A dairy-based, protein-rich breakfast enhances satiety and cognitive concentration before lunch in overweight to obese young females: A randomized controlled crossover study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate if consumption of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate breakfast (PRO) leads to a lower subsequent ad libitum energy intake at lunch and the rest of the day compared with ingestion of an isocaloric low-protein, high-carbohydrate breakfast (CHO) or no breakfast (CON). The study was designed as a randomized controlled 3-period crossover study. Thirty young (18-30 yr) females with overweight to obesity (body mass index >25 kg/m2) in random order completed 3 separate experimental days where they consumed either a PRO, CHO, or CON breakfast test meal followed by an ad libitum lunch meal 3 h after breakfast. Participants were allocated to a sequence group by their inclusion number. The PRO and CHO breakfasts were matched in dietary fiber and fat content. Energy intake at lunch was calculated and dietary records were obtained for the rest of the day to calculate the total daily energy intake and macronutrient intake. Ratings of appetite sensations between meals and palatability of the test meals were assessed using visual analog scale sheets in intervals ranging from 10 to 30 min. In addition, blood samples were obtained at multiple time points separated by 10 to 60 min intervals between breakfast and lunch and were analyzed for appetite-regulating gut hormones, insulin, and glucose. Finally, performance in a cognitive concentration test was tested 150 min after breakfast. Compared with CHO and CON, the area under the curves for satiety, fullness, and satisfaction in the 3 h after breakfast were significantly higher after PRO, whereas the areas under the curve for hunger, desire to eat, and prospective eating were significantly lower after PRO. The appetite-regulating gut hormones cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide-1, and ghrelin in the hours after breakfast, energy intake during the ad libitum lunch meal, and the total daily energy intake did not differ significantly between PRO, CHO, and CON. However, the cognitive concentration test score was 3.5 percentage points higher for PRO, but not CHO, versus CON. A dairy-based high-protein, low-carbohydrate breakfast increased satiety sensation in the hours after breakfast but did not reduce total daily energy intake compared with an isocaloric low-protein, high-carbohydrate breakfast or omitting breakfast. However, performance in a cognitive concentration test before lunch was enhanced after the high-protein, low-carbohydrate breakfast, but not the low-protein, high-carbohydrate breakfast, compared with omitting breakfast.

Weight loss outcomes are generally worse for dogs and cats with class II obesity, defined as > 40% overweight.

In pet dogs and cats, adiposity is most-often estimated clinically using a 9-category body condition score (BCS), with BCS 9 equating to ~ 40% overweight. Animals that are more overweight (> 40%) are seen in clinical practice but are not appropriately depicted by descriptions in the existing categories. To determine whether being > 40% overweight has clinical relevance, this study aimed to compare the outcomes of weight management in animals that were > 40% overweight with those < 40% overweight. Records of dogs and cats attending a specialist obesity care clinic, where adiposity is determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), were reviewed. Animals were assigned to two classes (class I ≤ 40% overweight: 118/398 [40%] dogs and 68/116 [59%] cats; class II, > 40% overweight: 180/398 [60%] dogs and 48/116 [41%] cats) based on DXA results, and weight loss outcomes were compared. Fewer class II dogs obesity completed weight management than class I dogs (P < 0.001), rate of weight loss was also slower (P = 0.012) and lean tissue loss greater (P < 0.001). Compared with class I, cats with class II obesity lost more weight (P = 0.048) albeit over a longer period (P = 0.043) leading to greater lean tissue loss (P = 0.004). Approximately half the pets presenting to a specialist clinic were have class II obesity (> 40% overweight), and some weight loss outcomes are worse for these animals.

The effect of body condition on alfaxalone induction dosage requirement in dogs.

Background: Alfaxalone is commonly used in veterinary anesthesia for the induction of general anesthesia (GA) in dogs. However, it has been associated with dose-dependent cardiovascular depression. Therefore, the administration of liposoluble, intravenous (IV)-administered injectable induction agents, such as alfaxalone, is recommended to be based on the dog's lean body mass (LBM). Aim: To determine the influence of body condition score (BCS) on IV alfaxalone dose requirements to achieve endotracheal intubation in dogs. Methods: Prospective clinical study. A group of 34 dogs undergoing GA for diagnostic and/or surgical procedures, body weight (BW) > 4 kg, BCS > 2, age 1-14 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASAs) classification I-III. Dogs were allocated to two different groups according to their BCS: non-overweight group (NOW) BCS: 3-5 and over-weight group (OW) BCS: 6-9. All dogs were premedicated IV with methadone 0.2 mg kg-1, and anesthesia was induced by a slow IV infusion of alfaxalone at 1 mg kg-1 minute-1, delivered with a syringe driver, until loss of jaw tone and no/minimal gagging reflex sufficient to allow endotracheal intubation was achieved. The total dose of alfaxalone and the occurrence of post-induction apnoea were recorded.The Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to test for normality. A Chi-square test was performed to compare the incidence of post-induction apnoea between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare the induction dose of alfaxalone between groups. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean dose ± standard deviation of alfaxalone in NOW was 2.18 ± 0.59 mg kg-1, and in OW, it was 1.63 ± 0.26 mg kg-1 (p = 0.002). The sedation score did not differ between groups. Postinduction apnoea (PIA) occurred in 6 of 17 animals in NOW and 15 of 17 in OW (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The dose of IV alfaxalone per kg of total body mass required to achieve endotracheal intubation was lower in overweight dogs, suggesting that LBM should be considered when calculating IV anesthetic doses. The incidence of post-induction apnoea was higher in overweight/obese dogs with alfaxalone administered at a rate of 1 mg kg-1 minute-1.

