Oxidative stress in obese dogs evaluated at the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science - Unesp, Botucatu

Abstract

Obesity is frequent in dogs and causes concern in the medical and scientific environment. Its occurrence reduces quality of life, decreases life expectancy, and is associated with several comorbidities. Oxidative stress is linked to the development of obesity comorbidities. Although this relationship is well described in humans, with a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and oxidative stress markers, it is poorly described in dogs. Thus, this study aims to evaluate oxidative stress and correlate it with physical examination, morphometric measures, heart rate and laboratory abnormalities in obese and control (ideal body score) dogs. Thirty healthy dogs with normal body condition score (BCS) and apparently obese individuals will be studied in the routine of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science School- UNESP, Botucatu, SP, in the period between May and December 2018. The animals will be allocated into groups according to BCS: Obese Group (n = 15): obese animals with BCS 8-9 on the 9-point scale; Control group (n = 15): animals in normal body condition, with BCS 4-5 on the 9-point scale. Will be evaluated: oxidative stress through the tests - Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) and Myeloperoxidase Assay (MPO); physical examination (systolic blood pressure and general physical examination); body weight, BCS and morphometric measures for body scoring (BMI); computerized electrocardiography to determine heart rate; laboratory parameters such as lipid profile (total cholesterol and triglycerides), renal function (serum urea and creatinine) and liver profile (serum glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) enzymes). Nutritional assessment and the level and frequency of dog physical activity will be determined by the dog tutor. A comparison of the data obtained between the two groups and the correlation of the oxidative stress data with the other parameters will be performed.