A Study on Body Condition Score, Health and Disease Management of Pet Animals in Dhaka City.

Abstract

Body condition scoring is intended as a standardized assessment of whether the animals are undernourished, over-nourished or have the optimum body weight based on a scale between 1 to 5 or 1 to 9, where 1 is emaciated and 5 or 9 as grossly overweight. This method requires palpation of the animals, wherein many veterinarians admit that assessing an animal′s body condition score is rather subjective. Body condition Score (BCS) has been determined by physical examination of the pet. The body parts and region which have been subjected to assess body condition score are ribs, waist, abdomen, neck, limbs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones, all bony prominences, thorax, spine, base of the tail, muscle mass. Body condition score (BCS) is a common method to evaluate the body fat mass in animals. By palpating and observing fats under the skin it is possible to predict animal’s body fat accumulation condition. BCS is also a useful tool to estimate body fat composition in pet. It gives an idea of energy reserves in an animal body and estimated energy required to function the physiology of the body. The purpose of the study is to correlate the BCS of pet with some of the parameters associated with it like body weight, feeding amount, feeding frequency, watering amount, watering frequency, defecation frequency, urination frequency, sleeping area, roaming area, disease recovery time, exercise duration and exercise frequency. This study unearth that the parameters mentioned above affect body condition score more or less. Body condition score represents a pet’s physical as well as mental health. This study indicate that about 17.5% pet animals are obese. It is suggested not to reach obesity rather maintain a BCS called “good”. Overweight and obesity induce serious health problems that exert negative effects on pet’s welfare. Nowadays one of the main complications of obesity found in pet animal (especially in cat) is diabetes mellitus. To prevent this disease a pet owner is suggested to maintain the standard body condition status by following a balanced diet as per requirement of nutrition considering the age, weight and activity of the pet.