Alterations in serum concentrations of visfatin and betatrophin in dogs with hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism in dogs is associated with obesity and altered lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The adipokines, visfatin, and betatrophin, affect glucose tolerance. Betatrophin is involved in lipid regulation. HYPOTHESIS: Visfatin and betatrophin serum concentrations are altered in hypothyroid dogs. ANIMALS: Dogs with naturally occurring hypothyroidism (n = 25) and healthy dogs (n = 25). METHODS: Insulin, visfatin, and betatrophin serum concentrations were measured in all dogs and 19 of the hypothyroid dogs after 30 days of thyroxine treatment. Body condition score (BCS) was determined (1-9 scale). RESULTS: Visfatin concentrations were lower in hypothyroid compared with healthy dogs (mean, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 2.0 ng/mL, 1.2-3.3 vs 5.1 ng/mL, 3.3-7.8; P = .004) and increased post-treatment (3.1 ng/mL, 1.9-4.9 vs 2.6 ng/mL, 1.6-4.1; P = .05). Betatrophin concentrations were lower in lean to normal (body condition score [BCS], 3-5) hypothyroid dogs compared to lean to normal healthy dogs (52 pg/mL, 9-307 vs 597 pg/mL, 216-1648; P = .03), but were not different between overweight (BCS, 6-9) hypothyroid and healthy dogs (341 pg/L, 168-695 vs 178 pg/mL, 77-415; P = .26), and decreased post-treatment in overweight dogs (206 pg/mL, 87-488 vs 268 pg/mL, 112-640; P = .004). Visfatin concentrations were higher in overweight compared with lean to normal dogs (4.7 ng/mL, 3.3-6.6 vs 2.2 ng/mL, 1.2-4.2; P = .04). Betatrophin concentrations were positively correlated with BCS (r = .47, P = .02) and insulin concentrations (r = .48, P = .03) in hypothyroid dogs and negatively correlated with BCS (r = -.47, P = .02) and thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations (r = -.56, P = .01) in healthy dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hypothyroidism in dogs is associated with alterations in visfatin and betatrophin concentrations that partially resolve with thyroxine treatment.

An eight-week randomized intervention study on Korean adults to evaluate the effect of milk intake on obesity.

The anti-obesity effect of milk intake has been suggested via a variety of designed studies, but findings of obesity interventions for Korean adults are scarcely reported. The study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effect of cow milk in Korean adults with an 8-wk randomized intervention. A total of 121 adults overweight aged 19 to 60 yr old were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 groups: milk or control. During the intervention, both groups were encouraged 500 kcal of restriction a day, and the milk group consumed 200 mL of milk twice a day; the same energy intake as the control group, including milk intake, was recommended for 8 wk. We detected no significant differences in body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) between the milk and control groups during the 8-wk intervention, although the changes in BW and BMI of those within the milk group were significant. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and serum calcium levels increased significantly in the milk group compared with the control group. Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and riboflavin intakes increased significantly, when compared with the control. In conclusion, 8-wk milk consumption had no effect on weight loss and BMI change but improved some blood biomarkers and nutrient intake in Korean adults who were overweight. To evaluate the effect of milk on obesity reduction, well-designed, long-term, and large-scale studies are needed.

Effects of weight loss and feeding specially formulated diets on the body composition, blood metabolite profiles, voluntary physical activity, and fecal metabolites and microbiota of overweight cats.

