Effect of Age, Breed, Sex, Reproductive Status, Body Size, and Five-Point Body Condition Score on Body Fat Percentage of Dogs Calculated Using Morphometrics

There are many canine body fat percentage assessment methods available including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), deuterium oxide method (D2O), computed tomography and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. These methods are technically sophisticated and therefore have limited practical utilities. The calculation of body fat percentage of dogs using morphometrics is a simple and inexpensive method. However, the interference of signalment of dogs in assessing body fat percentage using morphometrics remains unknown. This study was carried out to determine whether the body fat percentage of dogs calculated using morphometrics is affected by age, breed, sex, reproductive status, body size, and the five-point body condition score (BCS). The body fat percentage determined by morphometrics in 129 small, mediums and large size dogs was correlated with multiple signalment criteria. Body fat percentage poorly correlated with age, sex, reproductive status, body size, and breed. However, there was a significant correlation between body fat percentage and BCS (rho=0.81, p=<0.001). In addition, the variability of body fat percentage between dogs was best explained by the variation of BCS (R2 =0.747, F=316.7, p=<0.001). The results suggest that body fat percentage calculated using morphometrics can be reliably used in medium to large size dogs above or at the age of 6 months upto14 years irrespective of sex or reproductive status. Further, the present findings suggest that body fat percentage calculated using morphometrics which significantly correlates with the five-point BCS is an easy and cost-effective tool to identify dogs deviating from ideal body condition.