Is My Animal Overweight? How to Check at Home
Extra weight shortens lives and strains joints. A simple hands-on check tells you more than the scale alone.
Excess weight is one of the most common health problems in companion animals. It raises the risk of joint disease, diabetes and breathing problems, and can shorten life.
The hands-on check
Vets use a body condition score rather than weight alone, because a healthy weight differs between breeds and builds. You can do a simple version at home:
- Ribs - run your hands along the sides of the chest. You should feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard.
- Waist from above - looking down, there should be a visible narrowing behind the ribs.
- Tummy from the side - the belly should tuck up behind the ribcage rather than hang level or sag.
If you can't feel the ribs, can't see a waist, or the belly sags, your animal is probably carrying extra weight. If the ribs, spine and hip bones stand out sharply, your animal may be too thin - which also deserves a vet check.
Practical steps
- Measure food with a kitchen scale or proper cup instead of guessing.
- Count treats as part of the daily total - they add up quickly.
- Avoid table scraps, which are often high in fat and salt.
- Increase activity gradually - longer walks for dogs, play sessions with toys for cats.
- Weigh regularly and keep a record so you can see the trend.
Lose weight safely
Sudden diets can be dangerous - cats in particular can develop serious liver disease if they stop eating or lose weight too fast. Ask your vet to set a target weight and a safe rate of loss, and to rule out medical causes of weight gain such as an underactive thyroid in dogs.