How to tell if a dog is overweight

How Can You Tell If Your Pet Is Overweight?

Reviewed for accuracy and updated on November 5, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Preventions (APOP) 2018 Pet Obesity Survey, 55.8% of dogs are classified as overweight or obese.

That means that most pets these days are overweight, even if many of their owners dont realize it.

But dog owners should be paying more attention to their dogs weight, since being overweight puts your dog at risk for many diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease andarthritis.

And while your vet can diagnose an overweight or obese dog, its easy for you to determine, too, if you know how.

Here are some tips for how to tell if your dog is overweight so that you can start a conversation with your veterinarian and help get your dog back to a healthy weight.

How to Determine If Your Dog Is Overweight

Here are three of the most reliable tools for determining if your dog is overweight.

Body Condition Score Charts

The best way to determine whether a pet is obese is by using a measurement system such as the body condition score, says Dr. Jim Dobies, a veterinarian with South Point Pet Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a member of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association (NCVMA).

Body condition score charts help you figure out where your pet falls on the healthy weight scale. Most body condition score charts work on a scale of 1-5 or 1-91 being emaciated, and the highest number being morbidly obese.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has a great example of a body condition score chart that depicts the side view and top view of dogs that are emaciated, underweight, average, overweight and obese.

Visually Assess Your Dogs Body

But you can also assess your dog without using a dog body condition chart, Dr. Dobies says.

The best way to visually assess your dogs weight is to stand above them and look down on them. You should be able to feel their ribs but not see them. If you can see them, they are too skinny, Dr. Dobies explains.

If you cant see your dogs ribs, and you cant feel them by placing your hands on the sides of their chest, your dog is overweight, says Dr. Dobies.

Dogs should also have a nice taper at their waist (between the abdomen and where the hips go into the socket), he says. If there is very little or none at all, they are too heavy and theyll be oval-shaped.

And a very obese dog, he says, will have a pendulous abdomen, hip fat and neck fat, all of which are very noticeable. But pets dont usually reach this point of obesity until theyre at least 7 years old, he adds.

Healthy Weight Protocol for Dogs

Veterinarians can also use tools like the science-based Healthy Weight Protocol, which was created by Hills Pet Nutrition in conjunction with veterinary nutritionists at the University of Tennessee.

A vet takes measurementsfour for a dogthen inputs them into the Healthy Weight Protocol system to determine your dogs body fatindex. By comparing this with a chart, your veterinarian can tell you exactly how much weight your pet needs to lose if they are overweight.

This system allows vets to take a more scientific approach to a dogs weight loss needs. It helps them to determine exactly how many pounds a dog would need to lose and how many calories a day they need to do that healthily.

Talk With Your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian is your greatest ally for maximizing your dogs overall health. They can help you determine whether your dog is currently overweight and help you devise the best plan for helping your dog shed the extra weight in a safe way.

By: Amanda Baltazar

Featured Image: iStock.com/Firn

How to Tell if You Have an Overweight Dog

Overweight dogs are a growing problem for even the most attentive pet parents, and with that comes an array of concerns. Just like with people, an overweight dog often faces a range of health problems and weight issues can exacerbate existing ailments. While preventing weight issues is recommended, it's never too late to start a weight loss program with an overweight pooch. Knowing how to help your dog lose weight is just as important as recognizing that it needs to be done.

How a Dog Becomes Overweight

Your life is busier than ever and your dog's physical activity often gets placed on the back burner, especially if you don't have an energetic dog. It's thought that the number-one cause of overweight dogs is chronic overfeeding, and lack of activity doesn't help matters. Some breeds are more prone to weight issues, too, such as golden retrievers, bulldogs, and cocker spaniels.

But while some may think a pudgy pooch is cute, extra weight brings undue stress on bones and joints and an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer, as the National Canine Cancer Foundation mentions. Further, you might find your dog is less tolerant of heat or has difficulty breathing. These are only some of the common weight-related illnesses seen in pets today.

How Can You Tell

If you don't know if your dog is overweight or not, it's best to seek professional help. Ideally, your veterinarian can help you make that judgment. But between visits, you can look for some signs at home. No matter your dog's breed, you should be able to feel all of your dog's ribs without a thick layer of fat over them. Your dog's chest should also be wider than his abdomen, with a noticeable tuck-up from chest to stomach. An overweight dog will generally have no waist and no distinction between chest and stomach. You may also notice he pants when walking, walks a bit slower than before, or naps more than usual. Luckily, it's easy to learn how to help your dog lose weight.

What Can You Do

Thankfully, there's a variety of options available to help your overweight dog. It's important to remember that these are lifestyle changes you need to make, just like the adjustments you'd make to reach a healthier weight yourself.

Get Moving

All dogs, not just an overweight dog, need physical exercise for both their mental and physical health. And when dogs get larger over time, it can be hard for pet parents to notice, leading to what the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention calls the "fat pet gap." Exercise can help combat (and prevent) this. Keep to scheduled exercise regimens and do your best to find something he enjoys, and you'll not only see an improvement in your dog's weight, but his mind as well.

Schedule Portioned Feedings

This sounds like one tip, but it's actually two. If you have an overweight dog, chances are he's eating more than he really needs. First, you want to make sure your dog eats at scheduled times throughout the day. Letting your dog graze all day long means you don't know how much he's eating and it's probably too much.

This brings us to the second pieceportion control. Know exactly how much your dog eats now and slowly lessen that amount to find out how much keeps him satisfied and at a healthy weight. Remember, what looks small for you will likely fill your dog's stomach up substantially. If you're unsure about the proper portion size, check in with your vet to confirm. Also, consider how many treats your dog gets each day and subtract those from his daily meals.

