Perfil nutricional e prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em cães alergopatas de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Current trends in pet nutrition include the adoption of alternative diets due to pet owners' concerns about their pets' health and distrust of the commercial pet food industry. However, these changes bring challenges, such as contamination risks and nutritional imbalances. Furthermore, the most diagnosed nutritional disease in dogs is obesity, the prevalence of which has increased. It is related to a state of low-grade chronic inflammation and, although it has been reported that dermatological problems in dogs may be a consequence of obesity, few studies on dogs have investigated this relationship in the literature. The present study aimed to determine the nutritional profile and prevalence of overweight and obesity in dogs with suspected or confirmed food hypersensitivity and/or atopic dermatitis in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The study was conducted over eight months during veterinary dermatology appointments. The study population included 62 adult dogs with suspected or confirmed diagnoses of food hypersensitivity and/or atopic dermatitis. The animals were physically evaluated to determine their body condition score and body fat percentage while their owners answered a questionnaire. It was found that 76% of owners consider information from non-technical sources to make decisions about their pets' food and general care. It was also observed that 32% of people add natural foods to their pets' dry food without controlling daily quantities or receiving veterinary guidance. No statistical associations were found between overweight and obesity in dogs and the variables age range, reproductive status, breed, intensity of daily and weekly physical exercise, type of diet, and frequency of receiving treats. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the studied population was 58.06%, and 29% of owners underestimated their dogs' body condition score.