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 on owner reporting.Objectives. To examine the prevalence and risk factors predictive of equine obesity at both the end of winter and the end of summer, in a domestic population of leisure horses with daily access to pasture. Using validated body condition scoring methods and a single, trained observer.Methods. Body condition and belly girth measurements were taken at the end of winter and during the summer in a population of leisure horses (n = 96) with outdoor pasture access for ≥6 h per day. Risk factor information was obtained by two owner questionnaires and analysed statistically using a mixed effects logistic regression model. The dependent variable was obese (BCS ≥ 7/9) or non-obese (BCS < 7/9). Risk factors associated with seasonal change in belly girth were also explored using a mixed effects linear regression model.Results. Obesity prevalence rose significantly from 27.08% at the end of winter to 35.41% during summer (p < 0.001). Breed was the risk factor most strongly associated with obesity (p < 0.001). Supplementary feed was not a strong predictor and there was no association with low intensity structured exercise. As winter BCS increased, the percentage seasonal change in belly girth decreased.Conclusions. Obesity prevalence differed between winter and summer in domestic equines. Supplementary feed and low intensity structured exercise in equines living outdoors for ≥6 h per day had limited or no effect on obesity levels. Seasonal variation in body condition was lower in obese equines.Potential relevance. It is important to consider season when studying equine obesity and obesity-associated disorders. Risk factor analysis suggests preventative measures may need to be breed specific. The metabolic implications of a lessened seasonal change in body condition in obese animals, warrants investigation.

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Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes in a population of dogs with negative-pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) and to identify the main causes of the disease. To evaluate any associations with morbidity and mortality.Design: Retrospective study.Setting: Three university teaching hospitals and two private referral centers.Animals: Thirty-five client-owned dogs presented with NPPE. Interventions: NoneMeasurements and Main Results: Data collected included patient characteristics, clinical history, clinicopathological abnormalities, radiographic features, treatments and outcome. Median age was 4 months (range 2-90) and median weight was 7.1 kg (range 1.7-37.2). There were many causes of NPPE including leash tugs, near hanging, accidental choking, anatomical obstruction to airflow and purposeful airway obstruction by people. The most common cause of NPPE was accidental choking (40% of cases). Dogs with an anatomical obstruction were older than 24 months. Hypoxemia with an increased alveolar-arterial gradient was common on presentation. The majority of thoracic radiographs (65.7%) showed an alveolar or interstitial pattern in the caudodorsal area as previously described in the literature. Oxygen therapy was administered to 33 (94.3%) dogs. Furosemide was administered to 18 (51.4%) dogs. Median length of hospitalization was 2 days (range 0-14). Twenty-eight (80%) dogs survived to discharge. Seven dogs were mechanically ventilated and only 2 of them (28.6%) 2 survived to discharge. Requirement for mechanical ventilation (p<0.001) was the only parameter associated with mortality.Conclusions: Most cases of NPPE occur in juvenile dogs. Different incidents associated with upper airway obstruction can produce an episode of NPPE.Choking on food or toys and near hanging have not been previously described in the veterinary literature as inciting causes of NPPE. The overall prognosis is good.