Feline obesity is a common and preventable disease, posing a myriad of health risks and detriments. Specially formulated diets and restricted feeding may serve as an intervention strategy to promote weight loss and improve feline health. In this study, our objective was to determine the effects of restricted feeding and weight loss on body composition, voluntary physical activity, blood hormones and metabolites, and fecal microbiota of overweight cats. Twenty-two overweight adult spayed female and neutered male cats [body weight (BW) = 5.70 ± 1.0 kg; body condition score (BCS) = 7.68 ± 0.6; age = 4 ± 0.4 yr] were used in a weight loss study. A control diet (OR) was fed during a 4-wk baseline to identify intake needed to maintain BW. After baseline (week 0), cats were allotted to OR or a test diet (FT) and fed to lose ~1.0% BW/wk for 24 wk. At baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 wk after weight loss, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans were performed and blood samples were collected. Voluntary physical activity was measured at weeks 0, 8, 16, and 24. Fecal samples were collected at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. Change from baseline data were analyzed statistically using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS, with P < 0.05 considered significant. Restricted feeding of both diets led to weight and fat mass loss, lower BCS, and lower blood triglyceride and leptin concentrations. Cats fed the FT diet had a greater reduction in blood triglycerides and cholesterol than cats fed the OR diet. Restricted feeding and weight loss reduced fecal short-chain fatty acid, branched-chain fatty acid, phenol, and indole concentrations. Fecal valerate concentrations were affected by diet, with cats fed the OR diet having a greater reduction than those fed the FT diet. Fecal bacterial alpha diversity was not affected, but fecal bacterial beta diversity analysis showed clustering by diet. Restricted feeding and weight loss affected relative abundances of 7 fecal bacterial genera, while dietary intervention affected change from baseline relative abundances of 2 fecal bacterial phyla and 20 fecal bacterial genera. Our data demonstrate that restricted feeding promoted controlled and safe weight and fat loss, reduced blood lipids and leptin concentrations, and shifted fecal metabolites and microbiota. Some changes were also impacted by diet, highlighting the importance of ingredient and nutrient composition in weight loss diets.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of diet, restricted feeding and weight loss on body composition, voluntary physical activity, blood hormones and metabolites, and fecal metabolites and microbiota of overweight cats. Overweight cats were allotted to a control diet (OR) or weight loss diet (FT) and fed to lose ~1.0% body weight/week for 24 wk. Body weight, body composition, and voluntary physical activity were measured, while fecal and blood samples were collected over time. Restricted feeding led to weight and fat mass loss, and lower blood triglyceride and leptin concentrations. Cats fed FT had a greater reduction in blood triglycerides and cholesterol than cats fed OR. Restricted feeding reduced fecal metabolite concentrations and affected relative abundances of 7 fecal bacterial genera. Fecal bacterial beta diversity analysis showed clustering by diet. Dietary intervention affected change from baseline relative abundances of 2 fecal bacterial phyla and 20 fecal bacterial genera. Our data demonstrate that restricted feeding promoted controlled and safe weight and fat loss, reduced blood lipids and leptin concentrations, and shifted fecal metabolites and microbiota. Some dietary differences were noted, highlighting the importance of ingredient and nutrient composition in weight loss diets.

Dog caregivers' perceptions, motivations, and behaviours for feeding treats: A cross sectional study.

Treats are commonly fed by most dog caregivers and can constitute a significant proportion of a dog's diet, potentially contributing to obesity. Feeding aspects related to treats specifically, remain underexplored. An e-survey was voluntarily completed by 716 dog caregivers predominantly from Canada and the USA to identify and describe caregivers' perceptions, motivations, and behaviours surrounding treats, and factors that influence decisions about feeding treats. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze (1) measurement methods associated with monitoring treat intake, and (2) frequency of feeding different types of treats with perceiving dog as overweight/obese. Most caregivers considered the term 'treat' in a nutritional context, but respondents expressed mixed perceptions of how they consider treats in relation to their dog's primary diet. Alongside training and sports activities, aspects relating to the human-animal bond were highly reported to influence decisions surrounding treats. Most respondents were motivated to provide treats because it makes their pet happy, and to strengthen the bond with their dog, and nearly 40% of caregivers frequently feed treats to show love to their dog. Human food and table scraps were frequently fed by 30-40% of caregivers and feeding human food weekly was predictive of caregivers perceiving their dog to be overweight/obese (OR=2.24, p = 0.007). Caregivers estimated treats to account for a median of 15% of their dog's total diet, based on estimated quantity. Caregivers who reported using a measuring cup/scoop to measure their dog's treats were more likely to monitor their dog's treat intake (OR=3.38, p = 0.002). Most caregivers monitor their dog's body condition (60%) or consider their dog's recent activity level (43%) to decide on the amount of treats to feed; only 22% of caregivers reported veterinary advice to support their decisions on the amount of treats to feed. Findings from this research offer new insights to dog caregiver feeding habits and their perceptions of treats in relation to the canine diet. These results can be used to inform veterinary counselling strategies and caregiver education initiatives to promote animal health and well-being.

Effects of a therapeutic weight loss diet on weight loss and metabolic health in overweight and obese dogs.

