There are promising technological and laboratory solutions to measure body fat percentages in companion animals, and we are working to bring these developments to veterinary professionals. Further compounding accurate BCS assessment is varying canine coat types, making BCS in dogs with long or thick fur less precise than desired. Because the relative changes were consistent, and the distribution of pet dogs with obesity increased, we have high confidence in these results.Ĭanine body mass spans nearly 40-fold from largest to smallest breeds, making consistent BCS assessments challenging. The increase in pet dogs (dogs owned as opposed to feral or free-roaming) classified as overweight or with obesity may be attributed to improved clinical assessments, results of pandemic-related inactivity or overfeeding, aging dog populations, variations in sample size and distribution, or other unknown influences. The 2022 survey showed approximately 10% obvious reporting errors, with feline BCS 8-9 (obesity) being the most frequently underreported value as a BCS of 7 to 8 (overweight). In our 19 prevalence surveys, this figure can vary between 8 and 12% of all entries. For example, if a pet is classified as BCS 5 and the reported weight, age, and breed are consistent with an overweight or animal with obesity, that figure is adjusted accordingly. APOP also filters the prevalence data for obvious reporting errors in our dataset. APOP recognizes the limitations and inconsistencies of BCS and works hard to ensure that our participating veterinary clinicians are using proper methodology and definitions. Ideal weight, adiposity, body condition, and BCS represent a continuum, and any specific cutoff for disease onset is somewhat arbitrary and subjective.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |