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Home > Resources > Ask The Experts > Dog Advice

How To Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight

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How can you tell if your dog is overweight? (Madeline Miller - California)

It should be absolutely obvious to you and to others if your dog is dramatically heavier than he should be. He will be slow and cumbersome and find it hard to do even everyday things like chase a ball. He would show less and less interest in activities and games, and may become obsessive about food. Extreme boredom can often lead to behavioral traits such as obsessing about food, which in turn leads to obesity.

However, it may not be obvious if your dog is simply not in perfect shape. A general 'softness' is a good guide - whereby the muscles on his buttocks for example are soft and pliable. If your dog is getting plenty of exercise (whether that be in regimental walking or simply in play) and he is not eating much more than he should be, then there is little to suppose that your dog will be overweight, out with medical conditions.

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Disclaimer: This service is meant to provide advice only and is not meant to replace an appointment with a registered veterinarian. Users should always seek a second opinion. Unfortunately we are only able to answer several questions per week so not everyone gets a published answer. And, unfortunately we can't answer by email.
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