Demographic characterization of dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) in the central area of Babahoyo
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Published:
Aug 6, 2026
Keywords:
Canis lupus, Felis catus, demography, zoonoses, responsible ownership.
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Abstract
Introduction: the demography of pets in urban areas is a cause for concern due to the high rate of zoonotic diseases registered in recent times. Objectives: the objective of this study was to determine the demographic characteristics of the population of dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) in the center of Babahoyo. A structured survey was applied in a sample of 150 randomized households. Methodology: descriptive statistics such as mean, median, mode was applied, which served to describe, compare, and analyze the behavior of the data, the analysis was conducted in the statistical software InfoStat. The average number of dogs and cats per household was 0.85 (128 dogs/150 households) and 0.70 (105 cats/150 households), respectively. Results: the results showed a higher population of dogs (128) than cats (105), likewise, they showed that there are a higher proportion of males than females in the case of dogs and a greater number of females than males in the case of cats. Ignorance of zoonotic diseases resulted in 29% of the households surveyed. 25% of the households surveyed were unaware of the term responsible for ownership. Conclusions: it is concluded that in the center of Babahoyo there is a gap to be filled in terms of epidemiological surveillance with respect to zoonotic diseases that could be transmitted by pets that live in the sector. General area of study: Public health. Specific area of study: veterinary. Item type: Original.
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Gómez Parra, J. J., Gómez Villalva, J. C., Rendón Almeida, M. E., & Torres Pérez, J. E. (2026). Demographic characterization of dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) in the central area of Babahoyo. ConcienciaDigital, 9(3), 113-131. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v9i3.3725
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References
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Montero Cruzada, S., & Marvin, G. (2020). El estudio de las relaciones humano-animales en la actual “encrucijada ambiental”. Revista Andaluza de Antropología, (18), 4-20. https://revistascientificas.us.es/index.php/RAA/article/view/11261
Mora García, E. R., Castillo Hidalgo , E. P., Calapaqui Gaibor, K. G., & Espinoza Mora, K. E. (2023). Degree of knowledge of the families of Chimbo city, about the responsible ownership of canine and feline pets. Conciencia Digital, 6(1.3), 222-233. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v6i1.3.2551
Morales, M. A., Varas, C., & Ibarra, L. (2009). Demographic characterization of the dog population in Viña del Mar, Chile. Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria, 41(1), 89-95. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0301-732X2009000100013
Muñoz León, C. A., & Gómez Villalva, J. C. (2023). Toxocariasis como problema para la salud publica en el Ecuador. Ciencia & Turismo, 2(3), 74-85. https://doi.org/10.33262/ct.v2i3.30
Nimer, A., Meneses, N., Watson, Z. D., Shuster, S. M., & Benford, R. (2018). Population survey and management strategies of free-roaming dogs (Canis familiaris) on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 21(2), 170–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2017.1406801
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Pardo, E., Anaya, L., & Cavadia, T. (2025). Caracterización demográfica de caninos y felinos en cuatro barrios del sur de Montería. Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú, 36(1), e28045. http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?pid=S1609-91172025000100027&script=sci_arttext&tlng=es
Pérez Tigrero, J. A., & Gómez Villalva, J. C. (2022). Prevalencias de toxocora canis lupus en salud pública. Ciencia & Turismo, 1(1), 67-84. https://doi.org/10.33262/ct.v1i1.25
Pino-Rodríguez, D., & Márquez Álvarez, M., & Rojas Hoyos, N. A, (2017). Aspectos demográficos de la población de perros con dueños del municipio Boyeros. Revista Salud Animal, 39(2), 1-8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330554032_Articulo_Original_Aspectos_demograficos_de_la_poblacion_de_perros_con_duenos_del_municipio_Boyeros_Cuba_Demographic_aspects_of_owned-dog_population_from_Boyeros_municipality_Cuba
Ponce Cepeda, E., Gómez Villalva, J. C., & Kuffó, W. Y. (2017). Prevalencia de Tumor Venéreo Transmisible (Tvt) en perros sexualmente activos del casco urbano del cantón Guaranda, provincia Bolivar, Ecuador. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 13(21), 326. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n21p326
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Sánchez España, Álvaro C., & González Rivera, V. H. (2024). Characterization of hematological profiles in dog breeds using multivariate analysis. Conciencia Digital, 7(3), 135-152. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v7i3.3100
