Lifestyle risk factors for progesterone-related diabetes mellitus in elkhounds - a case-control study

Methods: Owners of 48 diabetic elkhounds and 58 healthy elkhounds were interviewed by phone concerning lifetime diet and exercise routines. A logistic model was developed to assess the impact of diet and exercise on diabetes diagnosis. The agreement between lifetime owner-perceived body condition score (BCS) and veterinary-perceived BCS at inclusion was estimated in healthy control dogs using the Kappa statistic.Results: The model showed that diabetic dogs had increased odds for having been overweight (before diagnosis) compared with controls (OR=2 center dot 8, 95% confidence interval 1 center dot 1-7 center dot 5, P=0 center dot 034). Although feeding other food than commercial dog feed was associated with diabetes case status, the effect was not significant after BCS was entered into the model. The overall agreement between lifetime owner- and veterinary-perceived BCS at inclusion in the study was 75% and had a Kappa statistic of 0 center dot 16 (P=0 center dot 12).Clinical Significance: This study indicates that a high owner-perceived lifetime BCS is associated with progesterone-related diabetes in elkhounds.