The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation
Managing pet obesity relies heavily on the active involvement of owners; however, a key challenge arises from misperceptions about their own pet’s body condition. Given evolving societal dynamics like the body positivity movement, understanding owners’ perceptions is increasingly pivotal. To evaluat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3646 |
| _version_ | 1797400512677543936 |
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| author | Tiphaine Blanchard Sara Hoummady Damien Banuls Mélanie Roche Aurélie Bynens Michel Meunier Natalia Dos Santos Emna Tissaoui Pétra Rouch-Buck Marco Fantinati Nathalie Priymenko |
| author_facet | Tiphaine Blanchard Sara Hoummady Damien Banuls Mélanie Roche Aurélie Bynens Michel Meunier Natalia Dos Santos Emna Tissaoui Pétra Rouch-Buck Marco Fantinati Nathalie Priymenko |
| author_sort | Tiphaine Blanchard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Managing pet obesity relies heavily on the active involvement of owners; however, a key challenge arises from misperceptions about their own pet’s body condition. Given evolving societal dynamics like the body positivity movement, understanding owners’ perceptions is increasingly pivotal. To evaluate the differences in owners’ perception, this study compared the use of verbal and visual body condition score scales versus the established nine-point body condition score system. The factors linked to underestimation were further specifically investigated. Owners of healthy adult dogs and cats attending vaccination consultations in Veterinary Hospitals in France between 2020 and 2022 were recruited. They were required to assess their pets’ body condition initially using an oral description and then with the nine-point BCS visual scale. Their assessments were then compared with the BCS determined by veterinary health care personnel, considered the primary investigator. A total of 304 dogs and 270 cats were included in the study. It was observed that 27% of dog owners and 24% of cat owners underestimated their pets’ body condition. Among dog and cat owners, factors associated with the underestimation of body condition were the pets’ overweight status and having children. This discovery emphasizes the need for a holistic One Health approach that prioritizes the health and well-being of both humans and their pets. When it comes to pet owners evaluating their pets’ body condition, underestimation proved to be the predominant misperception. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive education to empower owners to recognize and comprehend their pets’ overweight status, a critical step for the overall well-being of companion animals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:55:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4515cbd30c6f4a898b2e71ac55b6c988 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:55:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-4515cbd30c6f4a898b2e71ac55b6c9882023-12-08T15:10:33ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-11-011323364610.3390/ani13233646The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing UnderestimationTiphaine Blanchard0Sara Hoummady1Damien Banuls2Mélanie Roche3Aurélie Bynens4Michel Meunier5Natalia Dos Santos6Emna Tissaoui7Pétra Rouch-Buck8Marco Fantinati9Nathalie Priymenko10Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, FranceFédération des Fabricants d’Aliments pour Chiens, Chats, Oiseaux et autres animaux familiers, FACCO, 75010 Paris, FranceHill’s Pet Nutrition France, 06560 Valbonne, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, FranceHill’s Pet Nutrition France, 06560 Valbonne, FranceEcole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, FranceManaging pet obesity relies heavily on the active involvement of owners; however, a key challenge arises from misperceptions about their own pet’s body condition. Given evolving societal dynamics like the body positivity movement, understanding owners’ perceptions is increasingly pivotal. To evaluate the differences in owners’ perception, this study compared the use of verbal and visual body condition score scales versus the established nine-point body condition score system. The factors linked to underestimation were further specifically investigated. Owners of healthy adult dogs and cats attending vaccination consultations in Veterinary Hospitals in France between 2020 and 2022 were recruited. They were required to assess their pets’ body condition initially using an oral description and then with the nine-point BCS visual scale. Their assessments were then compared with the BCS determined by veterinary health care personnel, considered the primary investigator. A total of 304 dogs and 270 cats were included in the study. It was observed that 27% of dog owners and 24% of cat owners underestimated their pets’ body condition. Among dog and cat owners, factors associated with the underestimation of body condition were the pets’ overweight status and having children. This discovery emphasizes the need for a holistic One Health approach that prioritizes the health and well-being of both humans and their pets. When it comes to pet owners evaluating their pets’ body condition, underestimation proved to be the predominant misperception. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive education to empower owners to recognize and comprehend their pets’ overweight status, a critical step for the overall well-being of companion animals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3646caninefelineobesityoverweightownerperception |
| spellingShingle | Tiphaine Blanchard Sara Hoummady Damien Banuls Mélanie Roche Aurélie Bynens Michel Meunier Natalia Dos Santos Emna Tissaoui Pétra Rouch-Buck Marco Fantinati Nathalie Priymenko The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation Animals canine feline obesity overweight owner perception |
| title | The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation |
| title_full | The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation |
| title_fullStr | The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation |
| title_short | The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation |
| title_sort | perception of the body condition of cats and dogs by french pet owners and the factors influencing underestimation |
| topic | canine feline obesity overweight owner perception |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3646 |
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