Canine obesity: is there a difference between veterinarian and owner perception?

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Behavior
• Public Health

Background:

• Canine obesity is a growing concern with significant health implications for dogs.
• Owner perception of their dog's body condition is a critical factor influencing weight management decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between dog ownership and canine obesity.
• To focus on owners' perceptions of their dog's weight status.
• To explore discrepancies between owner and veterinarian assessments of dog weight.

Main Methods:

• A researcher-mediated questionnaire was administered to 121 dog owners at a veterinary practice.
• Qualitative and quantitative questions explored owners' views on their relationship with their dogs and their dogs' weight.
• Data was collected from two cohorts: overweight/obese dogs and non-overweight dogs (n=125 total).

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of owners discussed their dog's weight with their veterinarian.
• Discrepancies were observed between owner perception of dog weight and veterinarian's body condition score (BCS) evaluation.
• Owner disagreement with BCS was significantly higher for overweight dogs (P=0.005).
• Owners frequently used personal narratives to explain their dog's weight status.

Conclusions:

• Veterinarians play a crucial role in educating owners about dog weight, but verbal information alone may be insufficient.
• Qualitative research methods offer valuable insights into client perceptions of complex animal care issues.
• Further in-depth research is needed to improve understanding and management of canine obesity.