Slater, M. R. (2001). The role of veterinary epidemiology in the study of free-roaming dogs and cats. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 48(4), 273–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-5877(00)00201-4
Smith, B. P. (2017). The domestic dog: its evolution, behavior and interactions with people. second edition: edited by James Serpell (2do. Edition). Cambridge University Press. https://es.scribd.com/document/859123759/The-Domestic-Dog-Its-Evolution-Behavior-and-Interactions-with-People-2nd-Edition-Entire-Book-Download#google_vignette
Soriano, J. F., Núñez, J., León, D., & Falcón, N. (2017). Estimación de la población de canes con dueño en el distrito de Comas, Lima-Perú. Revista Ciencias Veterinarias. 33(2), 1-10. https://veterinaria.cayetano.edu.pe/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2022/09/POBLACION_CANES_COMAS.pdf
Vitonera Rogel, R. A., & Ayora Muñoz, J. L. (2024). Prevalence and risk factors for canine leptospirosis in the population of the El Oro province. Anatomía Digital, 7(1.2), 6-20. https://doi.org/10.33262/anatomiadigital.v7i1.2.2925
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American Veterinary Medical Association [AVMA]. (2020). AVMA guidelines for the euthanasia of animals:2020 edition. https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasia-2020.pdf
Arauco, D., Urbina, B., León, D., & Falcón, N. (2015). Indicadores demográficos y estimación de la población de canes con dueño en el distrito de San Martin de Porres, Lima-Perú. Salud y Tecnología Veterinaria, 2(2), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.20453/stv.v2i2.2254
Baquero, O. S., Chiozzotto, E. N., Garcia, R. de C. M., Amaku, M., & Ferreira, F. (2015). Demographic characteristics of owned dogs and cats of Votorantim, São Paulo State, Brazil. Ciência Rural, 45(11), 2039–2043. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20141646
Brusoni, C., Canigia, J. F., Lara, J., & Dezzotti, A. (2007). Tamaño y estructura de la población canina en San Martín de los Andes (Neuquén). Analecta Veterinaria, 27(1). https://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/11198
Cabascango Martínez, L., V. (2024). Comorbilidad del sobrepeso y la obesidad en perros y gatos. Conciencia Digital , 7 (1.1), 57-67. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v7i1.1.2872
Canatto, B. D., Silva, E. A., Bernardi, F., Mendes, M. C. N. C., Paranhos, N. T., & Dias, R. A. (2012). Demographic characterization of supervised dog and cat populations in Sao Paulo city, Brazil. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 64(6), 1515–1523. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352012000600017
Capello, K., Bortolotti, L., Lanari, M., Baioni, E., Mutinelli, F., & Vascellari, M. (2015). Estimate of the size and demographic structure of the owned dog and cat population living in Veneto region (north-eastern Italy). Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 118(1), 142–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.10.017
Castro Pacheco, D. A., & Campos Murillo, N. del C. (2022). Use of polyhexanide in the management of post-surgical wounds in felines (Felis silvestris catus). Conciencia Digital, 5(4), 44-55. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v5i4.2350
Cleaveland, S., Sharp, J., Abela-Ridder, B., Allan, K. J., Buza, J., Crump, J. A., Davis, A., Del Rio Vilas, V. J., de Glanville, W. A., Kazwala, R. R., Kibona, T., Lankester, F. J., Lugelo, A., Mmbaga, B. T., Rubach, M. P., Swai, E. S., Waldman, L., Haydon, D. T., Hampson, K., & Halliday, J. E. B. (2017). One Health contributions towards more effective and equitable approaches to health in low- and middle-income countries. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 372(1725), 20160168. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0168
Day, M. J., Breitschwerdt, E., Cleaveland, S., Karkare, U., Khanna, C., Kirpensteijn, J., Kuiken, T., Lappin, M. R., McQuiston, J., Mumford, E., Myers, T., Palatnik-de-Sousa, C. B., Rubin, C., Takashima, G., & Thiermann, A. (2012). Surveillance of zoonotic infectious disease transmitted by small companion animals. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 18(12), e1. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1812.120664
Delgado Cabrera, A. K. (2022). Caracterización demográfica de la población canina y felina con propietario y la percepción de los pobladores sobre enfermedades zoonóticas de los distritos Simbal y Poroto, provincia Trujillo, Perú [Tesis de pregrado, Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego, Trujillo. Perú]. https://repositorio.upao.edu.pe/item/051e1f24-6dd5-4d82-a72b-f4ee7233e2a2
Dias, R. A., Garcia, R. de C., Silva, D. F. da ., Amaku, M., Ferreira Neto, J. S., & Ferreira, F. (2004). Estimate of the owned canine and feline populations in urban area in Brazil. Revista de Saúde Pública, 38(4), 565–570. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102004000400013
for the Euthanasia of Animals (2020 Edition). https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasia-2020.pdf
Gompper, M. E. (Ed.). (2013). Free-ranging dogs and wildlife conservation. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199663217.001.0001.