Obesity has become a major health issue in dogs. Obesity in dogs increases the risk of many chronic diseases and chronic low-grade inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a therapeutic weight loss (TWL) diet on weight loss and metabolic health in overweight and obese dogs. Thirty overweight and obese dogs were randomized into two groups with 15 dogs per group based on key baseline (BSL) parameters and allotted to either a control or TWL diet for 6 mo. At the start of the study, the control group had six females and nine males with mean age of 9.12 ±â€…0.48 (mean ±â€…SEM) yr; there were seven females and eight males with mean age of 9.73 ±â€…0.63 yr in the TWL group. The control group and the TWL group had comparable body weight (34.78 ±â€…0.76 and 34.63 ±â€…0.86 kg, respectively), % body fat (BF; 39.77 ±â€…1.18 and 39.89 ±â€…0.93, respectively), and body condition score (BCS; 7.80 ±â€…0.14 and 7.67 ±â€…0.16 on a 9-point BCS scale, respectively). The control (CTRL) diet was formulated based on the macronutrient ratio of a commercial metabolic diet, and the TWL diet was enriched with dietary protein, fish oil, and soy germ meal. Both diets were fortified with essential nutrients to account for caloric restriction during weight loss. Dogs were fed with 25% less than BSL maintenance energy requirement (MER) for the first 4 mo and if they did not reach a BCS of 5, they were fed 40% less than BSL MER for the last 2 mo. Body composition was determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Postprandial glucose profiles were determined by continuous glucose monitoring devices. Serum samples were collected for analyses of blood parameters, hormones, and cytokines. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.3, with significance being P < 0.05. At the end of the study, the control group and the TWL group had comparable weight loss (-5.77 ±â€…0.31 and -6.14 ±â€…0.32 kg, respectively; P = 0.4080). But the TWL group lost significantly (P = 0.034) more BF (-13.27 ±â€…1.28%) than the control group (-9.90 ±â€…1.23%). In addition, the TWL diet completely prevented loss of lean body mass (LBM) in dogs compared with BSL. Dogs fed with the TWL diet had significantly lower fasting serum cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, leptin, mean postprandial interstitial glucose, and pro-inflammatory cytokines compared with dogs fed with the CTRL diet. In summary, the TWL diet prevented loss of LBM, promoted weight loss and metabolic health, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in overweight and obese dogs during weight loss.

Obesity has become a major health issue in dogs and increases the risk of many chronic diseases and chronic low-grade inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a therapeutic weight loss (TWL) diet on weight loss and metabolic health in overweight and obese dogs. Thirty overweight and obese dogs were randomized into two groups with 15 dogs per group and assigned to either a control (CTRL) diet or TWL diet for a 6 mo weight loss study. Changes in body composition were determined every 2 mo. Blood samples were collected to measure changes in lipid profiles, hormones, cytokines, and chemokines. Postprandial glucose profiles were determined by a continuous glucose monitoring system. The results of the study showed that the TWL diet completely prevented loss of lean body mass (LBM) in dogs compared with baseline. Dogs fed with the TWL diet had significantly lower fasting serum cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, leptin, mean postprandial glucose, and pro-inflammatory cytokines compared with dogs fed with the CTRL diet. In summary, the TWL diet prevented loss of LBM, promoted weight loss and metabolic health, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines in overweight and obese dogs during weight loss.

Age at gonadectomy, sex, and breed size affect risk of canine overweight and obese outcomes: a retrospective cohort study using data from United States primary care veterinary clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of developing an overweight or obese (O/O) body condition score (BCS) in gonadectomized versus intact dogs and, separately, the impact of age at gonadectomy on O/O outcomes among sterilized dogs. ANIMALS: Dogs were patients of Banfield Pet Hospital in the US from 2013 to 2019. After exclusion criteria were applied, the final sample consisted of 155,199 dogs. PROCEDURES: In this retrospective cohort study, Cox proportional hazards models evaluated associations between O/O and gonadectomy status, sex, age at gonadectomy, and breed size. Models were used to estimate the risk of becoming O/O in gonadectomized versus intact dogs and, separately, to estimate risk of O/O BCS according to age at surgery among gonadectomized dogs. RESULTS: Gonadectomy increased O/O risk for most dogs compared to intact dogs. Unlike most prior findings, O/O hazard ratios among gonadectomized versus intact dogs were larger for males than females. O/O risk varied according to breed size but not linearly. Sterilizing at 1 year old tended to yield a lower O/O risk compared to doing so later. Comparative O/O risk among dogs gonadectomized at 6 months versus 1 year varied by breed size. Overall patterns for obesity related to size were similar to patterns in the O/O analysis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to help prevent O/O in their patients. Results extend understanding of risk factors for O/O development in dogs. In combination with information about other benefits and risks associated with gonadectomy, these data can help tailor recommendations regarding gonadectomy in individual dogs.

