How to tell if your pet has an ideal weight?

Being under or overweight can be a sign that your pet’s wellbeing is affected. As pet parents, we want the best for our furry friends.

Most of the pets are overweight nowadays, even if owners don’t think so. 😉

It’s so easy to overfeed your pet… and it’s also hard to resist the “puppy eyes” – yes, yes, we know! You love them and you cannot resist them! But if you have an overweight pet, you must start taking care of this aspect as obesity has lots and lots of consequences on their health (eg. diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease).

If you get the feeling that your pet is losing weight, most probably it is not just in your head. This can mean anything from some dental problems to much more serious endocrine diseases.

Let’s see how you can check your pet’s weight at home (without getting them on a scale).

Body Condition Score Charts

Here are some examples of charts for different pets: Pet Size-O-Meter

Body condition score charts help you figure out where your pet falls on the healthy weight scale. Most body condition score charts work on a scale of 1-5 or 1-9—1 being emaciated, and the highest number being morbidly obese.

Feel your pet’s ribs

Run your hand gently over your pet’s side. If you cannot feel them or if you just feel like they are covered by a layer of fat, oh well, this might mean that your furry friend is overweight. On the other hand, if you feel too much rib, that’s also a problem.

Feel around your pet’s spine

This should be done just like gently tapping on the ribs. You should be able to feel the bones, but not excessively. If the vertebrae feel very knobbly or like there’s nothing on top of them, your pet is underweight. If they’re difficult to feel, you have an overweight pet.

What to do if you have an under/overweight pet?

The best person to talk to is always your vet, so if you have any questions or worries, schedule a video call with your pet care provider and see if you have to take your pet for a check-up.