Association between Birth Weight and Subcutaneous Fat Thickness at Adulthood in Dogs.

Overweight affects nearly 40% of dogs. The objective of this study was to explore the hypothesis of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease through the association between birth weight and adiposity in adult dogs. The association between body condition score (BCS) and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), measured in the flanks, abdomen and lumbar regions, was assessed in a population 88 adult Labradors (>1 year).

Association between birth weight and risk of overweight at adulthood in Labrador dogs.

Several studies in humans indicate that low birth weight predisposes individuals to obesity in later life. Despite the constant increase in prevalence of obesity in the canine population and the major health consequences of this affection, few investigations have been carried out on the association between birth weight and the development of overweight in dogs. The purpose of the current study was to examine the association between birth weight and some other neonatal characteristics and overweight at adulthood in a population of purebred Labrador dogs.