Abstract: The study is aimed at documenting the physical assessment of hunting dogs using five points body condition scoring in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Twenty dogs comprising of 13 males and 7 females were used for this study. Their history and brief clinical examination were investigated and were found to be apparently healthy. All the dogs examined in this study falls under three scales of the five points body condition scoring (BCS); those categorized as thin (scale 2) were 6 (30%) and their ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones were visible, no palpable fat with minimal loss of muscle mass. Those categorized as moderate (scale 3): Their ribs were easily palpable, with minimal fat covering, abdominal tuck were evident when viewed from above and they were 11(55%). Those categorized as overweight (scale 4): Their ribs were palpable but with difficulty, noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail and abdominal tuck were absent; they were 3 (15%). In all the dogs examined there was neither too thin (scale 1) nor obese (scale 5). The study shows that despite the fact that dogs in the study area are sometimes considered as unclean and can be handled with less care; but the hunters in Maiduguri have high regard for their dogs as 11 out of 20 (55%) were scored moderate under BCS.
Keywords: Body condition score, hunting dogs, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Title: The Five-Point Body Condition Scoring for Assessing Physical Status of Hunting Dogs in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Author: M. Zakariah, F. B. Mustapha, Y. B. Majama, W. A. Kachamai
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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