How do you recognize a healthy weight in dogs?
A dog is more likely to become overweight than underweight due to its diet and many treats. When is a dog considered overweight or underweight?
There are various lists showing the most common dog breeds and their corresponding weights. These are average weights that are not the same for every dog. They serve as guidelines to consider but nothing more. To know how good your dog's condition is, you need to critically observe and feel them; this involves checking the amount of fat on the ribs, the waist size, muscle mass, and whether any bone protrusions are visible.
Healthy weight in dogs
If your dog's ribs can be easily felt under a thin layer of fat, it means they are in good condition. The ribs are not visible, nor are the lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones. Additionally, they have a well-defined waist and a rising belly line.
Overweight in dogs
If you can barely or cannot feel the ribs and the dog looks ‘well-filled,’ it means they are overweight. Fat pads appear on the neck, the loins, the base of the tail, and the waist is (almost) not visible. The belly line is no longer rising but rather sloping downward. Dogs are severely overweight if they have a bulging hanging belly that is wider than the chest.
Underweight in dogs
In underweight dogs, the ribs are visible and there is no fat layer left. The lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones become visible. The waist is clearly present and the belly line is strongly rising. All bony protrusions can be seen from a distance, and muscle mass has decreased.
