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How to Know if My Dog is Overweight or Underweight?

How to Know if My Dog is Overweight or Underweight?

Image source: touslestoutous AI

It is essential to ensure that your dog maintains a healthy weight to guarantee their quality of life and prevent various health issues. This article will help you identify if your dog is overweight or underweight and provide solutions to address it.

If no solution works, do not forget to consult a veterinarian, especially if the weight change is significant, to evaluate any potential medical causes.

Why is it important to monitor your dog's weight?

Your dog's weight is a key indicator of their health. Excess weight can lead to diseases such as diabetes, joint problems, or heart issues, while insufficient weight can signal nutritional deficiencies or underlying medical disorders.

How to evaluate your dog's ideal weight?

The ideal weight varies depending on your dog's breed, size, and age. Here are some indicators to evaluate their weight:

How to use a Body Condition Score (BCS)?

The Body Condition Score (BCS) is a practical tool for evaluating a dog's body fat proportion. It is based on a scale generally ranging from 1 to 9, where:

Body Condition Score (BCS)

To use the BCS:

  1. Palpate the ribs: Run your hands along your dog's sides. Compare the palpability of the ribs to the description of each BCS score. For example, if the ribs are very prominent, the score will be low (1 to 3).
  2. Observe the waist: Look at your dog from above. A well-defined waist corresponds to scores 4 to 5, while a lack of waist definition indicates a higher score (6 to 9).
  3. Examine the belly: Viewed from the side, a slightly tucked belly indicates an ideal weight (4 to 5), while a sagging belly corresponds to being overweight (6 to 9).
  4. Consult visual guides: Use BCS illustrations or diagrams available from veterinarians or online to directly compare your observations with visual standards.
  5. Seek veterinary advice: If you have doubts, a professional can confirm the evaluation and provide tailored recommendations.

The BCS is a reliable and easy-to-use method for monitoring your dog's health and quickly detecting any weight issues. By comparing your dog's physical observations to the detailed descriptions of the scale, you can clearly identify their body condition.

Signs of an overweight dog

Common signs include:

Signs of an underweight dog

An underweight dog may exhibit the following characteristics:

It is crucial to identify the underlying causes, which may include:

Why and how to weigh your dog?

Regularly weighing your dog is essential for monitoring weight changes over time. Here are some practical tips to integrate this step into your routines:

By integrating weight into your regular evaluations, you will have a quantifiable indicator that, combined with the BCS, will help you maintain your dog's optimal health.

What to do if your dog is overweight or underweight?


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