Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for your dog’s overall wellbeing, energy levels, and longevity. Whether your pup is a playful retriever or a relaxed lapdog, understanding their ideal weight and monitoring changes over time can help reduce their risk for health issues and allow them to thrive.
Ready to learn how you can tell if your dog is at a healthy weight? This guide will provide you with a checklist of steps you can use to assess and maintain your dog’s weight and help them live a happy, healthy life.
A Healthy Weight Guide for Your Dog: 4 Steps to Follow
A structured approach to monitoring your dog’s weight puts you in a better position to catch potential issues early and make necessary adjustments to their diet and exercise. This checklist covers multiple factors that contribute to healthy weight, and how you can take steps to supporting your furry four-legged friend.
Weigh your dog
If you’re concerned your dog may not be at a healthy weight, this is one of the most straightforward ways to find out. In an ideal scenario, you can get your dog to stand still on a scale to measure their weight. If your dog isn’t cooperating, you can use a scale and a little math.
- Stand on the scale and record your weight.
- Pick up your dog and record your combined weight on the scale.
- Subtract your weight from the combined total to calculate your dog’s weight.
This method may not work for dogs who are too heavy to hold or won’t stay still enough for an accurate measurement. In these cases, you may need to visit your veterinarian. Some vets won’t charge for a quick weight check, but contact them first to make sure.
How often should I do this?
It can depend on your dog. Puppies or dogs who are already dealing with weight issues should be weighed more often – once a month is a good frequency for these furry friends.
Dogs who appear in good health and don’t raise any red flags during a Body Condition Score can be weighed much less often. A weigh-in once every six months or a year is common, although you can certainly do them more often if you notice any changes or want more frequent checks.
Body condition score
The Body Condition Score (BCS) is a visual and physical assessment to give you a better idea if your dog is at a healthy weight. This process involves assessing five different parts of your dog’s body:
- Rib test: Run your hands along each side of your dog’s ribcage, starting from behind the front legs. You should be able to feel each of your dog’s ribs under a small layer of fat.
- Back test: Run one hand along your dog’s spine from the shoulders to the hips. You should be able to clearly feel their spine, but the vertebrae should feel smooth and not overly sharp.
- Hip test: Your dog’s hips should be clearly visible and rounded with a layer of fat. Like the spine, you should be able to feel your dog’s hip bones, but they shouldn’t be too prominent.
- Abdomen test: Look at your dog as they stand naturally. Their abdomen should tuck in slightly below the ribcage and not be overly rounded.
- Waist test: When your dog is standing, look down at them from above. You should see an hourglass shape with a clear waistline that tucks in slightly toward the hips.
How often should I do this?
It’s a good idea to conduct a full BCS once a month to help you stay on top on any unhealthy weight loss or gain.
Monitor energy and mobility
Your dog’s energy level helps indicate if your dog is at a healthy weight. Dogs at a healthy weight are more likely to move around with ease and be enthusiastic about walks and other activities, while weight issues can lead to less energy or joint issues. Potential warning signs that your dog has less energy include:
- The inability to exercise normally for their size and age without excessive fatigue.
- Difficulty standing up, lying down, jumping, or climbing stairs.
- Reluctance to exercise.
- Lagging behind on walks or moving slowly during playtime.
Of course, it’s important to remember that one dog’s energy level can be completely different from others. Some dog breeds, such as Shih Tzus and Saint Bernards, tend to be lower-energy pets than other canine companions. You know your dog best, so watch out for notable differences in their behavior to spot potential weight issues that affect their energy and mobility.
How often should I do this?
This step is more about ongoing maintenance than any official process, but it’s a good idea to keep a checklist handy for a proper assessment at regular intervals. Try to run through the list of warning signs at least once a month so that you can track how your dog fares over time and can spot any trends that may indicate potential weight problems.
Regular vet visits
Whether you’re worried about your dog’s weight or not, vet visits are an important step in helping your dog maintain a healthy weight. Make sure to take everything you’ve learned to the vet and discuss a few important topics:
- Go over Body Condition Score (BCS) with your veterinarian.
- Review weight history and trends.
- Adjust feeding and exercise routines based on vet recommendations.
How often should I do this?
Your dog should start with at least annual vet visits. If your dog is dealing with weight issues or other challenges, you’ll want to discuss a more frequent check-up schedule with your vet.
Tips for Choosing the Best Healthy Weight Dog Food
Your dog’s food plays a pivotal role in helping them maintain an ideal weight. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is best? Here are some tips to help you confidently choose a nutritious, balanced diet that supports your dog’s weight and overall wellbeing.
Pick dog food tailored to your dog’s current weight
If your dog needs to gain or lose weight, you’ll need to look for food that can help them with either goal. Keep the following criteria in mind when choosing dog food for your best friend.
- Overweight: Opt for healthy weight formula with controlled levels of fat and protein.
- Underweight: Choose a dog food that’s rich in protein, healthy fat, and other key ingredients. Consider adding a dog food topper or some other nutritious supplements to help increase your dog’s caloric intake.
Consider your dog’s other dietary needs
There are a variety of factors that affect which type of formula is best suited to your dog, regardless of their weight. The following factors can help you narrow down your search for the right healthy weight dog food.
- Age: Many formulas are made specifically for puppies, adults, and senior dogs, while some dog foods are good for all your dog’s life stages.
- Size: Big dogs have different nutritional needs than more compact canines. Check each product to see if they’re made for a specific size of dog.
- Other health issues: Certain dog foods are formulated to support different issues, such as sensitive skin or digestive health. For example, dog food or toppers that support joint health can benefit overweight dogs.
Look for quality ingredients
Dog food shouldn’t sacrifice quality ingredients to help dogs gain or lose weight. High-quality nutrition is essential, and there are a few details you can check on each product’s label to ensure your dog is getting a meal they deserve.
- Ingredients list: A breakdown of everything that is in your dog’s food in order of most to least prominent. This list gives you a better idea of exactly what your dog is eating and if it has everything they need to thrive.
- Guaranteed analysis: A breakdown of the minimum levels of protein, fat, and other nutrients in a product.
- Nutritional adequacy: An official statement that lets you know if the product meets the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Food Control Officials (AAFCO).
- Feeding recommendations: General guidelines on how much food you should give your dog and how often to feed them, which you can adjust depending on your dog’s specific needs.
Keeping Your Dog Healthy: A Lifelong Journey
Maintaining a healthy weight is an ongoing process, but regular monitoring and proper nutrition can help your best friend thrive throughout their life.
Want to learn more about how you can help your furry friend stay happy, healthy, and well fed? Sign up for the Best Friends Club for more educational articles, special tips, and members-only discounts on Bil-Jac treats and other products.
