Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder, and is defined as an accumulation of excessive amounts of adipose tissue in the body. Obesity is a condition where an animal exceeds its optimum body weight by more than 10-25%.

Risk factors associated with obesity may include breed, age, castration or high energy intake relative to energy consumption. The consequences of obesity are believed to be metabolic and hormonal changes, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, orthopedic problems, tumors and premature death. Prevention and early detection of obesity leads to better health care. Many owners do not know if the dog is obese, or do not know why it is dangerous. One way to prevent obesity may therefore be to increase the owners’ awareness and knowledge about obesity and how the dog is kept at normal body condition.

The aim of this thesis was to take the staff’s perspective on a number of veterinary practices in Sweden to examine how many and what kind of dogs that are obese, and the causes of excess weight that may be present. A quantitative analysis of questionnaire responses was used and a total of 82 veterinary practice questionnaires were returned. Staff at the veterinary practices estimated the prevalence of dog obesity within their practice as 20-50% on average, ranging from 1-20% to >70%. 59 % of the staff believed that there are races that are predisposed to be obese, while 41% believed not. Retrievers and Spaniels are two categories of races that were mentioned. Just under half of the staff (49%) indicated that obesity is most common in geriatric dogs, while 51 % felt that it is most common in the adult dog. It was found that the majority (69%) of the staff believed that owners are aware of the obesity. The staff identified some of the reasons why so many dogs still are obese as “lack of knowledge regarding body condition assessment, health risks, feeding and exercise”. The staff’s opinion on if owners requesting information how to diet their dog was estimated at 6 out of 10 (58%) owners does that.

It is important to explain the health risks to the owners, so they understand in which way obesity it detrimental. By well educated veterinary nurses, with good knowledge of preventive health care, it will be good opportunities to communicate significant information to owners and thus help reduce the number of obese dogs.