Avaliação e acompanhamento nutricional em cães na cidade de Bambuí, estado de Minas Gerais: estudo de casos

The nutritional assessment process is a very important parameter in the realization of examinations on small animals, because associate with nutritional monitoring it provides a better quality of life and helps to reduce obesity and nutritional illnesses in companion animals. Thus, the objective of this work was to put into practice this process of nutritional evaluation and monitoring of a sample of dogs from the city of Bambuí-MG, through weighing and nutritional surveys in order to monitor the animals' weight, nutritional status and body score of the study. The nutritional assessment was carried out through a general physical examination focusing mainly on the classification of the dogs' body score, together with an anamnesis regarding eating behavior and the calculation of the amount of food recommended for the animal. Monitoring occurred during a period of eight months and took place through three weighings and new anamnesis over a period of three and four months. The data and information collected were tabulated in a graph curve in order to analyze loss, gain, and weight maintenance. Therefore, through the study it was possible to identify that a good number of dogs that did not present nutritional risk factors had a constant weight change, without major variations. On the other hand, a small part of the dogs that had more variable weight changes indicated nutritional risk factors; Therefore, taking into account that the sample of dogs was heterogeneous, the vast majority maintained a good body score, thus demonstrating that nutritional assessment contributes to maintaining the health of dogs, and its use in conjunction with clinical monitoring during all phases is recommended. of the companion animal's life for a greater guarantee of quality of life.