# Whole Body Computed Tomography with Advanced Imaging Techniques: A Research Tool for Measuring Body Composition in Dogs

## TL;DR

This study shows that advanced CT imaging can accurately measure body composition changes in dogs, making it a useful tool for obesity research.

## Contribution

The study introduces advanced CT image analysis software as a practical and sensitive method for measuring canine body composition.

## Key findings

- CT imaging successfully differentiated bone, lean, and fat tissues in dogs.
- A significant lean:fat ratio difference was observed between Beagles and Greyhounds.
- The method detected body composition changes during a 28-day weight-gain protocol.

## Abstract

The use of computed tomography (CT) to evaluate obesity in canines is limited. Traditional CT image analysis is cumbersome and uses prediction equations that require manual calculations. In order to overcome this, our study investigated the use of advanced image analysis software programs to determine body composition in dogs with an application to canine obesity research. Beagles and greyhounds were chosen for their differences in morphology and propensity to obesity. Whole body CT scans with regular intervals were performed on six beagles and six greyhounds that were subjected to a 28-day weight-gain protocol. The CT images obtained at days 0 and 28 were analyzed using software programs OsiriX, ImageJ, and AutoCAT. The CT scanning technique was able to differentiate bone, lean, and fat tissue in dogs and proved sensitive enough to detect increases in both lean and fat during weight gain over a short period. A significant difference in lean : fat ratio was observed between the two breeds on both days 0 and 28 (P < 0.01). Therefore, CT and advanced image analysis proved useful in the current study for the estimation of body composition in dogs and has the potential to be used in canine obesity research.