Diagnostic and therapeutic measures for the obesity of small pets

For animals, obesity is a real and growing threat, about 40—59 % of domestic dogs are overweight, and similar statistics are observed in domestic cats. These numbers have increased in recent years, and practicing veterinarians confidently assert that obesity is an increasingly serious problem among their patients. The aim of the work is to analyze the clinical manifestations, diagnostic and therapeutic measures for obese dogs and cats. The research work was carried out at the Department of Internal Non-infectious Diseases of farm animals and the veterinary clinic of the Northern Trans-Urals State Agrarian University. During the research period, 11,764 animals were admitted to the clinic, of which 4,074 (34,6 %) animals were diagnosed with obesity, including 2,319 cats and 1,755 dogs (56,9 and 43,1 % of cases, respectively). Uncontrolled feeding was found to be the main cause of overweight (73,4 % of cases). A significant risk of weight gain was noted in Labrador dogs (44,9 % of cases), in Scottish and British cats (34,6 % and 32,1 %, respectively). Of the concomitant diseases associated with obesity, pathologies of the digestive system took the leading place (42,4 %), diseases of the urinary, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems were less common (20,2 %, 10,1 %, and 9,8 %, respectively). Higher therapeutic efficacy was established when using the 1st treatment regimen: dogs lost an average of 2,5—3 kg (16,2 %) after 6 months, chest circumference decreased by 13 cm, and pelvic limb index by 6 cm, body fat, respectively, by 14,9 %, body condition 5/9 points. The cats lost an average of 2 kg (23,5 %), the chest circumference decreased by 7 cm, and the pelvic limb index by 3 cm, body fat was estimated at 14,9 %, and body condition was 6/9 points. When applying the 2nd treatment regimen, dogs lost an average of 1,5 kg (6,9 %) after 6 months, the chest circumference decreased by 8 cm, and the pelvic limb index by 4,5 cm, body fat was 19,8 %, and body condition was 7/9 points. The cats lost an average of 1,6—1,8 kg (18,6 %), chest circumference decreased by 5 cm, and pelvic limb index by 3 cm, body fat was estimated at 18,9 %, body condition 7/9 points.

1. Buinosova, A. A. Monitoring of therapeutic measures in geriatric patients of the Vetkom clinic / A. A. Buinosova, K. A. Sidorova // Agrarian science in the context of time: Proceedings of the LX International scientific and practical conference of students, postgraduates and young scientists, Tyumen, March 12, 2025. Tyumen: State Agrarian University of the Northern Urals, 2025, pp. 79-82.

2. Sychevskaya, A. S. Analysis of the spread of hip joint anomalies in dogs / A. S. Sychevskaya, Ya. A. Kabitskaya // Agrarian science in the context of time: Proceedings of the LX international scientific and practical conference of students, postgraduates and young scientists, Tyumen, March 12, 2025. Tyumen: State Agrarian University of the Northern Urals, 2025, pp. 81—85.

3. Zakharova, K. V. The state of the sled dog body when using energy supplements / K. V. Zakharova, V. V. Pautova // Agrarian science in the context of time: Proceedings of the LX International Scientific and practical conference of students, postgraduates and young scientists, Tyumen, March 12, 2025. Tyumen: State Agrarian University of the Northern Urals, 2025, pp. 83-90.

4. Zakharova, K. V. The physiological basis of nutrition of sports dogs / K. V. Zakharova, K. A. Sidorova // Current issues of modern morphology, physiology and pathology: Proceedings of the national (All—Russian) conference dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Tyumen, November 14—15, 2024. Tyumen: State Agrarian University of the Northern Urals, 2024, pp. 78—84.

5. On the issue of diagnostic measures for pathologies of the digestive system / O. A. Buchelnikova, K. A. Sidorova, O. A. Dragich, E. A. Levenskikh // Eurasian space: economics, law, society. — 2024. — No. 3. — pp. 100—103.

6. Dragich, O. A. Safety of products of biological origin: Textbook / O. A. Dragich, N. A. Cheremenina, K. A. Sidorova. Tyumen: State Agrarian University of the Northern Urals, 2023. 184 p. ISBN 978-5-98346-150-5.

7. Smolin, S. G. Physiology and ethology of animals: a textbook for universities / S. G. Smolin. — 4th edition, stereotypical. — Saint Petersburg: Lan, 2023. — 628 p. — ISBN 978–5–507–47087–7.

8. Pautova, V. V. Diagnostic and therapeutic measures for dog obesity / V. V. Pautova, K. A. Sidorova // Agrarian science in agriculture: from ideas to implementation: Proceedings of the international scientific and practical conference, Tyumen, 08—09 November 2023. Tyumen: State Agrarian University of the Northern Urals, 2023, pp. 116—122.

9. Minges, R. E. Obesity in dogs and cats / R. E. Menkes; translated from English by O. S. Artyukhina; edited by E. A. Polyakov, L. V. Nikolaeva. — Moscow: Aquarium-Print, 2020. — 136 p. — (Practice of a veterinarian). — ISBN 978-5-4238-0365-0.

10. Gracheva, O. A. Animal nutrition. Terminological reference book: A textbook for universities / O. A. Gracheva, D. M. Mukhutdinova, Z. M. Zukhrabova. Saint Petersburg: Lan Publishing House, 2023. 72 p. (Higher education). — ISBN 978–5–507–46120–2.