Canine obesity has become a growing problem over the last few years. Historically, dogs have been bred to help humans with physical activities, from herding farm animals, to hunting down game, to protecting property. However, in the last few decades, more and more dogs have started entering the home as beloved members of the family.

While these are all just different manifestations of how dogs can be man’s best friend, the trend of dogs shifting from work to companionship has resulted in more food and less exercise.

All fur parents have been guilty of slipping their dog a treat or two outside of their usual feeding schedule. Many do not have time to give their dog the physical exercise they need to stay fit. Over the years, this can add up to numbers on the scale that have a very real effect on your dog’s health and wellbeing.

The Lowdown on Canine Obesity

Obesity is defined as the accumulation of excessive amounts of body fat. The keyword here is “excessive”. Body fat in itself is not unhealthy. In fact, it serves several essential functions, including energy storage, insulation, padding, and vitamin absorption and processing. Too much or too little will have detrimental effects on an animal’s health.

There are many reasons why dogs become obese, but all of them have the same mechanism: the energy derived from food far exceeds the energy needed for regular activities. It could be because they are fed too much, or because they exercise too little, or because hormonal imbalances favor storage versus usage, among others.

Canine obesity has been linked to several health issues, including joint pain, heart problems, and higher risk for cancers. It is arguably the most common nutritional issue in dogs today, and yet it is among the easiest to prevent. If your pup does need some help shedding unhealthy pounds, we can guide you in helping your dog lose weight.

And the best way to do that is by teaching dog owners to recognize telltale signs of canine obesity.

How you can see if your dog is overweight

The medical definition of obesity revolves around body fat. But measuring the percentage of body fat in an animal is difficult to do without proper equipment.

As such, animal health care professionals rely on relative body weight, body condition scoring, and looking for any changes in behavior.

Some aspects of this can be done at home, but remember these methods are only meant to point fur parents in the right direction. Ultimately the diagnosis of obesity, its underlying cause, and corresponding treatment should be done by a licensed veterinarian.

Relative Body Weight

The value of measuring body weight to help recognize obesity lies in how easy it is to do and how objective it is. All you need is an accurate weighing scale that your dog can get on.

However, results must be taken with a grain of salt. Deviations from the ideal standards for the breed do not automatically mean your dog is unhealthy. It is, however, a sign that further assessment should be taken.

The most important thing to consider when taking bodyweight measurements is setting the proper baseline. Knowing the ideal body weight range for your dog’s breed is essential for interpretation. For example, the normal weight range of a Beagle is very different from that of an English bulldog, even if they are close in size. Hence, bodyweight should not be taken at face value, but be interpreted relative to an ideal range.

This method can be applied to purebred dogs because the average weight ranges of the breed have been extensively researched and are easily available online. There is limited use of body weight measurements as a marker of obesity in mixed breed dogs.

If your dog is 10-20% above the maximum on his breed’s ideal weight range, he is considered overweight. Any more than that and he is considered obese.

Body Condition Score

Dogs are arguably the most phenotypically diverse species on the planet. Because they come in all shapes and sizes, veterinarians had to develop a way to spot weight issues that could be applied to different breeds, including those with mixed ancestry. This is where body condition scoring (BCS) comes in.

This method is done by examining a dog for certain physical characteristics that studies have shown correlation with weight issues. There are visual guides to show to score properly, but at the end of the day, it is a subjective measure. Find more detailed information on body condition score from VCA Hospitals

To determine your dog’s body condition score at home, do the following:

1. Palpate the ribs

Regardless of breed or mix, dogs should have a thin layer of fat covering the rib area. Run your hands with gentle pressure along the sides of the chest. You should be able to feel the distinct bumps of each rib. If you cannot feel them, it means the fat cover is much too thick, pointing to obesity.

Note that the ribs should be easily palpable, but not necessarily easily seen. If bony prominences are seen even from a distance, your dog is likely to be underweight. However, some breeds, including those from the sighthound family, are naturally sleek and appear bony.

2. Look for the abdominal tuck

The abdominal tuck is a gradual narrowing between the chest and the abdomen. This can be observed in two ways: from the side and from the top.

Get your dog to stand still and get his side view. The chest area should be dip closer to the ground than the abdomen. If your dog’s belly is at the same height from the ground as his chest--or worse, sagging even farther down--then your dog is likely to be obese.

When viewing from the top, the shape you’re looking for is an hourglass. It should be wide at the shoulders and taper gently towards the middle of the trunk, only to widen again slightly at the level of the rump. If the outline of your dog’s left and right sides are parallel to each other, or bulge outwards, your dog has a weight problem.

Observe behavioral changes

Overweight and obese dogs have difficulty being as physically active as their healthier counterparts. Joint pain, cardiovascular disease, difficult breathing, and hormonal imbalances all contribute to decreased ability to exercise.

If you notice that your dog stops often during walks, appears to have difficulty breathing after a few minutes of play, avoids going up the stairs, or gets tired easily, it may be because he is heavier than is healthy. And if you need help getting back to a healthy body, we can help with healthy weight loss ideas for your dog and a breed-specific guide to exercise requirements.

Is my dog obese? How to tell if your dog is overweight.