The 13C-bicarbonate technique as a tool for measurement of energy expenditure in overweight dogs undergoing body weight reduction and the effect of different dietary composition.

Changes in body size and composition, i.e., body weight (BW) gain or loss, affect the daily energy expenditure (EE). To ensure an appropriate BW reduction and to find an efficient strategy to reduce and maintain a target BW, regular evaluations and adjustments of energy allowance are important. This study aimed to provide a detailed knowledge about the possible changes in resting EE using the oral 13C-bicarbonate technique (o13CBT) as a research tool in 16 overweight pet dogs undergoing BW reduction. Dietary composition (i.e., in % of dry matter [DM] being a high protein [33.3], low fat [9.6], and high crude fiber [18.0] diet [LFHFibre], and a high protein [37.9], high fat [52.0], carbohydrate-free diet [HFat]) during 16 wk of energy restriction were evaluated regarding effects on resting EE, rate of BW reduction, body composition, and plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones involved in energy metabolism and appetite regulation. The mean BW loss was higher (P < 0.05) for the dogs fed the LFHFibre diet (1.1%/wk) than that for dogs fed the HFat diet (0.8%/wk), but the total BW reduction of 14.6% and 12.0% of initial BW did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Resting EE was lower (P < 0.02) after the BW reduction; 414 kJ (99 kcal)/kg BW0.75/d at the start (week 0) and 326 kJ (78 kcal)/kg BW0.75/d at the end (week 16) of the study. The BW reduction in both groups (P > 0.05) consisted of both fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Energy expenditure, calculated in relation to amount of FFM, was not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by BW reduction. Dietary composition did not significantly affect (P > 0.05) plasma concentrations of insulin, leptin, and ghrelin, and no effect (P > 0.05) of BW reduction was observed on hormone concentrations. In conclusion, the o13CBT proved to be a useful research method for studying short-term EE in overweight dogs. Even though all dogs lost BW, most dogs were still overweight at the end of the study. Due to a high individual variation among dogs, a longer experimental period with a larger sample size would be desirable.

The most common nutritional disorder in dogs is overweight, and knowledge about dogs' energy requirement is therefore important to adjust daily feed allowance. Changes in body weight may affect energy expenditure (EE) and, thereby, energy requirement. This study aimed to measure such potential changes under resting conditions in overweight dogs. It was found that the minimally invasive 13C-bicarbonate technique was a useful research method for studies regarding EE during weight loss (WL) in dogs. EE decreased when the dogs lost weight, and energy allowance needed to be reduced to maintain WL. The second objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding diets with different macronutrient compositions on EE, rate of WL, body composition, and plasma concentrations of hormones involved in energy metabolism and appetite regulation. The mean WL rate was slightly higher for dogs fed a diet with high protein, low fat, and high crude fiber contents than those fed a carbohydrate-free diet with a high protein and fat contents. However, diet did not affect the resting EE, measured plasma hormone concentrations, or the total WL at the end of the study.

Serum metabolomic analysis of the dose-response effect of dietary choline in overweight male cats fed at maintenance energy requirements.

Choline participates in methyl group metabolism and has been recognized for its roles in lipid metabolism, hepatic health and muscle function in various species. Data regarding the impacts of choline on feline metabolic pathways are scarce. The present study investigated how choline intake affects the metabolomic profile of overweight cats fed at maintenance energy. Overweight (n = 14; body condition score:6-8/9) male adult cats were supplemented with five doses of choline in a 5x5 Latin Square design. Cats received a daily dose of choline on extruded food (3620 mg choline/kg diet) for three weeks at maintenance energy requirements (130 kcal/kgBW0.4). Doses were based on body weight (BW) and the daily recommended allowance (RA) for choline for adult cats (63 mg/kg BW0.67). Treatment groups included: Control (no additional choline, 1.2 x NRC RA, 77 mg/kg BW0.67), 2 x NRC RA (126 mg/kg BW0.67), 4 x NRC RA (252 mg/kg BW0.67), 6 x RA (378 mg/kg BW0.67), and 8 x NRC RA (504 mg/kg BW0.67). Serum was collected after an overnight fast at the end of each treatment period and analyzed for metabolomic parameters through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and direct infusion mass spectrometry (DI-MS). Data were analyzed using GLIMMIX, with group and period as random effects, and dose as the fixed effect. Choline up to 8 x NRC RA was well-tolerated. Choline at 6 and 8 x NRC RA resulted in greater concentrations of amino acids and one-carbon metabolites (P < 0.05) betaine, dimethylglycine and methionine. Choline at 6 x NRC RA also resulted in greater phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin concentrations (P < 0.05). Supplemental dietary choline may be beneficial for maintaining hepatic health in overweight cats, as it may increase hepatic fat mobilization and methyl donor status. Choline may also improve lean muscle mass in cats. More research is needed to quantify how choline impacts body composition.

