You may try to overlook your four-legged family member’s expanding waistline, but excess weight can be a serious detriment to your pet’s health. Obesity is a huge problem in the United States, with more than half the pet population being considered overweight or obese. Many pet owners do not realize that a few extra pounds can take a harmful toll on their pet’s health and longevity, and they don’t know how to assess their pet’s body condition. Obesity is a serious but preventable condition, and our Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center team has the information you need to determine if your pet is overweight and help them live their healthiest, happiest life.

Weight-related health conditions in pets

Extra pounds can significantly impact a pet’s health. Overweight and obese pets have an increased risk for developing the following conditions: 

  • Arthritis — Extra weight can put stress on a pet’s joints, leading to arthritis. This painful condition can limit your pet’s mobility and reduce their enthusiasm for physical activities.
  • Pancreatitis — Overweight pets are prone to pancreatic inflammation, which can result in severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Kidney disease — Obesity may lead to metabolic changes that stress the kidneys, resulting in chronic kidney disease over time.
  • Respiratory Issues — Excess weight can restrict lung function, causing breathing difficulties and decreased oxygen intake.
  • Decreased heat tolerance — Overweight pets are predisposed to suffering from heat intolerance and may become quickly exhausted during exercise, further exacerbating obesity issues
  • Cardiovascular problems — Overweight pets are prone to high blood pressure, which can cause artery damage, kidney failure, or congestive heart failure.
  • Diabetes — Obesity can make pets resistant to insulin, increasing their diabetes risk.
  • Increased anesthetic risk — Overweight pets face higher anesthesia health risks, such as respiratory distress or drug-interaction complications, than pets who are at a healthy weight.

How to determine if your pet is overweight

To determine if your pet is overweight, you need to observe their body shape and palpate their ribs to calculate their body condition score (BCS). Consider the following:

  • Scale number — A pet who weighs 10% to 20% more than their ideal body weight is considered overweight. A pet who weighs more than 20% higher than their ideal body weight is considered obese. 
  • BCS — To get a comprehensive picture of your pet’s weight and overall health, calculate their BCS. A BCS assigns a number to your pet’s weight based on a visual fat evaluation at a few key body locations. To determine your pet’s BCS, consider your responses to the following questions as you examine their body:
    • Does your pet’s stomach sag? — A sagging stomach indicates that your pet is carrying too much weight.
    • Can you easily distinguish your pet’s ribs? — You should be able to feel your pet’s rib cage without applying much pressure.
    • Does your pet have a defined waist? — At a healthy weight, your pet’s waist should taper between their abdomen and their hips, creating an hourglass shape. Overweight pets tend to be oval-shaped.
  • Behavior changes — Monitoring your pet’s behavior during daily activities can help you identify weight problem signs. Weight-related discomfort signs may include:
    • Struggling to get up after sitting or lying down
    • Wheezing
    • Excessive  panting
    • Decreased exercise tolerance
    • Lethargy
    • Appearing winded after minimal activity

Strategies to help your pet achieve their ideal weight

If your pet’s BCS is higher than five, they need to lose weight. To address your pet’s veterinary, nutritional, and exercise needs, follow our tips: 

  • Team up with your veterinarian — To determine whether your pet is overweight or obese, our Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center team will perform your pet’s comprehensive physical evaluation to rule out any underlying illnesses that could be causing weight gain. Then, we will create a tailored plan to help your pet lose weight safely and effectively.
  • Set a weight-loss goal — Your veterinarian can help you determine your pet’s realistic target weight, so you can work toward the goal in a gradual, sustainable manner.
  • Support your pet’s nutrition — Safe and effective weight loss requires tailored nutrition to fuel your pet’s body and simultaneously burn excess fat. Veterinarian-prescribed weight-loss diets include high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber to fuel your pet’s activity while supporting a healthy metabolism and helping them feel full and satisfied. 
  • Provide daily exercise — All pets need daily exercise to stimulate fat burning, build muscle, and increase cardiovascular stamina. Begin with low-impact exercise to meet your overweight or obese pet’s current cardiovascular and physical capacities. 
  • Cut back on treats — Too many treats are bad for your pet’s waistline and overall health. As a general rule, treats’ calories should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s daily diet. 
  • Monitor progress — Monitor your pet’s progress with regular weigh-ins and BCSs. Consult with our team if your pet experiences a weight-loss plateau before reaching their goal weight. 

Obesity is a serious but preventable condition. Follow our recommendations to help your pet reach and maintain their ideal weight, helping ensure they live a long, happy, and healthy life. Schedule your pet’s weight assessment with our Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center team.