Ibarra Martínez, L., Morales, M. A., & Acuña, P. (2003). Aspectos demográficos de la población de perros y gatos en la ciudad de Santiago. FAO AGRIS - International System for Agricultural Science and Technology. https://agris.fao.org/search/en/providers/125272/records/67485a6be821e9025cc7fa5a
Lappin, M. R., Blondeau, J., Boothe, D., Breitschwerdt, E. B., Guardabassi, L., Lloyd, D. H., Papich, M. G., Rankin, S. C., Sykes, J. E., Turnidge, J., & Weese, J. S. (2017). Antimicrobial use guidelines for treatment of respiratory tract disease in dogs and cats: antimicrobial guidelines working group of the international society for companion animal infectious diseases. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 31(2), 279–294. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14627
Montero Cruzada, S., & Marvin, G. (2020). El estudio de las relaciones humano-animales en la actual “encrucijada ambiental”. Revista Andaluza de Antropología, (18), 4-20. https://revistascientificas.us.es/index.php/RAA/article/view/11261
Mora García, E. R., Castillo Hidalgo , E. P., Calapaqui Gaibor, K. G., & Espinoza Mora, K. E. (2023). Degree of knowledge of the families of Chimbo city, about the responsible ownership of canine and feline pets. Conciencia Digital, 6(1.3), 222-233. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v6i1.3.2551
Morales, M. A., Varas, C., & Ibarra, L. (2009). Demographic characterization of the dog population in Viña del Mar, Chile. Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria, 41(1), 89-95. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0301-732X2009000100013
Muñoz León, C. A., & Gómez Villalva, J. C. (2023). Toxocariasis como problema para la salud publica en el Ecuador. Ciencia & Turismo, 2(3), 74-85. https://doi.org/10.33262/ct.v2i3.30
Nimer, A., Meneses, N., Watson, Z. D., Shuster, S. M., & Benford, R. (2018). Population survey and management strategies of free-roaming dogs (Canis familiaris) on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 21(2), 170–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2017.1406801
Organización Mundial de la Salud [OMS]. (2026). Una sola salud. https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/one-health
Organización Panamericana de la Salud [OPS]. (2021). Día mundial contra la rabia 2021. https://www.paho.org/es/campanas/dia-mundial-contra-rabia-2021
Pardo, E., Anaya, L., & Cavadia, T. (2025). Caracterización demográfica de caninos y felinos en cuatro barrios del sur de Montería. Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú, 36(1), e28045. http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?pid=S1609-91172025000100027&script=sci_arttext&tlng=es
Pérez Tigrero, J. A., & Gómez Villalva, J. C. (2022). Prevalencias de toxocora canis lupus en salud pública. Ciencia & Turismo, 1(1), 67-84. https://doi.org/10.33262/ct.v1i1.25
Pino-Rodríguez, D., & Márquez Álvarez, M., & Rojas Hoyos, N. A, (2017). Aspectos demográficos de la población de perros con dueños del municipio Boyeros. Revista Salud Animal, 39(2), 1-8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330554032_Articulo_Original_Aspectos_demograficos_de_la_poblacion_de_perros_con_duenos_del_municipio_Boyeros_Cuba_Demographic_aspects_of_owned-dog_population_from_Boyeros_municipality_Cuba
Ponce Cepeda, E., Gómez Villalva, J. C., & Kuffó, W. Y. (2017). Prevalencia de Tumor Venéreo Transmisible (Tvt) en perros sexualmente activos del casco urbano del cantón Guaranda, provincia Bolivar, Ecuador. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 13(21), 326. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n21p326
Rendón H., D., Quintana M., E., Door M., I., Vicuña A., F., León C., D., & Falcón P., N. (2018). Parámetros demográficos en la población de canes y gatos domésticos en asentamientos humanos del distrito de Ventanilla, Callao-Perú. Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú, 29(1), 217-225. https://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1609-91172018000100021
Sánchez España, Álvaro C., & González Rivera, V. H. (2024). Characterization of hematological profiles in dog breeds using multivariate analysis. Conciencia Digital, 7(3), 135-152. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v7i3.3100
Slater, M. R. (2001). The role of veterinary epidemiology in the study of free-roaming dogs and cats. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 48(4), 273–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-5877(00)00201-4
Smith, B. P. (2017). The domestic dog: its evolution, behavior and interactions with people. second edition: edited by James Serpell (2do. Edition). Cambridge University Press. https://es.scribd.com/document/859123759/The-Domestic-Dog-Its-Evolution-Behavior-and-Interactions-with-People-2nd-Edition-Entire-Book-Download#google_vignette
Soriano, J. F., Núñez, J., León, D., & Falcón, N. (2017). Estimación de la población de canes con dueño en el distrito de Comas, Lima-Perú. Revista Ciencias Veterinarias. 33(2), 1-10. https://veterinaria.cayetano.edu.pe/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2022/09/POBLACION_CANES_COMAS.pdf
Vitonera Rogel, R. A., & Ayora Muñoz, J. L. (2024). Prevalence and risk factors for canine leptospirosis in the population of the El Oro province. Anatomía Digital, 7(1.2), 6-20. https://doi.org/10.33262/anatomiadigital.v7i1.2.2925
World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH]. (2019). Stray dog population control. https://www.woah.org/app/uploads/2021/09/a-ahg-review-chapter-7-7-november-2019.pdf
World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH]. (2022). Intensificar la gestión de la población canina para lograr la eliminación de la rabia. https://www.woah.org/es/articulo/intensificar-la-gestion-de-la-poblacion-canina-para-lograr-la-eliminacion-de-la-rabia/