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Lifestyle diseases of canines

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TITLE: LIFESTYLE DISEASES OF CANINES

Tanvika Sangwan [ MVSc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana 141001 tanvikasangwan1998@gmail.com ]
Neetu Saini [ Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana 141001 ]

With the rapid economic development and more of a westernized lifestyle, humans and their pets are more prone to the diseases associated with their routine life, preferably called lifestyle diseases. Diseases like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, and hypothyroidism are the major diseases that occur in humans and companion animals. The main risk factors associated with these diseases are a sedentary lifestyle, limited exercise, less physical activity, and improper diet regimens in their routine (Pappachan, 2011; Chandler et al., 2017).

Firstly, obesity has become a significant health issue for humans and companion animals. Presently the population prevalence of canine overweight and obesity is 19.7-59.3 % (Courcier et al., 2010a; Corbee, 2013; Chandler et al., 2017). There are various risk factors for obesity in companion animals, including the genetic risk for particular breeds like Labrador retriever and golden retriever. Among these breeds, the middle-aged neutered female dogs are most likely to be obese due to the decreased energy requirement and more consumption after neutering (German, 2006; Lund et al., 2006). After genetics, the managemental part plays a crucial role. It includes limited exercise, less outdoor activity, feeding high-fat diets, table scraps, and frequent commercial treats. Therefore sedentary lifestyle and