Short-term evaluation of renal markers in overweight adult cats.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been proposed as an independently risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people, but its role in feline kidney function is unknown. OBJECTIVE: Obesity has been proposed as an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people, but its role in feline kidney function is unknown. This study prospectively evaluated the effect of overweight on the concentration of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and creatinine in a cohort of healthy cats. METHODS: Forty healthy adult cats were included, 14 with a body condition score (BCS) = 5 and 26 with a BCS > 5. Cats were examined every 6 months, for up to 12 months. SDMA and creatinine were measured at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: No effect was found for time of follow-up (p = 0.072), overweight (p = 0.9442) or their interaction (p = 0.902) on SDMA, though a significant effect was found for age (p < 0.001) [older cats showing higher SDMA] and sex (p = 0.007) [male cats showing higher SDMA]. Regarding creatinine, no effect for time (p = 0.671), age (p = 0.061), overweight (p = 0.319) or the latter's interaction (p = 0.386) were found. CONCLUSIONS: In the short term, markers of renal function did not show an association with overweight. The role of obesity in feline kidney function still warrants further evaluation.

Obesity-induced changes in gene expression in feline adipose and skeletal muscle tissue.

Indoor-confined cats are prone to developing obesity due to a sedentary life and an energy intake exceeding energy requirements. As in humans, feline obesity decreases insulin sensitivity and increases the risk of developing feline diabetes mellitus, but the pathophysiological mechanisms are currently poorly understood. Human obesity-related metabolic alterations seem to relate to changes in the expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism, insulin action and inflammation. The objective of the current study was to investigate changes in the expression of genes relating to obesity, glucose metabolism and inflammation in cats with non-experimentally induced obesity. Biopsies from the sartorius muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue were obtained from 73 healthy, neutered, indoor-confined domestic shorthaired cats ranging from lean to obese. Quantification of obesity-related gene expression levels relative to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. A negative association between obesity and adiponectin expression was observed in the adipose tissue (mean ± SD; normal weight, 27.30 × 10-3 ± 77.14 × 10-3 ; overweight, 2.89 × 10-3 ± 0.38 × 10-3 and obese, 2.93 × 10-3 ± 4.20 × 10-3 , p < 0.05). In muscle, the expression of peroxisome proliferative activated receptor-γ2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was increased in the obese compared to the normal-weight cats, and resistin was increased in the normal-weight compared to the overweight cats. There were no detectable obesity-related changes in the messenger RNA levels of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, a possible obesity-related low-grade inflammation caused by increased expression of key proinflammatory regulators was not observed. This could imply that the development of feline obesity and ensuing insulin resistance may not be based on tissue-derived inflammation, but caused by several determining factors, many of which still need further investigation.

Influence of weaning management at 30, 75 and 180 days of age on non-esterified fatty acids and reproductive performance in beef cows.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of age at weaning of calves on non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and reproductive parameters of beef cows. Animals (n = 65) were randomly assigned to three treatments after calving: hyper-early weaning (W30) at 32 ± 0.89 days, early weaning (W75) at 77 ± 0.95 days, and conventional weaning (W180) at 183 ± 0.82 days. Body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were evaluated at parturition (AP) and at 30, 45, 64, 81, 100 and 115 days postpartum (dPP). Blood samples were collected to analyze NEFA levels and progesterone (P4) at 30, 45, 64 and 81 dPP. Higher BW and BCS were observed from 64 to 115 dPP in W30 cows than W180 ones (p < 0.05). Cows subjected to W30 condition had higher levels of NEFA at 30 dPP compared to 64 and 81 dPP (p < 0.05). We also observed that cows from W180 group showed decreased levels of NEFA at 30 dPP compared to 45 (p < 0.01) and 64 dPP (p < 0.05). The highest P4 level was observed at 64 dPP in W30 cows compared to W75 and W180 (p < 0.05). We also observed higher CR of W30 (86%) compared to W180 (47%) at 45 dPP (p < 0.05). The overall pregnancy rate (PR) was higher for W30 (95.5%) than W180 (73.9%). In addition, higher BW at calving and P4 levels at 30 dPP were positively correlated with the possibility of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Improvement in BW and BCS were observed in cows subjected to hyper-early weaning management. However, levels of NEFA decreased as the postpartum period progressed. We concluded that cows who weaned calves hyper-early have greater chances of increasing cyclicity and PRs.

Feline obesity causes hematological and biochemical changes and oxidative stress - a pilot study.

