<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Obesity and overweight have been frequently observed in dogs in recent years as in humans. The compositions of fatty acids in the accumulated lipids in tissues of obese animals may have important roles in the process and mechanisms related to the onset of metabolic disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a vegetarian diet, which contained a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids on individual morphometric parameters in spayed dogs. Seven mongrel dogs without ideal body condition scores (average: 7.42) were fed vegetarian dog kibbles and received the daily amount of energy calculated with the following formula: 130 kcal × weight (kg) 0.75. The animals were evaluated on days 0 and 60 in relation to the body measurements, such as: body weight, metabolic body weight, body fat percentage, nape, rib, tail base, chest, and abdomen, using a plicometer. Also determined were the body condition scores (scale from 1—thin to 9—obese), canine body mass index, and their waist circumference. These data were analysed by the Student’s <italic>t</italic>-test. The body measurement variation of body fat percentage, waist circumference, body condition score and thickness values of the abdomen differed significantly (P &lt; 0.01).</p>
</abstract>

Obesity and overweight have been frequently observed in dogs in recent years as in humans. The compositions of fatty acids in the accumulated lipids in tissues of obese animals may have important roles in the process and mechanisms related to the onset of metabolic disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a vegetarian diet, which contained a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids on individual morphometric parameters in spayed dogs. Seven mongrel dogs without ideal body condition scores (average: 7.42) were fed vegetarian dog kibbles and received the daily amount of energy calculated with the following formula: 130 kcal × weight (kg) 0.75. The animals were evaluated on days 0 and 60 in relation to the body measurements, such as: body weight, metabolic body weight, body fat percentage, nape, rib, tail base, chest, and abdomen, using a plicometer. Also determined were the body condition scores (scale from 1—thin to 9—obese), canine body mass index, and their waist circumference. These data were analysed by the Student’s t-test. The body measurement variation of body fat percentage, waist circumference, body condition score and thickness values of the abdomen differed significantly (P < 0.01).

Effect of Nutrition on the Morphometric Markers in Spayed Dogs

Department of Animal Nutrition and Husbandry University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice

Equine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice

Folia Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Effect of Nutrition on the Morphometric Markers in Spayed Dogs"}

Obesity and overweight have been frequently observed in dogs in recent years as in humans. The compositions of fatty acids in the accumulated lipids in tissues...

Effect of Nutrition on the Morphometric Markers in Spayed Dogs

Published Online: Dec 30, 2021

Page range: 67 - 71

Received: Sep 29, 2021

Accepted: Nov 01, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2021-0039

© 2021 Ioannis Chrysikos, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.