Abstract: This work was designed to investigate overweight and obesity in dogs in Maiduguri using five-point body condition scoring and body fat percentage. The total of 30 dogs of both sexes were randomly selected in residential areas of Maiduguri Metropolis, with 29 dogs finally participated in the study. One dog was later excluded from the study because of obvious signs of canine babesiosis; this is because the main criterion of inclusion of dogs into the study is good health apart from obesity. The results using five-point body condition scoring shows 7(24.1%) were overweight (scale 4) and their ribs were palpable but with difficulty, noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail and abdominal tuck were absent. The obese (scale 5) dogs were found to be 2 (6.9%) (Scale 5) which reveals massive fat deposits over thorax, spine and base of tail. Waist and abdominal tuck were absent, obvious fat deposits on the neck and abdominal distention were evident. However, the body fat percentage using anthropometric measurement by applying a gender specific formula reveals 1(3.4%) obesity, none was considered overweight. All the dogs were clustered using dendrogram which indicates most of the overweight and obese dogs were found among the exotic breeds, suggesting that breed is one of the factors that can predispose dogs to overweight and obesity.
Keywords: Body condition scoring, body fat percentage, dogs, Maiduguri, obesity, overweight.
Title: Assessment of Overweight and Obesity in Dogs using Five-point Body Condition Scoring and Body Fat Percentage in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Author: M Zakariah, U Auwal, Y M Bukar, K U Ezema F B Mustapha, L Adamu
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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