English
French
Use of body condition scores in clinical assessment of the provision of optimal nutrition.
Abstract: No abstract available
Publication Date: 2000-09-08 PubMed ID: 10976293DOI: 10.2460/javma.2000.217.650Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research paper focuses on the use of Body Condition Scores (BCS) to determine whether an animal is receiving optimal nutrition, and how various factors – such as production goals, diseases, and physical conditions can impact this.
Understanding Optimal Nutrition
- The idea of providing optimal nutrition has been supported by diet manufacturers and nutritionists for a long time. This involves providing a balanced diet to animals considering the desired outcome or activity for each animal.
- As an example, the nutritional requirements for an animal exerting maximum effort for a short duration will be different from that of an animal exerting less than maximum effort but for a longer period under challenging conditions.
- Also, the focus of nutrition can vary between a rapid growth rate or production versus more moderate growth with lowered disease risk.
- Specific diseases or conditions can also influence the optimal nutrient profile and feeding strategy for an animal.
Body Condition Score (BCS)
- Whether or not optimal nutrition is being achieved is often measured by the specific performance goal. However, many times a preliminary or intermediate evaluation is needed.
- In these cases, the BCS can be an effective measure. BCS is a method used to evaluate body fat and muscle conditions.
- The research talks about the use of integer scales to score the conditions, the scores can range from a simple three-category assessment to more complex 9-integer scale divided to 0.1 units, and up to as robust as 41 divisions for a detail profiling.
Role of Scoring System in Assessing Body Condition
- The integer scores are assigned based on various characteristics of the animal, either palpable, visual or both. These characteristics can relate to different parts of the body.
- For animals with a long hair length that obscures subcutaneous fat and superficial musculature, palpable characteristics are used.
- Short-haired species can also have palpable characteristics incorporated into their BCS protocols, and special protocols have been proposed for species where the observation of subcutaneous fat and superficial musculature is obscured by their coats.
Observations from BCS
- Generally, animals with a mid-range BCS will have superficial bony prominences that are easily palpated but not visible. As the BCS increases or decreases, these bony prominences become either less palpable or more visible.
Cite This Article
APA
Burkholder WJ.
(2000).
Use of body condition scores in clinical assessment of the provision of optimal nutrition.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 217(5), 650-654.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.217.650 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4474, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic / anatomy & histology
- Animals, Domestic / physiology
- Body Constitution / physiology
- Cats
- Cattle
- Dogs
- Health Status
- Horses
- Nutrition Assessment
Citations
This article has been cited 26 times.- Gille S, Fischer H, Lindu00e5se S, Palmqvist L, Lu00e4rka J, Wolf S, Penell J, Su00f6der J. Dog Owners' Perceptions of Canine Body Composition and Effect of Standardized Education for Dog Owners on Body Condition Assessment of Their Own Dogs.. Vet Sci 2023 Jul 8;10(7).
- Del Chicca F, Richter H, Mu00fcller HP, Kassubek J. MRI-based quantification of adipose tissue distribution in healthy adult cats during body weight gain.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1150085.
- Harvey AM, Beausoleil NJ, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Mental Experiences in Wild Animals: Scientifically Validating Measurable Welfare Indicators in Free-Roaming Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 28;13(9).
- Montoya M, Morrison JA, Arrignon F, Spofford N, Charles H, Hours MA, Biourge V. Life expectancy tables for dogs and cats derived from clinical data.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1082102.
- Vieira AB, Restrepo MA, Auzenne D, Molina K, O'Sullivan M, Machado MV, Cavanaugh SM. Mild to moderate overweight in dogs: is there an impact on routine hematological and biochemical profiles, echocardiographic parameters and cardiac autonomic modulation?. Vet Res Commun 2022 Jun;46(2):527-535.
- Macedo HT, Rentas MF, Vendramini THA, Macegoza MV, Amaral AR, Jeremias JT, de Carvalho Balieiro JC, Pfrimer K, Ferriolli E, Pontieri CFF, Brunetto MA. Weight-loss in obese dogs promotes important shifts in fecal microbiota profile to the extent of resembling microbiota of lean dogs.. Anim Microbiome 2022 Jan 6;4(1):6.
- Arena L, Menchetti L, Diverio S, Guardini G, Gazzano A, Mariti C. Overweight in Domestic Cats Living in Urban Areas of Italy: Risk Factors for an Emerging Welfare Issue.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 30;11(8).
- Teixeira FA, Queiroz MR, Oba PM, Olivindo RFG, Ernandes MC, Duarte CN, Rentas MF, Brunetto MA. Brazilian owners perception of the body condition score of dogs and cats.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Nov 27;16(1):463.
