Is my senior dog overweight?

October 3rd 2022

Being overweight at any age can cause health problems, but it is especially problematic when your dog is older.

We might think that now they are in their twilight years they deserve to eat what they like and overindulge, but sadly in many cases being overweight means your dog is in more pain.

• Extra weight puts more physical pressure on the joints, and as 80% of dogs over the age of eight have osteoarthritis this extra weight can reduce mobility, increase stiffness and pain.
• Body fat cells secrete pro-inflammatory chemicals – aggravating areas of the body where there is already inflammation.
• Extra weight puts pressure on the organs, including lungs, heart and kidneys. In senior dogs, these organs may already be compromised.
• In flat faced (brachiocephalic breeds) extra weight can impede breathing.
• Overweight dogs are at an increased risk from diseases such as cancer and diabetes mellitus.

It can be difficult to determine if your dog is overweight when you see them day in and day out, but many veterinary practices run free weight clinics where you can get advice and weigh your dog regularly.

It can also be hard to admit that your dog is overweight but the good news is that you have the ability to help your dog lose weight, be happier and live longer!  Studies show that a dog’s quality of life improves after losing weight[i]

These guidelines may help you assess if your dog is overweight.

Your dog is probably overweight if:

1.       You can’t easily feel their ribs

2.       They don’t have a visible waist when viewed from above or the side (they should have an obvious abdominal tuck after the ribcage)

3.       You can’t easily feel their spine

4.       They have rolls of fat around their neck

5.       The have a fat pad on their hips at the base of their tail

6.       They have a saggy tummy

Overweight dogs may also pant more and be reluctant to play or go for walks.

Don’t be embarrassed in asking for help if you feel your dog is overweight. It’s never too late to start making some changes and a good vet, vet nurse and pet nutritionist will support and advise you without being judgemental.

In the meantime here are some of the things you can do to help, and they might even save you money!

1.       Change to a low-fat dog food, such as a senior diet or diet for weight control

2.       Find out from your vet, vet nurse or pet nutritionist how much your dog should weigh. You need to know their target/ideal weight.

3.       Feed the recommended amount of food for your dog’s ideal/target weight not the weight they are now.

4.       Ensure you weigh out the food on measuring scales – measuring cups can overestimate how much to feed by up to 80%!

5.       Cut out treats, tit-bits, chews and left overs. Only keep in the items that your vet nurse or nutritionist has calculated for (which should be about 10% of the total daily calories).

If you would like any help selecting the right diet, or calculating how much your much your dog should eat to lose weight please do get in touch!  contact@vetskitchen.co.uk 01793 887 555