Make Sure Everyone's On Board

Your entire household needs to be on the same page when it comes to your dog's weight. If you have an overweight dog and someone is sneaking extra treats or feeding even a little more than he needs into his daily meals, you're not going to see much progress in his weight loss. Making sure everyone is on board with the plan is as important as the effort you put toward the change.

Check in

Take your dog in for regular weigh-ins. Just like you would weigh yourself regularly when you're trying to lose weight, keeping track of your dog's progress is important to success. You'll learn how much food works for maintaining a healthy weight in your dog, as well as what might be too much or too little food. Plus, it will be motivating to see a smaller number on the scale. It's smart to go to your veterinarian's office (or purchase your own dog scale) for regular weight checks because using a human scale can be inaccurate. If your pooch is a smaller breed, you can also use a baby scale to get more accurate readings.

Stay Strong

It's difficult for pet parents to get an overweight dog on a weight loss program. Food is love to some dogs and all pet parents love treating their dogs and seeing him happy. Some pet parents feel bad for their dogs when they see them begging for food, so giving in is often what keeps dogs from losing weight successfully. Just rememberyour dog doesn't think or feel that you love him any less should you feed him smaller meals or fewer treats. There's no need for you to feel guilty! Even if your dog does love food, you can substitute the fun you have sharing snacks with play and exercise.

If you're experiencing difficulty helping your dog reach a healthy weight, you should reach out to your vet's office. They will have food recommendations for overweight dogs, and your vet can help ensure your dog is getting adequate nutrition, even with smaller meals. Every dog will lose weight differently, and because there are many factors to address when raising a dog with a weight problem, working with a veterinary professional will keep you both on the right track. An overweight dog is not a healthy or happy dog, and the dangers of chronic weight issues are too great to ignore. While it might be hard work that lasts a lifetime, keeping your dog at a healthy weight will ensure a lifetime of health and joy for both of you.

Contributor Bio

Katie Finlay

Katie Finlay is a Los Angeles, CA based dog trainer and writer. She has been working with dogs and their owners both in person and through her articles for over six years.

Dog Obesity: Why Its Important To Manage Your Dogs Weight

Plump puppies may be cute, but when it comes to canine health, lean is better.

Still, as is true with humans, too many dogs are overweight, according to the Association For Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In its eighth annual survey of the girth of American pets, released in March 2015, the organization found that 53 percent of the nations dogs are overweight.

International research suggests that this is a global problem, with surveys from various parts of the world showing that the incidence of canine obesity around 40 percent or more.Most investigators say that this health issue gets worse each year. Another part of the APOP survey showed that in 2014, 17.6 percent of dogs were clinically obese (30 percent or more overweight). That was up a full point from just one year before.

Courtesy of APOP

Even worse, 95 percent of owners dont realize that their plump dogs need to drop a few pounds. The APOP calls this a fat pet gap, in which a chubby dog is identified as normal.

Dr. Ernie Ward, veterinarian and founder of APOP says, Pet owners think their obese dog or cat is a normal weight, making confronting obesity difficult. No one wants to think their pet is overweight, and overcoming denial is our first battle.

Health Problems Caused By Dog Obesity

There are many diseases and conditions that come along with extra pounds. These include:

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Obese

The rules range for people, but for pets, figuring out whether your dog is overweight or obese is a matter of both appearance and touch. You should, for example, be able to feel your dogs ribs when you press her sides. Several dog-food manufacturers have canine body-condition charts that can help you determine if your dog needs to drop a few pounds. Heres an example:

What to Do If Your Dog Needs a Diet?

As with humans, there are a few tried-and-true methods for slimming down. First, you should check with your vet to make sure that the excess weight is not the result of an underlying health problem or disease. Also, before you changefood or reduce calories, youll want to get your dog a checkup and talk to your vet about the best options. After taking these steps, check out these helpful tips:

Measure Meals:Keeping a diary is one of the most important steps in any human weight-loss program. Since dogs cant write, youll have to do it for him. Keep track of how much kibble you are feeding by using a measuring cup.

Establish a Schedule:If you free-feed, leaving food down all day, offer meals on a set schedule. Put the food down for a certain time, perhaps 15 minutes, and take up any food that the dog does not eat.

Limit Between-Meal Snacks:Dogs get a lot of calories in addition to their regular kibble. These can include anything from training treats to a biscuit slipped over the fence by a friendly neighbor. Those calories add up. Find out where the extras are coming from and manage how many extra goodies the dog is getting.

Choose Low-Calorie Treats:Many store-bought treats, especially biscuits, can be fattening. The same goes for chews. Some dogs will be just as happy with fruits or vegetables, like bananas, carrots, green beans, and apple slices, for example.

Certain chews, such as the popular bully sticks, are higher in calories than most people believe. A recent study from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University examined the nutrients found in 26 different kinds of bully sticks. Each inch contained between 9 and 26 calories. While calorie information isnt currently required on pet treats or most pet foods, these findings reinforce that veterinarians and pet owners need to be aware of pet treats like these bully sticks as a source of calories in a dogs diet, Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN, professor of nutrition at TCSVM, said in a news release describing the study results. Several companies have developed low-calorie commercial treats. When you try any new treat, offer just a small portion to make sure it agrees with your dogs digestion.

Get Moving! This may be the best thing you can do to help your heavy hound. Before starting any exercise regime, have your dog checked by your veterinarian to make sure it is an appropriate and reasonable activity. Start slow and work up as directed by your vet to prevent possible injury.There are so many activities you and your dog can do together that its impossible to mention them all. Here are some of the best to start a weight-reducing program:

• Swimming is low-impact and can build muscles and burn calories without hurting joints.
• Walking, also low-impact, has the added benefit of getting both of you out of the house and into the fresh air.
• Fetch is fun, and its quick sprints will do a lot to raise fitness levels.