Is my dog overweight? And how to help them lose it

When we see our own dog every day, a slow gain of a few hundred grams a month is invisible. Then a friend who hasn’t seen them for a year says, kindly, “Hasn’t he filled out?” Surveys in several countries suggest that more than half of pet dogs are overweight or obese — and that most of their owners don’t realise it.

It matters. A long-term study of Labradors found that dogs kept lean lived, on average, nearly two years longer than their littermates, and developed arthritis later.

Check your dog with your hands

Vets use a body condition score. You can do a quick version at home — or use our body condition check:

• Ribs: you should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat, like the back of your hand. If you have to press, your dog is carrying extra weight.
• Waist: from above, there should be a visible waist behind the ribs.
• Tummy: from the side, the belly should tuck up behind the ribs.

A realistic weight-loss plan

1. See your vet first. Rule out conditions such as an underactive thyroid, and agree a target weight.
2. Weigh the food. Use a kitchen scale, not a cup. Scoops are surprisingly inaccurate — overfeeding by just 10% adds up over months.
3. Feed for the target weight, not the current weight. Our food calculator can estimate a starting point; your vet may suggest a prescription weight-loss diet, which keeps nutrition complete while calories fall.
4. Count the treats. Keep them under 10% of daily calories, or take them out of the daily food allowance. Swap biscuits for green beans, carrot or cucumber.
5. Move more, gradually — longer walks, sniffing games, swimming for dogs with sore joints.
6. Weigh every two to four weeks. A safe rate is about 1–2% of body weight a week.

The family problem

Weight loss often fails not because of the dog, but because of the household: a grandparent sharing toast, a child dropping crusts, a neighbour with biscuits. Agree the plan with everyone, and keep a daily treat allowance in a jar so there is no guessing.

Begging isn’t hunger

Dogs beg because it works, not because they are starving. Food puzzles and slow feeders make meals last longer; attention and play often satisfy what a dog was really asking for.

Questions owners ask

How fast should my dog lose weight?

About 1–2% of body weight per week. Faster loss can mean losing muscle, and very fast weight loss is not safe.

Are some breeds more prone to weight gain?

Yes. Labradors, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds and Pugs are among the breeds most often overweight. Many Labradors carry a gene variant linked to increased hunger.

Does neutering make dogs fat?

Neutering lowers energy needs, so dogs can gain weight if their food isn’t adjusted. Reducing portions by around 10–20% after neutering usually prevents it.