Obesity prevalence and associated risk factors in outdoor living domestic horses and ponies.

ABSTRACT: Reasons for performing study. The prevalence of obesity in companion animals, including horses and ponies has risen drastically in recent years and risk factors have been little investigated. Horses are unique amongst companion animals in that many are outdoor-living and forage independently on pasture; they also have a dual utility and companionship role. The body condition of wild and free-living equines is known to vary seasonally, yet previous estimates of the prevalence of obesity and associated risk factors in domestic animals do not consider this. Most previous studies were conducted during the summer months when pasture quality is greater and obesity prevalence is likely to be highest. In addition, many previous estimates do not use validated body condition scoring methods and rely

SUBMITTER: Giles SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3970797 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature