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Obese dogs have been shown to have a diminished quality of life; however, there is less evidence characterizing the impact of obesity on the quality of life of cats. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among cat owners with either healthy weight cats (body condition scores of 4–5/9) or obese cats (body condition scores of 8–9/9) as determined by a veterinarian. Exclusion criteria included medical conditions (determined by physical exam and screening bloodwork). Cat owners completed surveys on quality of life and perceptions of feline obesity. Quality of life scores for obese cats had a wider range and were numerically lower compared to scores of healthy weight cats with a moderate effect size of 0.68, though this was not a statistically significant difference (71.2 ± 8.8 vs. 75.9 ± 4.1, p = 0.0881; n = 33). Owners of obese cats less frequently reported that obesity was a high risk to their cat’s health (77% [10/13]) vs. 100% [20/20]) and less frequently cited the primary caretaker as a cause of cat obesity (30% [3/10] vs. 55% [11/20]) compared to the owners of healthy weight cats. Interestingly, 97% (32/33) of all owners believed veterinarians should play a role in feline weight loss. These results suggest that some obese cats can have a potentially diminished quality of life but highlights the need for more data surrounding the impact of feline obesity and enhanced client communication strategies to best address obesity in the feline population.

Background and Aim: Obesity is a serious health issue in people and their pets, with a need for innovative and engaging prevention strategies. One possible strategy is a One Health approach incorporating dogs into prevention programs; however, little data exist in the U.S. about the association between weight status among dog owners and their dogs. The objective of this study was to determine if there was an association between body mass index of adult dog owners and corresponding weight status in their dogs. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional correlation study collected data from 38 adult dog owners aged 18 years and older and their dogs at three pet festivals throughout New England. Body mass index of dog owners and body condition scores of dogs were measured on site. Spearman correlation was used to compare weight status in dogs and their owners. Results: The median body mass index of dog owners was 26 (range of 17–53) and the median body condition score of dogs was 6 (range of 4–9). Frequency of overweight and obesity in dog owners was 31.6 and 26.3%, respectively, and 50.0 and 13.2% in dogs, also, respectively. Owner body mass index was positively correlated with dog body condition score ( r = 0.60, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings support a possible association between overweight status in dogs and their owners. These findings could be leveraged in future interventions to promote healthier and more active lifestyles for both dog owners and their dogs in an engaging and innovative obesity prevention approach.

The nomenclature used to describe animals working in roles supporting people can be confusing. The same term may be used to describe different roles, or two terms may mean the same thing. This confusion is evident among researchers, practitioners, and end users. Because certain animal roles are provided with legal protections and/or government-funding support in some jurisdictions, it is necessary to clearly define the existing terms to avoid confusion. The aim of this paper is to provide operationalized definitions for nine terms, which would be useful in many world regions: “assistance animal”, “companion animal”, “educational/school support animal”, “emotional support animal”, “facility animal”, “service animal”, “skilled companion animal”, “therapy animal”, and “visiting/visitation animal”. At the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) conferences in 2018 and 2020, over 100 delegates participated in workshops to define these terms, many of whom co-authored this paper. Through an iterative process, we have defined the nine terms and explained how they differ from each other. We recommend phasing out two terms (i.e., “skilled companion animal” and “service animal”) due to overlap with other terms that could potentially exacerbate confusion. The implications for several regions of the world are discussed.

This study assessed body condition scores (BCS) and feeding habits for dogs and cats. Eighty-six cats and 229 dogs (and their owners) were enrolled from 2 clinics: a low cost clinic ( n = 149 ) and a general practice ( n = 166 ). BCS and body weight were recorded. Owners completed a survey which included animal age, sex, and breed; owner demographics; and feeding practices (e.g., diet, rationale for feeding practices). Owners from the low cost clinic had a significantly lower income ( P < 0.001 ) and education ( P < 0.001 ) compared to those from the general practice. Animals from the low cost clinic were younger ( P < 0.001 ) and dogs were less likely to be neutered ( P < 0.001 ). Overweight prevalence was 55% overall ( P = 0.083 ), with a significantly higher prevalence in the general practice for cats (44% versus 66%; P = 0.046 ), but not for dogs (58% versus 53%; P = 0.230 ). Multivariate analysis showed that only neuter status was significantly associated with BCS ( P = 0.004 ). Veterinarians were the most common source of nutritional information, though lack of accurate nutrition knowledge was common among all participants. These findings support the need for enhanced communication about optimal BCS and nutrition regardless of socioeconomic status.