- Shirane Y, Mori F, Yamanaka M, Nakanishi M, Ishinazaka T, Mano T, Jimbo M, Sashika M, Tsubota T, Shimozuru M. Development of a noninvasive photograph-based method for the evaluation of body condition in free-ranging brown bears.. PeerJ 2020;8:e9982.
- Vojtkovsku00e1 V, Voslu00e1u0159ovu00e1 E, Veu010derek V. Methods of Assessment of the Welfare of Shelter Cats: A Review.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 28;10(9).
- Herwijnen IRV, Corbee RJ, Endenburg N, Beerda B, Borg JAMV. Permissive parenting of the dog associates with dog overweight in a survey among 2,303 Dutch dog owners.. PLoS One 2020;15(8):e0237429.
- Carlin E, Teren G, Ganswindt A. Non-Invasive Assessment of Body Condition and Stress-Related Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Concentrations in African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) Roaming in Fynbos Vegetation.. Animals (Basel) 2020 May 8;10(5).
- Lin YC, Mullan S, Main DCJ. Use of welfare outcome information in three types of dairy farm inspection reports.. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2018 Sep;31(9):1525-1534.
- Risso AL, Pellegrino FJ, Corrada Y, Marmunti M, Gavazza M, Palacios A, Relling AE. Effect of fish oil and vitamin E on sperm lipid peroxidation in dogs.. J Nutr Sci 2017;6:e48.
- Pokharel SS, Seshagiri PB, Sukumar R. Assessment of season-dependent body condition scores in relation to faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in free-ranging Asian elephants.. Conserv Physiol 2017;5(1):cox039.
- Payan-Carreira R, Martins L, Miranda S, Olivu00e9rio P, Silva SR. In vivo assessment of subcutaneous fat in dogs by real-time ultrasonography and image analysis.. Acta Vet Scand 2016 Oct 20;58(Suppl 1):58.
- Risso A, Pellegrino FJ, Relling AE, Corrada Y. Effect of Long-Term Fish Oil Supplementation on Semen Quality and Serum Testosterone Concentrations in Male Dogs.. Int J Fertil Steril 2016 Jul-Sep;10(2):223-31.
- Morfeld KA, Meehan CL, Hogan JN, Brown JL. Assessment of Body Condition in African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) Elephants in North American Zoos and Management Practices Associated with High Body Condition Scores.. PLoS One 2016;11(7):e0155146.
- Tamura J, Hatakeyama N, Ishizuka T, Itami T, Fukui S, Miyoshi K, Sano T, Pasloske K, Yamashita K. The pharmacological effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone combined with medetomidine and butorphanol in dogs.. J Vet Med Sci 2016 Jul 1;78(6):929-36.
- Spofford N, Mougeot I, Elliott DA, Addleman A, Lefebvre SL, Wang M, Yang M, Feugier A, Biourge V, Lund EM. A moderate fat, low-energy dry expanded diet reduces gain in body condition score when fed as part of a post neutering weight-control regimen in growing pet cats.. J Nutr Sci 2014;3:e40.
- Thengchaisri N, Theerapun W, Kaewmokul S, Sastravaha A. Abdominal obesity is associated with heart disease in dogs.. BMC Vet Res 2014 Jun 13;10:131.
- Morfeld KA, Lehnhardt J, Alligood C, Bolling J, Brown JL. Development of a body condition scoring index for female African elephants validated by ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous fat.. PLoS One 2014;9(4):e93802.
- Vanwormer E, Conrad PA, Miller MA, Melli AC, Carpenter TE, Mazet JA. Toxoplasma gondii, source to sea: higher contribution of domestic felids to terrestrial parasite loading despite lower infection prevalence.. Ecohealth 2013 Sep;10(3):277-89.
- Bukar MM, Yusoff R, Haron AW, Dhaliwal GK, Khan MA, Omar MA. Estrus response and follicular development in Boer does synchronized with flugestone acetate and PGF2u03b1 or their combination with eCG or FSH.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2012 Oct;44(7):1505-11.
- Clingerman KJ, Summers L. Validation of a body condition scoring system in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): inter- and intrarater variability.. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2012 Jan;51(1):31-6.
- Choi SY, Hwang JS, Kim IH, Hwang DY, Kang HG. Basic data on the hematology, serum biochemistry, urology, and organ weights of beagle dogs.. Lab Anim Res 2011 Dec;27(4):283-91.
Secure Payments
Satisfaction Guarantee
We offer a 60-day guarantee to ensure you are completely satisfied.
Fast & Free Shipping
We provide fast and free shipping on all orders over $40.