Obesity, an extremely important factor in feline clinical practice, is estimated to affect up to one third of the feline population. Moreover, it can trigger chronic inflammation, which could predispose to oxidative stress by increasing reactive oxygen species, thereby generating potentially irreversible cellular damage. This study analyzed hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress profiles at various degrees of feline obesity. Forty-five cats were selected and divided into three groups: control (n = 17), overweight (n = 13) and obese (n = 15), after clinical and laboratory evaluation and body condition score. Biochemical and oxidative stress analyses were performed using a photocolorimeter and hematological analyses were performed in a veterinary cell counter. Obese cats showed increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), HDL cholesterol and triglycerides and decreased activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) than control cats, although within the reference ranges for the species. As for oxidative stress, obese cats showed higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC), by the inhibition of 2,2'-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzthiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid (ABTS), inhibition of ABTS associated with horseradish peroxidase (ABTS + HRP), cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods, while overweight cats had a higher TAC-ABTS + HRP and TAC-FRAP than control cats. We conclude that the conditions of natural obesity and overweight in the feline species alter its hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters.

Assessing owners' readiness to change their behaviour to address their companion animal's obesity.

BACKGROUND: Owner behaviour change in relation to management is critical for successful pet weight loss. The stages of change (SOC) can be used to conceptualise the process of intentional behaviour change. Clients may be more likely to make successful changes when practitioners use communication techniques appropriate for a client's current stage. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess pet owners' SOC in relation to managing the weight of their overweight or obese pet. METHODS: An online questionnaire targeting dog and cat owners was distributed via snowball sampling. A total of 532 questionnaires were included in the analysis. Of these, 153 participants (28.8%) self-identified their pet's body condition score (BCS) as greater than 5 (on a nine-point scale). An adapted University of Rhode Island Change Assessment scale was completed by 119 of these participants (77.8%) to assess their readiness to change related to managing their overweight or obese pet. RESULTS: Most participants were scored in the precontemplation (52.1%) and contemplation (42%) stages, where readiness to change is low. Owner assessments likely resulted in underestimation of pets' BCS. CONCLUSION: The results offer preliminary insight into the SOC of owners who identify their pets as overweight or obese. Developing tools to assess and understand owners' readiness to change may be useful in informing veterinary professionals' communication approaches when engaging in weight management conversations.

Humoral immunity is not altered in overweight pregnant Crioulo mares / Imunidade humoral não é alterada em éguas Crioulas gestantes com sobrepeso

Both pregnancy and obesity can influence significant changes in the immune system. On this basis, the present study proposes to evaluate the humoral immune response of overweight pregnant mares in response to a commercial vaccine. Thirty pregnant Crioulo mares were separated according to body condition score (BCS) into overweight (BCS≥7/9) or lean-control (BCS= 5-6/9). In each group, the animals were subdivided into vaccinated and controls. The mares were vaccinated against EHV-1 in two doses spaced 21 days apart and had their blood collected monthly, for five months, for antibody evaluation. Both vaccinated groups had an increase in specific neutralizing antibodies after the vaccine. However, after the second dose, there was no increase in antibodies in any of the groups. Vaccinated overweight and lean-control mares did not differ at any time point. Therefore, this study demonstrated that obesity does not influence the humoral immune response in pregnant Crioulo mares.(AU)

Tanto a gestação quanto a obesidade podem influenciar o desenvolvimento de alterações significativas no sistema imune, portanto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a resposta imune humoral de éguas gestantes com sobrepeso em resposta a uma vacina comercial. Trinta éguas Crioulas gestantes foram separadas de acordo com o escore de condição corporal (ECC) em éguas com sobrepeso (ECC≥7/9) e éguas controles (ECC=5-6/9) e, ainda, em cada grupo, os animais também foram separados em vacinados e controles. As éguas foram vacinadas contra o EHV-1 em duas doses com intervalo de 21 dias, sendo realizadas coletas de sangue mensalmente durante cinco meses para avaliação de anticorpos neutralizantes. Ambos os grupos vacinados tiveram aumento de anticorpos neutralizantes específicos após a vacina, porém, após a segunda dose, não foi observado aumento de anticorpos em nenhum dos grupos. Nenhuma diferença foi observada entre éguas vacinadas com sobrepeso e as éguas controles em nenhum momento. Assim, este estudo demonstrou que a obesidade não é um fator que influencia a resposta imune humoral de éguas Crioulas gestantes.(AU)

Jog with your dog: Dog owner exercise routines predict dog exercise routines and perception of ideal body weight.

