Signs Your Pets Should Lose Weight

Obesity in dogs can cause serious complications including hip dysplasia, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory distress and others, much like obesity complicates health issues for humans. If you are vigilant for signs your pet should lose weight and take prompt action when they are overweight, you can add years to your pet's life.

Checking the rib cage

Ideally, a dog's ribcage is only covered by a thin layer of fat. By running your hands down each sides of the dog's body, you can feel each rib on a healthy dog, but the ribs should not be actively visible. If you cannot feel the ribs through the skin and fat, the dog is overweight.

Look for rolls at the top of the tail

A dog that is significantly overweight typically develops a roll at the top of the tail, where the tail joins the rump. This area typically itches because of the folds of skin, and is a sign of severe obesity in the dog.

View the dog from a distance

View the dog from a distance, looking both from above, down over the back and from the side. From above, the dog should have a noticeable narrowing at the waist, just behind the ribcage. If the dog has no visible waist, or gets noticeably wider behind the ribcage, he is overweight. From the side, a healthy dog has a noticeable slope upward from the area of the chest near the front legs to the area of the stomach near the back legs.

If your dogs have these or other symptoms of obesity, decrease their caloric intake and increase their level of activity. You may also want to contact your veterinarian to develop a plan for getting their weight back on track to avoid unnecessary health complications.