Prevalência e caracterização da obesidade em gatos domiciliados no município de Pelotas- RS

Abstract

Obesity is a metabolic disease with multifactorial characteristics, which is caused by the accumulation of adipose tissue in the animal's body, which results in a chronic inflammatory process, causing several changes at the cellular, hormonal and immunological level, and which predisposes other diseases. This work aimed to estimate the prevalence and determine potential risk factors for feline obesity. To this end, interviews whith owners of, 87 cats domiciled in the city of Pelotas-RS were carried out, using a questionnaire administered at home by two veterinarians. Topics were covered about the guardian and cat’s eating habits, the guardian/animal relationship, the environment in which they lived, the felines behavior and their general health. For the statistical analysis, we proceeded with the prevalence estimate analysis, the chi-square test and regression analysis were used. According to prevalence analyses, in 30 homes visited and 87 cats evaluated, 54% animals were found to be overweight, according to the visual perception of their owners. The prevalence was higher in castrated animals. Regarding cat care, there was an association between the body condition score (BCS) and the frequency with which the animals were assisted by the veterinarian (p=0.001), as well as feeding frequency (p=0.026) and provision of snacks (p=0.001). There was a predominance of mixed breed cats (SRD) 95.4%, aged 1-12 years (97.7%). It is important to point out that, when carrying out the BCS through the descriptive scale, the owner does not notice certain behaviors in the development of obesity. Some of the risk factors and causes of obesity were verified in the management relationship with the owner, such as the supply of food, especially in quantities beyond what is necessary, excess snacks and sedentary lifestyle of cats. What highlights the importance of this work is that there are no reports of similar studies in the city of Pelotas.