Canine obesity is becoming an increasingly prevalent concern among companion animal veterinarians and professionals alike. A number of sociodemographic, dietary, and exercise related variables have been shown to be predictive of a dog's bodyweight, however, all previous surveys designed to address these variables have been focussed on only one area of the world at a time. The objective of this survey was to investigate how an owner's exercise routine influences their dog's exercise routine and which of the owner's dietary and exercise habits influence their perception of their dog's body weight. The survey included respondents across France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The survey was distributed online via Qualtrics (Qualtrics XM, Utah, USA) and a total of 3,298 responses were collected, equally distributed across country and between sexes. Comparison of column proportions and multinomial logistic regression were performed in SPSS Statistics (Version 26, IBM Corp, North Castle, New York, USA). Respondents from Germany were more likely to exercise their dog for a longer amount of time, rank the importance of exercise as extremely important, report that their dog is an ideal body weight, and were less likely to report that someone (including a veterinarian) had told them their dog was overweight. Results from linear regression revealed that those who had been told their dog was overweight, those who restrict their dog's food intake to control weight, those who select a weight control diet and those who give their dog more other foods (treats, table scraps, fruits/vegetables) on a daily basis were all less likely to believe that their dog is an ideal body weight. In contrast, only those who reported doing more vigorous exercise themselves or those who reported that their dog performs vigorous exercise were more likely to believe that their dog is an ideal body weight. The results highlight owner's perceptions of healthy weight and the role of nutrition and exercise. Owner's intentions and attitudes towards the value of exercise and promoting an ideal body weight in their dog should be explored, but may require a One Health approach to ensure successful weight management among both dogs and their owners.

Recording of body weight and body condition score of cats in electronic health records from UK veterinary practices.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine how frequently body weight, body condition score (BCS) and terms pertaining to weight status are recorded in the electronic health records (EHRs) of veterinary practices in the UK, as well as to examine the variables affecting recording and associated with body weight, where recorded. METHODS: Data recorded in EHRs were searched in two 3-month periods in 2019 and 2020. For each visit, variables including type and time of consultation, signalment, recording of body weight, recording of BCS, weight (kg), BCS value and whether an overweight or weight-loss term was used in free text were recorded. Linear mixed-effects models were created to examine associations between body weight and variables, while mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine associations between the same variables and weight or BCS recording. RESULTS: The statistical data set comprised 129,076 visits from 129,076 cats at 361 practices. Weight was recorded at most (95.2%) visits, BCS was recorded at only 22.5% of visits, and terms associated with weight loss and overweight status were recorded in 10.0% and 7.2% of free-text records, respectively. Where BCS was recorded, approximately one-third of cats had an overweight score (8.0% of total visits). Using either an overweight term (P <0.001) or weight-loss term (P <0.001) was associated with increased odds of body weight being recorded, while being an out-of-hours (P <0.001) or non-routine consultation (P <0.001) were associated with decreased odds. Increasing age (P <0.001), using a weight-loss term (P <0.001) and using an overweight term (P <0.001) were associated with increased odds of BCS being recorded, while being a non-routine consultation (P <0.001) was associated with decreased odds. Recording BCS was negatively associated with recording body weight and vice versa. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Cats are regularly weighed in UK practice, but BCS is less frequently recorded, and both are less often recorded in non-routine consultations. To improve both the treatment and assessment of health and nutrition in cats, veterinary professionals should record body weight and BCS concurrently at every consultation.

The Impact of Optical Impressions on Dog Feeding Practice.

According to the literature, as many as 60% of domestic dogs are overweight, whereby obesity is implicated in many serious diseases and hence a reduction of body weight results in a reduced risk of disease. Approximately 32% of reduction diets are unsuccessful in helping dogs to reach their ideal body weight. The likely reasons for this high drop-out rate include, among others, the fear of increased hunger-induced distress or a loss of affection on the part of the pet towards the owner. To alleviate these apprehensions, the use of optical effects that increase the perceived food intake could be useful. To investigate this, a mixed-methods study design was applied and 100 test persons-including dog owners and non-owners-were instructed to fill up 11 separate dog bowls with the same amount of dogfood. The bowls varied in 5 different variables (total height, upper diameter, angulation of sidewall, volume, and color). The influence of the shape and color of the dog bowls in relation to the filling quantity was evaluated. Overall, the body of the inner food bowl-especially its diameter and shape-showed a significant impact on the feeder as the wider the diameter, the more the dog bowl was filled. Moreover, the flatter the sidewall was angulated, the larger the fill-up quantity. Significantly, the volume on its own did not have a significant impact on the feeder. A difference of up to 37.6% in fill quantity resulted depending on the type of dog bowl used. Furthermore, the use of inner cones confused the test persons whereas different colors and the total height of the bowl showed no impact. Dog bowls with a small upper diameter and a steep sidewall-regardless of volume and color-were filled less by the test persons. This tendency could be useful for adapting the feeding of overweight dogs or those with an increased risk of obesity.