1
|
Blanchard T, Hoummady S, Roche M, Banuls D, Bynens A, Meunier M, Djerene M, Dos Santos N, Tissaoui E, Rouch-Buck P, Fantinati M, Priymenko N. Prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity in dogs presenting to French university veterinary teaching hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Top Companion Anim Med 2024; 60:100875. [PMID: 38631428 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcam.2024.100875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Pet obesity is still a major health issue, which is considered an epidemic by some researchers. Prevention is one of the cornerstones of veterinary care, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures. Human lifestyle was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an increased overweight prevalence in the population. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in dogs during this period has been poorly explored. This study's objectives were to assess the percentage of the French dog population with overweight and obesity, compare the results with a study conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigate any potential changes in the risk factors. The study collected data through a survey completed by dog owners during their pets' vaccination visits at university veterinary hospitals of Maisons-Alfort (Paris) and Toulouse, in France, between 2020 and 2022. The veterinarian recorded the dog's weight and the body condition score using a 9-point scale. The study included a total of 309 dogs. Of these, 1.6 % were underweight, 63.1 % had an ideal body condition, and 35.3 % were overweight, including 2.3 % of all dogs classified as obese. During the pandemic, French dog diets shifted towards increased commercial food consumption and twice-daily feedings compared to a 2003 study. Factors positively associated with overweight were being female (OR = 3.55; 95 % CI: 1.65-8.01; P=0.002), being senior (OR=4.91; 95 % CI: 2.07-12.2; P<0.001) or geriatric (OR=5.81; 95 % CI: 2.04-17.0; P=0.001) and having an owner underestimating dog's body condition (OR=74.1; 95 % CI: 29.8-215; P<0.001). Recognizing the impact of owner perception enables early intervention strategies, such as educating owners during consultations and conducting teaching sessions at the clinic. This proactive approach could contribute to improved health outcomes and help prevent the onset of obesity-related issues in dogs. The new trends in dogs' diets may have global relevance due to the pandemic's widespread impact. Although no immediate impact on overweight is evident, ongoing research is crucial to understand the pandemic's long-term effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Blanchard
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, Toulouse, France.
| | - S Hoummady
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort ENVA, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - M Roche
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | - D Banuls
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | - A Bynens
- Chats, Oiseaux et autres animaux familiers, Fédération des Fabricants d'Aliments pour Chiens, FACCO, Paris, France
| | - M Meunier
- Hill's Pet Nutrition France, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - M Djerene
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort ENVA, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - N Dos Santos
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort ENVA, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - E Tissaoui
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort ENVA, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - P Rouch-Buck
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | - M Fantinati
- Hill's Pet Nutrition France, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - N Priymenko
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, Toulouse, France; INRAE, ENVT, TOXALIM, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alexander JE, Filler S, Bergman PJ, Bowring CE, Carvell-Miller L, Fulcher B, Haydock R, Lightfoot T, Logan DW, McKee TS, Mills T, Morrison J, Watson P, Woodruff C. The MARS PETCARE BIOBANK protocol: establishing a longitudinal study of health and disease in dogs and cats. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:125. [PMID: 37592253 PMCID: PMC10433631 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03691-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The veterinary care of cats and dogs is increasingly embracing innovations first applied to human health, including an increased emphasis on preventative care and precision medicine. Large scale human population biobanks have advanced research in these areas; however, few have been established in veterinary medicine. The MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ (MPB) is a prospective study that aims to build a longitudinal bank of biological samples, with paired medical and lifestyle data, from 20,000 initially healthy cats and dogs (10,000 / species), recruited through veterinary hospitals over a ten-year period. Here, we describe the MPB protocol and discuss its potential as a platform to increase understanding of why and how diseases develop and how to advance personalised veterinary healthcare. METHODS At regular intervals, extensive diet, health and lifestyle information, electronic medical records, clinicopathology and activity data are collected, genotypes, whole genome sequences and faecal metagenomes analysed, and blood, plasma, serum, and faecal samples stored for future research. DISCUSSION Proposed areas for research include the early detection and progression of age-related disease, risk factors for common conditions, the influence of the microbiome on health and disease and, through genome wide association studies, the identification of candidate loci for disease associated genetic variants. Genomic data will be open access and research proposals for access to data and samples will be considered. Over the coming years, the MPB will provide the longitudinal data and systematically collected biological samples required to generate important insights into companion animal health, identifying biomarkers of disease, supporting earlier identification of risk, and enabling individually tailored interventions to manage disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janet E Alexander
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, UK.
| | - Serina Filler
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Philip J Bergman
- VCA Clinical Studies, 12401 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Claire E Bowring
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, UK
| | | | | | - Richard Haydock
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, UK
| | | | - Darren W Logan
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Talon S McKee
- VCA Clinical Studies, 12401 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tracy Mills
- VCA Clinical Studies, 12401 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - JoAnn Morrison
- Banfield Pet Hospital, 18101 SE 6Th Way, Vancouver, WA, USA
| | - Phillip Watson
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham On the Wolds, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Colby Woodruff
- Antech Diagnostics, 17620 Mount Herrmann St, Fountain Valley, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|