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How to Tell if Your Dog is Overweight (and Help Them Lose It)

How to Tell if Your Dog is Overweight (and Help Them Lose It)

Updated on February 03, 2023
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team
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Keeping your dog at a proper weight is essential to their overall health. Although it's been reported that only 5 to 7 percent of pet parents think their pet is overweight, a 2018 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 55.8 percent of dogs were classified as overweight or obese.

"Obesity is one of the most commonly noted abnormalities on my physical exam notes," says Dr. Rachel Maloney, DMV, of Vetco Total Care. "Obesity has links to increased chances of osteoarthritis in dogs, along with other diseases."

Pet parents who are on the lookout for signs that their dog may be overweight can catch the problem early and hopefully prevent some of the more serious complications from occurring in the first place. Find out how to tell if your dog is overweight and what you can do to help them lose extra weight.

Is my dog overweight?

Annual veterinary visits are one of the best ways to help your dog maintain a healthy weight. In general, the earlier a weight issue is noticed, the easier it will be to get it under control. Between visits, you can also use the guidelines below to help assess your dog's shape.

How to tell if your dog is overweight

When you're assessing your pet's weight at home or with the help of a Petco partner in-store, there are a few areas to pay particular attention to.

  • Ribs: Some breeds' ribs are more visible than others. Feel for them by running your hands along the thoracic cavity/side of your dog's chest.
  • Tail base: This is where your dog's tail meets their back. Feel it with your hands.
  • Abdominal tuck: For this assessment, view your dog from the side. The abdominal tuck is where the waist curves up toward the hind end (or not!).
  • Waist: Observe your dog from above and see how their center curves in (or not!).

Your dog’s weight assessment

Obese: An obese dog has a thick fat covering that makes it very difficult to feel ribs. The base of their tail is also thick and hard to feel bones. When viewing an obese dog from the side, you will not see an abdominal tuck instead, you will likely see fat hanging from their abdomen. From above, their waist will not curve in, they will have a significantly broadened back and may even have fat build up along the neck.

Overweight: The ribs of an overweight dog are challenging to feel under moderate fat cover, and you'll probably notice a thick fatty layer over the base of their tail. When viewed from the side, an overweight dog will likely show no abdominal tuck. However, viewed from above, their back will appear broadened through the waist.

Ideal: A dog who is at their ideal weight will have a thin covering of fat over their ribs, making them easy to feel but not easily seen. A smooth contour with a slight fat cover will also be at the base of their tail, bones can be felt but not easily seen. An abdominal tuck should be noticeable from the side, while a well-proportioned waist should be visible from above.

Underweight: An underweight dog will likely have a few but not all ribs visible and all ribs easily felt, while the bones at the base of their tail may be raised with a slight cover of fat. An abdominal tuck will be visible from the side, and they'll have a marked hourglass shape when viewed from above.

Very thin: A very thin dog's ribs are extremely easy to see and feel, and the bones near the base of their tail are often raised with little to no fat covering. Very thin dogs show a severe abdominal tuck from the side and commonly have an accentuated hourglass shape when viewed from above.

It's not just the side views of your dog that will help you determine if they may be struggling with weight. To complete a more detailed analysis of your dog's size, use the following visual guide:

Common causes of weight gain in dogs

As you work to keep your pup a healthy weight, it can be helpful to understand what leads to unwanted weight gain in dogs. There are many easily identifiable causes of weight gain in dogs, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Overfeeding: Dogs with unlimited access to food (free feeding) or portion sizes that are too large for their size and/or activity level have a higher risk of becoming overweight, leading to the creation of fat cells that stay with your pooch for life.
  • Feeding habits: Feeding table scraps and human foods to your dog can lead to obesity and a number of other health concerns depending on how the food is prepared and if all ingredients are dog safe. 
  • Too many treats: Dog treats should make up 10% or less of your dog's daily caloric intake, and they cannot not be used as a substitute for a healthy meal.
  • Lack of exercise: Pets that are unable (or uninterested) to exercise have a higher chance of becoming overweight.
  • Age: As a puppy ages into an adult their nutritional requirements change; their bodies no longer need increased calories for growth and development but simply need calories for maintaining a healthy weight as an adult. Senior dogs often struggle with a slowing metabolism, inactivity and, in some cases, loss of muscle mass and/or stiff joints. making them less active and therefore prone to gaining weight.
  • Neutering: Spayed or neutered dogs do not automatically gain weight. They can, however, have a higher risk of gaining weight if they continue to consume high-energy meals when their need for energy is lower. After your pet is spayed or neutered, work with your vet to determine the correct food for their shifting caloric needs. 

