-to-date prophylaxis (vaccination and updated deworming). (TRADUÇAO NOSSA))