FATORES QUE PREDISPÕE A OBESIDADE EM CÃES E A INFLUÊNCIA DO TUTOR

The objective of this study was to observe the relationships between overweight and obesity of dogs attended at the University Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Maria, with the physical conditions of the animals, biochemical parameters of the blood and characteristics of the feeding through a case study and bibliographic review. Twenty dogs were overweight or obese, being eleven females and nine males. Of these, eleven were not castrated, but were of breeds predisposed to weight gain and most were older than five years. However, the diet provided and the way it is provided has been shown to be a limiting factor for obesity. The factors age, race, feeding, diet composition, palatability and lifestyle are responsible for the weight gain of not castrated animals of both sexes. Prevention by the dog owner through feeding is the most effective way of not letting the animal become obese.