Comparative assessment of methods for diagnosing obesity in horses

Abstract

Goal. To diagnose obesity in horses using vari­ous physical methods and to determine the possibility of using these methods in practical veterinary medicine. Methods. A general clinical examination was performed according to standard methods. The physical condition of the horses was evaluated according to Henneck’s recommendations by two independent specialists. Morphometric indicators were determined with a measuring tape KERBL (Germany). Body mass was calculated according to the formulas of Milner and Hewitt, Ensminger, and INRA. Ultrasound examination of the thickness of subcutaneous fat was performed with a SonoScape X5 device (China). Statistical analysis of data was carried out using the Minitab 19 program. Non-parametric indicators were used: median and quartiles of Q1 and Q3; the reliability of the difference between groups was assessed by the Mann-Whitney criterion (*p≤0.05), correlations — by the Spearman criterion. Results. It was established that obese horses had larger body sizes compared to animals with normal fattening and were morphologically characterized by higher scores of physical condition, body length, and chest girth. Formula calculation of body weight confirmed that overweight horses had higher body weight indicators compared to animals with normal fattening, but actual weighing showed significantly greater differences, indicating the limitations of formulas for determining the degree of obesity. The distribution of subcutaneous fat tended to accumulate in different anatomical regions and significantly varied in the croup (60 mm in the experimental group vs. 47 mm in the control group) and the middle third of the neck (14 mm in the experimental group vs. 10 mm in the control group), indicating the importance of monitoring these areas for the diagnosis of obesity. Conclusions. For the initial determination of increased body weight in horses, methods of physical condition assessment and formula assessment can be used, but these met­hods do not provide an opportunity to establish the degree of obesity. To determine obesity in horses, it is recommended to perform ultrasound imaging of the subcutaneous tissue in the croup, crest, and middle third of the neck.