Reading skills are an important component of academic success for school-age youth, and are associated with increased academic performance and positive attitudes about school. The presence of an animal appears to reduce stress during reading. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess the feasibility and effects of a 6-week after-school canine-assisted reading program in a public elementary school setting. Second-grade students were randomized to either an intervention group (n = 14) in which they read to a registered therapy dog for 30 min once weekly for 6 weeks or a control group (n = 14) with a standard classroom curriculum. Children’s reading skills were assessed biweekly and attitudes about reading were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The 6-week after-school canine-assisted reading program was feasible. Reading skill scores did not change significantly for either group. Although scores on recreational reading attitudes also did not change significantly for either group, the academic reading attitudes scores increased significantly in the intervention group (p = .002), but not in the control group (p = .06). These results support the benefits of an animal-assisted intervention for child literacy on children’s attitudes about reading and can inform future programs evaluating reading programs that include dogs.

Introduction In this opinion, we describe the justification for including companion dogs without special training (hereafter “pet dog”) within a family, as an animal-assisted approach to health promotion for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Food intake, physical activity, and sedentary behavior have been identified as the key drivers of excess weight gain in children and adults and are relevant for obesity prevention in youth with ASD as well as canine weight management and overall quality of life. To date, there have been no randomized controlled intervention studies designed to assess the impact of dog ownership on child weight status or physical activity; the PLAYCE PAWS trial, launched in 2020, will directly test this hypothesis in a pilot exploratory study (14). A systematic review and meta-analysis in 2018 of AAI in children with ASD provides a useful summary of studies to date that employed an experimental design (15).

Stakeholder involvement in research has been demonstrated to increase the effectiveness, validity, and quality of a study. This paper describes the engagement of a stakeholder panel in the development and implementation of an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) assessment and program for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Canines for Autism Activity and Nutrition (CAAN) aims to promote physical activity and wellness among children diagnosed with ASD by integrating activities with their pet dog during the child's ongoing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in-home therapy sessions. Feedback from stakeholders guided program development at each stage of the research process, including this publication. Utilizing a stakeholder-informed approach was essential for the development of assessment tools, program materials, and program design. Methods that may assist others to effectively partner with stakeholders to implement an AAI among children diagnosed with ASD or related disorders are described.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that dog plasma concentrations of selected nutrients decrease after undergoing caloric restriction for weight loss. Thirty-one overweight dogs that had successfully lost at least 15% of initial body weight were included in the study. Nutrients that had been previously identified to be at potential risk of deficiency during caloric restriction were measured in plasma (choline, amino acids) and urine (selenium) at the initiation and completion of a standardized weight loss regimen in dogs. RESULTS: Dogs remained healthy throughout the study, and no signs attributable to nutrient deficiency were noted. Percentage weight loss was 28.3% (16.0-40.1%) starting body weight, over a period of 250 days (91–674 days). Median energy intake during the weight loss period was 62 (44 to 74) Kcal/kg⁰.⁷⁵ target weight per day. Choline (P = 0.046) and threonine (P = 0.02) decreased after weight loss. Glycine (P = 0.041), and urinary selenium:creatinine ratio (P = 0.006) both increased after weight loss. There were no other significant differences in plasma nutrient concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Since concentrations of most measured nutrients did not change significantly, the data are not consistent with widespread nutrient deficiency in dogs undergoing caloric restriction using a diet formulated for weight loss. However, the significance of the decrease in plasma choline concentration requires further assessment.

Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern necessitating comprehensive treatment. The development of effective and sustainable interventions to treat obesity and the mental health effects of childhood obesity remain both a priority and a challenge. Previous studies show that dogs may provide social support in overweight adults, but the child-dog relationship is not as well understood. The goal of this study was to improve knowledge of the child-dog relationship among children to inform future childhood obesity interventions including dogs. A sequential mixed-methods approach utilized a cross-sectional survey study to test the hypothesis that overweight children are more attached to their pet dogs and have less perceived social support compared to healthy weight children, and also utilized semi-structured interviews in an exploratory method to better understand the child-dog relationship and engage stakeholders of potential future interventions. Children aged 8-13 with a dog in the household were surveyed on dog attachment (Pet Relationship Scale), perceived social support (Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale), and had height and weight measurements taken. A parent demographic survey was also conducted. Semi-structured interviews with child-parent dyads further investigated the child-dog relationship and perceptions about potential child-dog activity programs. The results of the survey showed that overweight/obese children (≥ 85th body mass index percentile) had greater attachment to their dog (p=0.039) and less perceived social support (p=0.016) compared to healthy weight children. Semi-structured interviews revealed that child-parent dyads were positive and enthusiastic about child-dog physical activity programs. Perceived barriers for programs included safety concerns in child-dog and dog-dog interactions. Perceived facilitators for programs included components that strengthen the child-dog bond, such as the addition of education, behavior training, or agility components. In conclusion, overweight/obesity in children was associated with greater dog attachment and less perceived social support, supporting the concept that pet dogs play a different role in overweight/obese children’s social support networks. Children and parent/legal guardians support child-dog activity programs that are safe and enrich the child-dog relationship. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the impact of including pet dogs as additional mental health support in novel childhood obesity interventions.