How to Tell if Your Dog Is Overweight?

Oh, how we love our puppies! We shower them with kisses and dog toys, take them to the park, and even treat our fur babies to a spa day!

Much like we use candy to reward our children, we reward our puppies with treats and it makes them wag their little tails and sit on their bottoms.

However, all these snacks can add unwanted pounds to your pet and obese dogs can have serious health problems. Damage, sometimes permanent, is being done to your pet’s health.

Contents:

How to Tell if Your Dog is Overweight
Risks of Obesity: Is it Time to Consider Dog Weight Loss
Causes of Obesity: Factors to Consider in Addition to Your Dog’s Diet
Breeds Prone to Obesity
Treatment: How to Help My Dog Lose Weight
Dog Diets: Overweight Management Dog food
Petcube: An Innovative Way to Help with Weight Loss for Dogs

How Do I Know if My Dog Is Overweight

If you are wondering, “Is my dog overweight?” or if you are concerned about your dog’s weight, of course, you should consult a vet. With Petcube's Online Vet service, you will get the 24/7 access to certified veterinarians and be able to ask about anything regarding your pet's health up to their advice on food recommendations for your overweight doggo.

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight Chart

Underweight

If you can see your dog’s ribs from several feet away, your dog is underweight. In such a case, you should be able to feel the ribs under the skin without much effort.

Overweight

If you cannot feel the ribs without applying pressure, these are the signs your dog is overweight and might be headed toward obesity.

Obese

Lastly, if you cannot find the rib cage, your dog is obese and it is time to take action. The Pet Obesity Prevention Website offers additional dog obesity charts.

Risks of Obesity in Dogs

Obesity in dogs is the number one preventable disease in pets. Those extra pounds are not just a physical trait, they are subtracting years from the life expectancy of your furry pal.

Obesity can lead to:

Seizures;
Diabetes;
Respiratory disease;
Heart disease;
Kidney disease;
Skin diseases;
Some forms of cancer.

Obesity may affect your dog’s overall demeanor and can steal that spunky, playful zeal for life that made you fall for your pooch. You may also notice fatigue and a reluctance to go for walks and play before you even notice that your dog’s size is beyond that of a healthy canine.

Causes of Obesity in Dogs

Although some health risks of obesity are irreversible (such as diabetes), as with humans, obesity can be cured and you can take steps right now to turn your dog’s weight problem around before it gets too serious. Often obesity is easily prevented with healthy diets and activity.

However, some cases are not attributed to overeating alone but can be traced to other factors, such as recent surgeries, medications, or your dog’s age and breed.

As we age, our energy levels and metabolisms slow down, and dogs are no different. Also, after spaying and neutering, the absence of certain hormones can play a role in weight gain. Be aware of all these factors when making decisions about your pet’s diet.

Dog Breeds Prone to Obesity

Is your dog’s breed a factor? Many dog breeds evolved for a certain purpose that typically included hunting, working, or endurance. However, as dog owners, we tend to choose our family pet based on temperament and appearance.

Once we get our pooches home, hunting and herding are not on the daily list of activities, and dogs can easily become stagnant and uninspired.

Here is the list of dog breeds that are most prone to obesity.

Basset Hound;
Beagle;
Cocker Spaniel;
Dachshund;
English Bulldog;
Golden Retriever;
Labrador retriever;
Newfoundland;
Pug;
Rottweiler.

Breeds such as Dachshunds were bred to hunt, and chasing speedy prey such as rabbits and badgers is an excellent exercise. The lovable Labrador was bred to be an expert swimmer, retrieving ducks and other waterfowl. All dogs, but especially labs and Weiner dogs need to run, chase, and play to avoid the common fate of obesity.

Other breeds prone to obesity include Rottweilers, Bulldogs, Pitbulls, and Pugs. Because of their rotund body type, owners dismiss excess weight as part of their overall persona, but overweight puppies (and later dogs!) are not bred intentionally.

Treatment: How to Help My Dog Lose Weight

Also, like humans, weight loss starts with healthy choices and physical activity. Healthy eating is crucial in any weight loss program including that of a canine. As much as we love spoiling our puppies with table scraps, that habit needs to be the first one broken.

Choosing the Best Weight Management Dog Food

Aside from the fact that there are many human foods and spices that can make your dog sick or can even be deadly, your dog does not need the extra calories.

It is best to stick with foods and treats formulated specifically for dogs. With the enormous variety of options available today, you should have no problem finding diet dog food and treats that your pet loves.

Remember, puppies are easy to please. They love you just for being you, likewise, they will love most dog treats, provided they are not accustomed to steak and ice cream as a treat.

Each dog is different when it comes to eating habits. Some can scarf down a bowl of kibble within seconds, others take all day to finish their meal. Keep track of feeding times and use a measuring cup to ensure each feeding is consistent.

If your dog is a “grazer,” keep the bowl of food available for a certain amount of time, then put it away until the next feeding time.

Consistency with food amounts and feeding times are key when it comes to avoiding over-feeding. Also, most brands of dog food offer a chart with recommendations for the amount of food needed for various dog sizes.

For example: a 20-pound dog may require 1 and 1/4 cups of food per day, depending on the brand and type.

How to Choose the Best Dog Diet Food

Dieting is never a fun word and requires discipline and label reading. If your dog is a member of a family with kiddos, make sure that your little ones know the diet rules too. Encourage them to be a part of the solution. Everyone in the household should be onboard and commit to ending the excessive snacking.

Next, choose a high protein diet that will satiate your dog’s hunger and lead to less begging. Be sure that your dog’s food does not contain fillers, sugars, or unneeded carbohydrates that offer temporary fullness and superfluous calories. Just as humans are healthiest with a natural diet, so are dogs.

When choosing the best dog food for weight loss, a good rule is to choose a calorie count of 265 and 350 per 8-ounce cup or 13-ounce can. Canned food is often recommended when weight loss is the goal, due to its higher protein content.

Petcube: An Innovative Way to Help with Weight Loss for Dogs

As a society, we tend to show love with food, but when it comes to man’s best friend, the best way to show love is by helping your dog be as healthy as possible. We might think that food makes our pooches happy, but what they really crave is your attention and stimulating activities.

If you need a creative solution to keep your pal busy, the Petcube pet camera is an excellent option that can keep your dog active no matter where you are.

Petcube can be easily mounted in your home or apartment and dispenses treats on cue from the convenience of an app. With speakers and cameras for communicating and observing, Petcube is a great way to keep tabs and ensure your pets are staying healthy when you’re not around.

If you feel that you need professional guidance, you may start with a vet consultation first; it can be either a vet clinic visit or an Online Vet consultation, but vet help can make the whole process smoother for your doggo.

Petcube has also launched a new service called Emergency Fund. Pet emergency fund is a smart and worry-free option to secure your dog's (or cat's!) health. With the subscription, you will get access to an emergency fund for all of your pets at a fraction of the cost compared to pet insurance.

Dogs offer us so much: loyalty, friendship, and joy. In return, we can offer them a long healthy life with as much love and attention as we can afford.

About the author: Amanda Garner is a dog owner, experienced writer, and teacher with experience in communication, proofreading, and copywriting.