Assessing body condition scores assigned to images of dogs by veterinary nurses working in urban, rural and suburban settings in New Zealand

Harvey, L. C. and Fontaine, S.J. (2021) Assessing body condition scores assigned to images of dogs by veterinary nurses working in urban, rural and suburban settings in New Zealand. Veterinary Nurse, 12(2), pp. 92-99. (doi: 10.12968/vetn.2021.12.2.92)

Abstract

Background: Canine obesity is a growing problem, both in New Zealand and overseas. Veterinary nurses play a vital role as part of the veterinary healthcare team in ensuring clients are provided with timely, accurate, and consistent advice, and this includes advice relating to a pet's nutritional status and body condition. Aim: To investigate if there were any differences in body condition scores assigned to images of canines by veterinary nurses working in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Methods: Veterinary nurses (restricted to those with a minimum of 2 years formal training) in New Zealand were recruited online and asked to complete a short, online survey providing a body condition score for 10 dogs of varying morphology, via a photograph. Results: There were 77 useable responses and results showed no significant difference to the score assigned by veterinary nurses in different geographical settings. Conclusion: These results provide assurances to the consistency of body condition score being assigned by veterinary nurses in New Zealand, showing that geographical setting is not a confounding factor in a veterinary nurse's interpretation of body condition. While this result is optimistic, further research is needed to determine if this consistency is present across other members of the healthcare team.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Body condition score, veterinary nurses.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fontaine, Ms Samantha
• Authors: Harvey, L. C., and Fontaine, S.J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Veterinary Nurse
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• ISSN: 2044-0065
• ISSN (Online): 2052-2959
• Published Online: 31 March 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 MA Healthcare Ltd
• First Published: First published in Veterinary Nurse 12(2):92-99
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy