It’s often difficult to determine if your dog is overweight, especially if you own a large or long-haired breed. Regular vet check-ups are essential for monitoring your dog’s health and weight. Your veterinarian can provide personalized guidance on maintaining your dog’s ideal weight and offer tailored advice on nutrition and exercise. However, you can take steps at home to keep your pup fit and healthy.
Understanding the signs of excess weight in your dog is vital to taking informed steps towards their well-being. Here are some practical methods to determine if your dog is carrying excess weight.
Officially known as the body condition score (BCS) scale (Trusted Source), the dog obesity chart is a simple visual tool to assess your dog’s overall body shape. Vets use two main types of BCS scales: one that goes from 1 to 5 and the other that goes from 1 to 9. Some vets prefer the 1-9 scale because it allows them to see smaller changes in a dog’s weight. Others like the 1-5 scale because it is simpler and has fewer categories.
Measure your dog’s appearance against the images and descriptions on the chart. If they’re over the ideal BCS 3/5 or 4-5/9, it’s time to lose weight. The American Animal Hospital Association created this chart to help visualize the scores:
When you run your hands down your dog’s body, you should be able to feel their ribs with minimal pressure. A thick layer of fat shouldn’t obscure their rib cage. You should only see the ribs during movement.
I often have owners use their own hand to learn what an ideal BCS should feel like. Make a fist and feel your knuckles — this is too thin. Feel the bones on the back of your hand — this is how your dog's ribs should feel at an ideal BCS. Turn your hand over and feel the fleshy area of your palm — this is an example of what an overweight dog's ribs may feel like
Dr. Cahn
Your dog’s chest should be significantly wider than their abdomen. There should also be a visible “tuck-up,” the natural slim waistline behind the rib cage and before the rump, where the hind legs join the body. Every breed should have some form of a tuck-up, although it may be less noticeable in stocky breeds such as English bulldogs and rottweilers. The tuck-up is more pronounced in naturally slim breeds like greyhounds and borzois. In obese dogs, the tuck-up is less visible — it can even disappear entirely.
Overweight dogs are more prone to excessive panting. The extra weight might cause them to walk a little slower than usual and avoid strenuous exercises such as playing catch or running on a dog-friendly beach. Monitor your dog’s energy level to determine what’s normal for them since each breed (and lifestage) has its own exercise needs. You will then be able to notice any subtle changes in activity that may suggest your dog is overweight (or that there’s another medical issue happening).
👉 Pet obesity can lead to a variety of detrimental health conditions in dogs, including diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. If you’re concerned about your dog’s weight, speak to your veterinarian.
It’s best to start a healthy regime when your dog is still a puppy, with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and regular wellness exams. It can be more difficult to help a dog lose weight when they are already carrying a few extra pounds. However, with patience and persistence, you can bring your dog back down to a healthy weight.
Set up an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis. Your dog gets weighed every time it goes to the vet, so you can see how its weight changes over time. Your vet can recommend the best weight loss plan if needed. It may involve a prescription weight loss diet, cutting back on how much you feed them, and increasing exercise if possible. Additionally, they can check for any underlying medical conditions contributing to the weight gain, like hypothyroidism (Trusted Source).
To help your dog lose weight, vets recommend reducing food portions by 10%, but this varies by breed and individual. The Pet Nutrition Alliance (Trusted Source) offers a tool to help with safe food reduction. A prescription diet may be helpful since cutting back too much on food can risk your dog not getting enough protein and other nutrients. Using puzzle feeders and slow-feeder bowls can make mealtime more engaging and control fast eating. Choose high-quality, WSAVA-compliant (Trusted Source) dog food. Swap high-calorie treats for healthy alternatives like carrots and green beans. Lastly, cut out any table scraps.
👉 Not sure what food to choose? Read our extensive list of healthy foods for dogs.
Adding physical activity to your dog’s daily routine helps greatly. Slow and steady weight loss is safest, so consider your dog’s energy levels when planning exercise. Regular walks, agility training, swimming, and other fun activities are great options. For elderly dogs or those with joint issues, try less strenuous exercises like hydrotherapy (Trusted Source).
Set small weekly weight loss goals for your dog and make sure the whole family is on board. Continue to schedule follow-up appointments with your vet to monitor your dog’s progress and ensure your dog is healthy and losing weight.
👉 To learn more, check out our article on how to help your dog lose weight.
