Cardiovascular evaluation in overweight and obese dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Cardiology
• Canine Health
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Canine obesity is a growing nutritional disorder with known systemic health impacts.
• Cardiovascular consequences of canine obesity remain incompletely understood.
• This study investigates cardiac parameters in dogs across a spectrum of body conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters in dogs with normal, overweight, and obese body conditions.
• To identify early cardiovascular alterations associated with canine obesity.
• To assess morphometric changes and their correlation with body condition.

Main Methods:

• Thirty client-owned dogs were categorized into three groups based on body condition score (BCS): normal (BCS 4-5/9), overweight (BCS 6-7/9), and obese (BCS 8-9/9).
• Comprehensive assessments included physical examination, electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, canine body mass index (CBMI), and thoracic-to-abdominal circumference ratio.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare parameters between the groups.

Main Results:

• Obese dogs exhibited significantly higher frequencies of exercise intolerance and dyspnea compared to normal and overweight dogs.
• Progressive increases in P-wave and QRS durations were observed from normal to obese groups, indicating conduction delays.
• Obese dogs showed significantly greater left atrial diameter and left atrium-to-aortic root ratio, alongside increased prevalence of mitral valve abnormalities.
• A lower thoracic-to-abdominal circumference ratio in overweight and obese dogs indicated abdominal fat redistribution.
• No significant differences were found in systolic or conventional diastolic cardiac function indices.

Conclusions:

• Canine obesity is associated with early cardiovascular alterations, including electrocardiographic conduction delays and left atrial remodeling.
• Morphometric changes, such as abdominal fat redistribution, are evident in overweight and obese dogs.
• Despite the absence of overt cardiac dysfunction, these findings highlight the importance of routine cardiovascular monitoring in overweight and obese dogs.