BackgroundNuchal crest adiposity in horses and ponies has been associated with an enhanced risk of metabolic health problems. However, there is no current information on the prevalence of, and risk factors specific to, nuchal crest adiposity in horses and ponies. In addition, the cresty neck score has not previously been utilised across different seasons within a UK leisure population, it is not know whether nuchal crest adiposity shows the same seasonal trends as general obesity.ResultsA Cresty Neck Score (CNS, 0–5) was given to 96 horses with access to pasture (>6 h per day) at the end of winter and at the end of summer in order to obtain two prevalence estimates. Risk factors were assessed using the single outcome cresty neck/no cresty neck in either season (binary), from owner questionnaires and analysed using a mixed effects logistic regression model (outcome variable CNS <3 or CNS ≥3/5). Agreement between winter and summer scores was assessed using weighted Kappa methods.Winter CNS values were significantly higher than summer CNS values (p = 0.002) indicating a systematic bias. The prevalence of a CNS ≥ 3/5 was 45.83% at the end of winter, falling to 33.33% at the end of summer and was higher in ponies (<14.2 hh) than horses (≥14.2 hh) in both seasons. This may reflect a real winter increase in regional fat deposition, or an increased difficulty in obtaining an accurate estimate of regional adiposity in winter months. Breed was the strongest risk factor for CNS ≥3/5 in both seasons, with native UK breeds appearing to be most at risk (p < 0.001). In a separate, small validation study, the CNS showed good inter-observer reliability.ConclusionsThe prevalence of a CNS ≥3/5 was higher at the end of winter than at the end of summer, which was the opposite pattern seasonal variation to that observed for general obesity. Further studies are required to investigate the potential influence of time of year upon CNS interpretation and studies utilising the CNS should consider potential seasonal variability in nuchal crest adiposity.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0327-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that intravenous infusion of lipid would bring about changes in adipose tissue metabolism, which would tend to spare net fat mobilization, and to attempt to identify the mediators of such responses. DESIGN: The triacylglycerol (TG) emulsion, Intralipid, was infused and metablic changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue and forearm muscle were assessed by measurements of arterio-venous differences. SUBJECTS: Six normal male subjects aged 21 ± 37 y, with body mass index (BMI) 23.0 ± 25.9 kgam 2 . RESULTS: Plasma TG and non-esteri®ed fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations rose during infusion as expected. The rise in systemic plasma NEFA concentration occurred despite decreased NEFA release from adipose tissue. Intralipid infusion resulted in a suppression of intracellular lipolysis in adipose tissue, by mechanisms which are not clear. Plasma leptin concentrations, measured in a search for the regulator of lipolysis, showed consistent leptin release from adipose tissue which did not change signi®cantly with time. CONCLUSION: The suppression of intracellular lipolysis in adipose tissue during Intralipid infusion is a new observation and may re¯ect a novel mechanism for regulation of fat storage.

1. The suggestion that the interstitial glycerol concentration in both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle is around 3 mmol/I (Maggs DG, Jacob R, Rife F, et al. J Clin Invest 1995; 96: 370-7), rather than close to the blood concentration as previously supposed, was tested by independent methods. 2. Free glycerol was infused, as part of a triacylglycerol emulsion, into six normal subjects and the arteriovenous difference for glycerol across the forearm was measured. In addition the relative interstitial glycerol concentration in subcutaneous adipose tissue was assessed simultaneously in four of the subjects by microdialysis. 3. During glycerol infusion the arterialized glycerol concentration rose from 52 +/- 5 mumol/I to 250-300 mumol/I (P < 0.001) in a square wave fashion. The net arteriovenous difference for glycerol across the forearm changed from negative (output) to positive (uptake) (P < 0.01). In subcutaneous adipose tissue the interstitial glycerol concentration rose during glycerol infusion (P < 0.001). 4. These observations are most easily explained by the movement of glycerol from plasma to interstitial fluid down a concentration gradient. We conclude that the interstitial glycerol concentration in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue is closer to the arterial concentration than to 3 mmol/I.

HighlightsBody condition was associated with dominance rank.Food-dominant animals were more likely to be in the obese body condition category.Association of dominance and body condition was independent of age and height.Animals of an intermediate age were more likely to have a higher dominance rank.Herds more similar in height and age were more interactive.

Individual animals experience different costs and benefits associated with group living, which may impact on their foraging efficiency in ways not yet well specified. This study investigated associations between social dominance, body condition and interruptions to foraging behaviour in a cross-sectional study of 116 domestic horses and ponies, kept in 20 discrete herds. Social dominance was measured for each individual alongside observations of winter foraging behaviour. During bouts of foraging, the duration, frequency and category (vigilance, movement, social displacements given and received, scratching and startle responses) of interruptions were recorded, with total interruption time taken as a proxy measure of foraging efficiency. Total foraging time was not influenced by body condition or social dominance. Body condition was associated with social dominance, but more strongly associated with foraging efficiency. Specifically, lower body condition was associated with greater vigilance. This demonstrates that factors other than social dominance can result in stable differences in winter body condition.