5 Ways to Tell if Your Dog or Cat is Overweight

This entry was written by Melissa Grosjean, posted on October 13, 2009 at 9:45 pm, and filed under Health.
Weight Management for Dogs and Cats (Part I)
 
Are You Killing Your Best Friend With Kindness?

Can’t resist those big brown eyes coveting the dinner on your plate?  Do you give into those mournful meows because “She just seems so hungry all the time?”  If so, you may be killing your furry friend with kindness.  In America, 44% of dogs and 57% of cats are overweight according to a 2008 large scale study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. 

What many pet guardians fail to understand is that a few extra pounds on a dog or cat is comparable to an extra 30 to 50 pounds on a human.  Overweight companion animals are at a higher risk for a number of health problems including:

  •  Diabetes
  • Joint Stiffness and Arthritis
  • Non-Allergenic Skin Disorders
  • Lower Urinary Tract Issues
  • Fatty Liver Disease
  • Shortened Life Span

How to tell if your dog or cat is overweight:

1)       Feel their ribs.  You should be able to feel each individual rib with a slight layer of fat over them.  If you have to work at feeling those ribs or can’t feel them at all, it’s time for a weight-loss plan.  If you can see the ribs, your companion may too thin.

2)       Feel the area over the base of your dog or cat’s tail.  A slight layer of fat over the bones is good.  If the bones are hard to find, the animal is overweight.

3)       Feel other bony areas such as the spine, shoulders and hips.  Again, a slight layer of fat is what we are looking for.  If they are visible, the animal may be too thin.  If there is extra padding, then your companion is overweight.

4)       Look at your companion from above.  You should see a waist behind the rib cage of a cat or dog in appropriate condition.  In the photo below our friends Honda and Jack have modeled this view.  Jack, on the left, is in ideal condition and shows a nice waist.  Honda, his buddy on the right, is overweight – his waist is missing.

5)       Finally, look at your companion from the side. 

How to tell if your pet is overweight

How to tell if your pet is overweight

The waist should again be visible – a “tuck” behind the rib cage area.  If the animal’s waist is the same depth as his chest, he is definitely overweight.  This side view will vary from breed to breed with greyhounds and similarly built dogs looking thin compared to others as they have rather deep chests and smaller waists. 

If your veterinarian has ruled out any health conditions that are causing your friend’s extra weight gain, then a weight management program is in order.  Crash diets are not healthy, however.  Aim for a gradual weight loss of .5 – 2% of body weight per week.  If you can, weigh your pet weekly.  Most veterinary offices are happy to let you bring your dog in just to weigh him. 

Older animals tend to be more overweight than their younger friends.  Extra pounds in older pets amplify any pre-existing conditions and complicate treatment.  Veterinarians report seeing more and more diabetes, respiratory, and arthritic conditions in older pets as a direct result of obesity.  Actively managing your pet’s weight is one of the kindest things you can do them, and they will reward your kindness with long-lived loyalty and friendship.

Coming Next:  Part II – Helping your dog or cat take off the pounds

Ready to do the healthiest thing for your pet? Order Darwin's Natural Pet Food

  • Robin
    The moment you refer to a pet OWNER as a "guardian" you open another door in the Animal Rights arsenal that will obiviate all the good intent this article is providing, as the term "guardian" allows an outside authority to decide what your pet eats and if that authority says you can only feed cheap kibble, then you will have NO choice in the matter and can ultimately LOSE possession of your pet. "Guardian" is a political term coined by the likes of PETA and HSUS to remove your rights to make decisions for your pets. Please refrain from using it in such and otherwise excellent article.
  • Melissa
    We are PET OWNERS not guardians! Guardians puts a whole different legal spin on things, it's not the happy touchy great word ppl think it is! When your a guardian.... that state is allowing you to care for someone/something.... but you have no legal say over things ultimately with that person/thing that your a guardian of......
  • Susan Willis
    Nice article! Pets should never have human food! There are some human foods that can make your pet sick or even kill them!
  • Melissa Grosjean
    Sounds like you have quite a big boy there! If you are feeling all his ribs easily and he is as tall and muscular as you describe, then it is not likely he is overweight.

    Cats that are “pudgy” generally have a layer of fat over the ribs that can be felt beneath the skin. Your veterinarian may or may not mention a slight weight problem depending on his relationship with you. However, most veterinarians will bring a weight problem to the owner’s attention if it is significant enough to affect the cat’s wellbeing.

    If you are concerned about his weight, it is advisable to monitor his condition by weighing him weekly to detect and thwart any upward trend in the numbers on the scale.
  • Sandra
    My youngest cat weighs 21 lbs, but he's huge all over. And he's REALLY muscular. We used to joke that he was going to get his own tv show and "whip those fat house kitties into shape." His coat just gleams. And he's very tall, almost like he's a cross with some wild cat.

    My vet has never said anything about his weight and I can feel every one of his ribs and his vertebrae, but he looks pudgy. Then again, he has demonstrably big muscles. He can lift his weight by one paw when climbing things.

    Wouldn't the vet have said something if he was overweight?
  • susan
    My dogs are 6 and have been on a raw diet for a year. The Alpha and food snatcher has gained 1 lb a month since May. ?! I had no idea til we were at the vet and she pointed it out. He's only getting 2-3% of his body weight to eat. His bro gets the same (or a little more) and is slender, so obviously a higher metabolism. I know dogs need fat and oil in their diet, but do you think I should be removing the skin from his raw food to reduce the fat while I try to get him to the righ weight? It doesn't seem like less than 2% of his weight in food would be wise. Any thoughts would be appreciated. (He's 63 pounds coonhound mix and looked right at about 55 pounds. His bro is 55 pounds but has a slenderer hound build overall.)
  • Melissa Grosjean
    Thank you for sharing your thoughts about Sighthounds and weight management. Sighthounds, (Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, etc) are definitely an exception to the rule when it comes to judging proper weight. A Greyhound or other Sighthound in good condition will always have visible ribs, and some will have visible hips and backbone as well. I appreciate the clarification for those who may not be aware of this breed difference.
  • Sighthound owner
    It's good of you to write this article. However, when you state that if a dogs bones can be seen it's underweight - you're making a bit of an overstatement that does not apply to all breeds of dogs. My sighthound has clearly visible ribs, hips and spine yet she is hardly what one might call undernourished. Actually I let her eat as much as she wants - except prior to a race, when a full stomach might actually be hazardous to her health. Other days I trust she knows how much nutrition she needs. She's also very good at demanding treats, so I would hardly call her underweight. No, I do not use the cheapest possible food for her. I use a quality product recommended by the breeder(s). She is by far too dear to me.
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