Weight gain in dogs is not just caused by eating too many treats, although that’s sometimes a major contributor. There are a variety of factors that contribute to pet obesity. Here are some more common reasons your dog may be gaining weight.
Overfeeding isn’t the only cause, but it is the primary cause of obesity in pets. Giving your dog too many treats can be detrimental to their health. Some commercial dog foods and treats are high in calories, which can lead to weight gain in the long run. Just because certain diets are labeled low-fat, it doesn’t mean they are low in calories. Many budget foods contain dense fillers that lack the essential nutrients dogs need for optimum health.
Check your dog’s food to ensure it’s WASAVA-compliant and contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your dog needs. Portion sizes vary by food type and between dogs depending on their breed, age, and health status. A strict feeding schedule is still essential to help your dog lose weight.
As dogs age, their metabolism slows down, and they require fewer calories per day than younger, more active dogs. If they continue to eat the same diet, they are more at risk of obesity. Elderly dogs can also suffer from health conditions that may cause them to gain weight and joint problems, limiting mobility.
Certain breeds are predisposed to weight gain due to their naturally lower energy levels. Other breeds may be genetically predisposed to weight gain. For example, scientists at the University of Cambridge have found that a significant proportion of Labradors and retrievers carry a variant of the POMC gene (Trusted Source). The variant is strongly associated with obesity and a lack of appetite control.
A 2006 study (Trusted Source) by the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine found that canine obesity is a significant issue in the U.S. Out of 21,754 dogs studied, 34.1% of those over 1 year old were overweight or obese. The following breeds had the highest number of overweight or obese individuals:
In a similar study (Trusted Source) conducted in 2021 by the Royal Veterinary College in the U.K. involving 22,333 dogs, many of the same breeds were found to be at risk, along with the following breeds:
👉 Although these breeds appear more prone to weight gain, any breed can be overweight.
If your dog lost a significant amount of weight or experienced unexplained weight gain quickly, they could be suffering from an underlying health condition. Certain medications can also cause canine weight gain, particularly steroidal anti-inflammatories like prednisone.
Female dogs are more likely to gain excess weight than male dogs, especially after spaying (Trusted Source). Estrogen plays a large part in appetite regulation, and spayed dogs produce less of this hormone. So, its appetite-suppressing effects are reduced. Contrary to popular opinion, male and female dogs naturally produce estrogen, but it’s more pronounced in females because it controls ovulation.
Neutering or spaying alters your pet’s natural hormone balance, which can cause weight gain. However, a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found these effects were only significant in the first two years after surgery (Trusted Source).
🚨This is no reason to avoid spaying/neutering your pet! The risks of staying intact far outweigh the risks of spaying/neutering.
Canine couch potatoes will burn off fewer calories than a dog that constantly has the zoomies! You will need to account for your dog’s energy levels when determining the right amount of food to feed your pup. Smaller dog breeds will also require fewer calories than larger dog breeds. Dog food packaging will show feeding guidelines you can use as a general guide. However, remember that every dog is different. If you’re uncertain, always speak to your veterinarian.
You can determine whether your dog is obese using a BCS scale. These are simple visual aids that use body condition scores to assess whether a dog is overweight or underweight. On the 1-9 scale, a BCS of 6 is overweight, and 8 is obese. Your dog may also be overweight if you can’t easily feel their ribs when you run your hands down their body.
Yes, obesity has been proven to significantly reduce the lifespan of dogs. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that the lifespans of overweight dogs were, on average, two years shorter (Trusted Source) than dogs of a healthy weight. This was particularly prominent in smaller dog breeds like Chihuahuas. Obesity can lead to a range of health issues in dogs, including diabetes and joint problems.
The correct food intake for an overweight dog will vary based on age, weight, breed, and health status. To help your dog lose weight, scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian is a good idea. They can guide you on the best diet and exercise plan to help your dog lose weight gradually and safely.
Purebred dogs usually have breed standards (Trusted Source) with various kennel clubs, like the American Kennel Club (AKC). Checking these standards can help you determine the average weight of your dog’s breed. However, every dog is different. Proper weight should be determined individually using a BCS scale.
Your dog reaching ideal weight should be your goal, but being slightly under or overweight is typically not a huge deal. Remember to use the BCS scale and try to keep your dog in the middle. Coming in more than 1 point over or under the ideal becomes concerning.