How to help both young and old dogs lose weight

If you're concerned about your dog's weight based on the visual indicators listed above, consult your veterinarian about what you can do at home. "Most of the time, we discuss diet and intake with owners, the pet getting too many treats, too much human food, too much food in general or the wrong type of food," says Dr. Maloney.

To help your dog lose weight, put the following tips into action.

Provide a balanced diet

Along with exercise, a reduced fat/calorie diet can help your dog stay at a healthy weight. Fiber also plays an important role in proper nutrition since it reduces the caloric density of the food while still providing sustenance to keep your dog full.

If your dog has a history of putting on pounds, weight fluctuation can become more common. To keep their weight steady, encourage a balanced diet. Ask your veterinarian to help you choose a high-quality diet that includes all the nutrition your dog needs but without the added calories. Their recommended options might include veterinary formulas that require a prescription.

Petco's picks for the best dog food for overweight dogs include the following:

Purina Pro Plan Low Fat Focus Weight Management

Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight

ACANA Grain-Free Light & Fit

Limit treats

Treats—including dental chews and joint supplements that might come in chew form—should never make up more than 10 percent of your dog's overall diet. You might also consider setting aside a portion of their daily kibble allotment for treating throughout the day so you can feel like you're offering them a fun surprise while maintaining their daily calorie count. A few low-calorie treats may be the best choice for a pet with a weight issue if you can’t resist the urge.

Pay attention to portions

Finding your dog the ideal food won't matter if you're overfeeding them. Discuss with your veterinarian exactly how much food your dog should be getting at each meal based on personal factors like if they are spayed/neutered their size, breed, age and activity level.

Additionally, consider changing up their food dish. For dogs who gulp down their meals and then expect more, slow feeders may help them savor their food for longer helping them feel more full by the time food is finished.

Engage them in exercise and play

Providing a way for your puppy or dog to get regular exercise is key, both to stimulate their mind as well as maintain a healthy weight. By establishing a dog exercise routine, your dog will come to welcome the extra structure and play that comes with an exercise session.

"Pet parents can easily place dry dog food in food puzzles or toys, which can help avoid boredom by keeping dogs busy, as well as combat weight gain by keeping them active," says Vetco Total Care regional medical director Dr. Shelly Ferris, DMV.

Taking your dog outside for physical activities like walking, hiking, swimming and trips to the dog park are quintessential ways to keep weight off as well. As a bonus, spending more time exercising with your dog outside is a great way to bond.

Keep in mind that dogs can tire easily. Even if your dog doesn't seem tired, it's important to have a stopping point. Dog exercise sessions should start short and mild before building to longer or more strenuous activities. Most dogs can maintain a healthy body weight with approximately 15 to 30 minutes of exercise one to two times a day depending on your dog's age, breed and endurance level.

If you have an older dog, you might change the duration and method of play. Rather than chucking a ball with a launcher for an hour at a time, for example, you might toss the ball by hand to reduce the need for jumping and engage in the activity for 15 minutes at a time. When training for exercise, repetition and patience are key. It's important to give your pup plenty of time and chances to learn specific actions.

Next steps for managing your pet's weight

Our pets are our family, and as pet parents, we take their health very seriously. Staying on top of your dog's weight is an important step in monitoring their overall wellness. Start with incorporating more exercise and/or trying smaller portions, a different type of food or feeding method if you are looking for some easy wins for your dog's weight loss plan:

Dog Feeding Methods for Weight Management



If you are still struggling with keeping your dog's weight management on track, book an assessment with a Petco veterinarian today to get a tailored weight management plan that can help set them on a healthier road—and avoid weight issues in the future.

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