Sunday, March 21, 2010
You are not logged in: Login | Register

Determining the Ideal Weight for a Dog

By Mandi Rogier
 
Related Entries:

Overview

Obesity is the leading cause of sickness in the United States, not just for humans but for our pets as well. Keeping a dog healthy is just as important as keeping ourselves healthy. However, determining the health of a pet can be much more difficult than assessing the health of a person. As humans, we are able to talk and communicate about what's wrong and how we feel. Dogs lack the ability to communicate their problems, so it's up to their owners to determine how healthy they are. There are several steps that can help determine whether a dog is overweight.

Step 1

Look at the dog's ribs. When you feel for the ribs, you should be able to feel each individual rib, with a thin layer of fat over the bone. If you can see each rib, the dog is too thin; if you cannot feel any ribs at all, the dog is too heavy.

Step 2

Check the dog's back near the base of the tail. There will be a little fat covering the area. This is a sign of a healthy dog. Again, if you can actually see the bone sticking out, the dog is too thin; if you are unable to locate any bones while feeling the area, the dog is too heavy.

Step 3

Feel around the dog's spine, hips and shoulders. Like the ribs, these should be covered in a thin layer of fat, but you should still be able to locate them with your hand. If these bones stick out and are not covered in that thin layer of fat, the dog is too thin. If those bones are hidden from view and you cannot locate them by feeling around, the dog is overweight.

Step 4

Look at the dog from above. There should be a noticeable taper at the base of the ribs that widens at the hips. The dog should have an "hourglass figure," so to speak. This is a healthy dog. If the ribs are too visible, or if the body doesn't taper between the hips and ribs, the dog is unhealthy.

Step 5

Look at the dog from the side. Like the taper from above, from the side the dog should have a smaller diameter around the waist than around the ribs. Several types of dogs have a very distinct abdominal tuck; with others you have to look a little more closely.
Comments (1)
Jan 31, 2010 luvmydogs2010
What do you do if the dog is overweight? Mine is and I only feed her once a day. Is there diet food or could it be a medical problem as people have. Would appreciate any advice or suggestions. I just put my 14 yr old Cocker down and I am thinking it was heart failure. Since reading the article on heart conditions.
Any inappropriate content? Tell DailyPuppy!

More Puppy Pages

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Underweight?

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Underweight?

Similar to humans, dogs need to maintain a certain weight in order to survive. Having an emaciated or severely underweight dog can lead to a number of expensive and painful health problems and eventually death. Healthy weights and body mass are...

Read More

How to Determine a Dachshund's Ideal Body Weight

How to Determine a Dachshund's Ideal Body Weight

Dachshunds are spunky, lovable dogs that have won over the heart of many a dog owner. Also known as weiner dogs, this breed is typically energetic, although many dachshunds become overweight. Excess weight on this type of dog can pose many health...

Read More

Golden Retriever's Diet

Golden Retriever's Diet

Feeding quality food can improve your Golden Retriever's health and help it live a longer life. Feeding the right amount is crucial, as obesity and rapid growth can trigger hip dysplasia, a problem often found in this breed. Commercial dog food can be...

Read More

How Do I Help My Skinny Dog Gain Weight?

How Do I Help My Skinny Dog Gain Weight?

Three things can cause a dog to be underweight: parasites, disease or illness and being underfed. Finding out what is causing your dog to be underweight is important because until you address it, it will be very difficult to help your pet gain the...

Read More

Blue Line Pitbull Dog Diet

Blue Line Pitbull Dog Diet

A healthy pit bull has a powerful, muscular physique. Blue line pit bulls are no different than Red, Colby, Sorrell or other lines of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed when it comes to food and nutrition. Regardless of your pit bull's characteristics...

Read More