![]() So while there’s not a dog weight chart per say, the BCS chart is a way to tell about how much body fat your dog should have. Dogs who are obese will have excessive soft or fatty areas that are evident, and it will be more difficult or impossible to feel their ribs or hip bones.” Dogs that are too thin will have bony prominences, particularly over the hip bones, shoulder blades and ribs. Physically palpating is particularly important in dogs with excess fur. “There should be a nice, seemingly proportionate “abdominal tuck” or “hourglass” when palpating your dog’s waist from the side or along his back. There should be no overlying fat, and they should not be seen readily. Individual ribs should be evident without having to press hard, but they should not be readily felt. “To begin, gently press your hands over the rib cage. PetMD recommends the following method to help you decide which area on the chart your dog lands: You can think of a dog’s BCS kind of like a dog BMI. A Body Condition Score (BCS) is a rating that is typically on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being too thin, 5 being obese, and 3 being the idea score that your dog should be at. One way to tell if your dog is maybe overweight is by looking at a Body Condition Score chart. If you do have an overweight dog, don’t fear! Scheduling a visit with your vet can help you come up with a manageable plan for your dog’s diet and exercise to get your dog back on track. Newly developed snoring or difficulty breathing after your daily walk could be chalked up to the fact that your dog may be overweight, so if you notice these symptoms be sure to check with your vet to rule out other health issues and set up a weight loss plan if needed. Snoring is a sign that not many people think of when it comes to your dog putting on a few extra pounds, but those extra pounds can lead to impaired respiratory function. ![]() This is why a diet with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are super important for overweight dogs, but if you notice your dog is having a harder time getting around (for example, it’s taking a few extra tries to get onto the couch) it could be a sign that extra weight is putting stress on their joints. One thing that you should keep in mind is that if your dog is overweight it could put extra stress on their joints. Other signs your dog is overweight include a range of more obvious symptoms like physical appearance to less obvious signs like snoring. Ward calls “Swiffer cats”), that indicates the most dangerous and biologically active form of fat, abdominal fat, is present. ![]() If the abdomen hangs low and drags near the ground (a condition in cats Dr. “Finally, when you observe your pet from the side as it stands, you should see a slight tuck or upward slope of the tummy. If your pet looks like a blimp from above, it’s probably overweight or has obesity. “Next, when you look down on your pet from above, you should see an hourglass figure or an indentation near the midsection. ![]() “First, you should be able to easily feel – and count – your dog’s ribs when you lightly run your fingers across the side. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention details the following guidelines to help get an idea if your pet is overweight: “Is my dog overweight?” “Is my puppy fat?” “Is my dog obese?” When it comes to how to tell if your dog is overweight, there are a few ways to get an idea if a vet visit is in order. ![]()
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