Objective measurements of skinfold thickness with a caliper show a significant relationship to total body fat percentage in dogs.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

New clinical evaluation methods for estimation of total body fat percentage (BF%) in dogs are needed. The methods should be objective and reliable for accurate assessment of body composition status and to improve prevention and treatment of obesity. The aims of the study were therefore to investigate the intra- and inter-observer reliability of objective measurements of skinfold thickness with a caliper and to explore the relationship of skinfold thickness to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) BF% in dogs.

Methods

Twenty-three carcasses of dogs euthanatized for reasons unrelated to the study were evaluated for body condition score (BCS), bodyweight, skinfold thickness, and DEXA BF%. The results from the latter were taken as gold standard for BF% measurement. T

SUBMITTER: Soder J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12463608 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature