Most dog and cat owners don’t recognize their pets as being overweight or having obesity. However, the population of pets who are overweight or have obesity continues to expand. Obesity shortens the lives of cats and dogs, reduces the quality of their lives, and can result in expensive and invasive treatments for complications and obesity-related diseases.
Determining if a dog or cat is overweight
According to the latest survey from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 61% of cats and 59% of dogs in the United States are overweight or have obesity. In contrast, another survey shows only 28% of cat owners and 17% of dog owners consider their pets to be overweight. Studies in Europe and throughout the world have yielded similar results. This demonstrates a large percentage of pet owners
who may be unaware their pets are at risk for serious health issues.
So how can you determine if your pet is overweight or has obesity? With objectivity and information. Objectivity, though sometimes difficult, is necessary. To see a dog or cat as technically overweight or as having obesity (as opposed to chunky or just more to love) is not an insult, but rather an honest evaluation and the first step towards a healthier and happier life for them.
Dogs and cats should have a wellness exam at least once per year (more depending on age and overall health). During this time, veterinarians evaluate pets’ weight and body condition. Veterinarians can also show owners how to check their pets’ body condition at home. This is the most accurate and appropriate way to determine if pets are at a healthy weight.
Palpable and visual cues will help when evaluating a pets’ weight. Looking at a dog or cat from above, the waist should taper in towards the hips (bulging or invisible waist indicates an overweight pet). Looking from the side, a bulging or hanging belly should not be present. This is different from a normal primordial pouch—loose skin between rear legs—that cats have. Dogs do not have primordial pouches and should have no sagging belly. You should also be able to feel the ribs with your hands underneath a thin layer of fat.
Body condition score charts may also be helpful. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers one here, and the American Animal Hospital Association offers one here.
Contributors and risk factors
In addition to the gap between owner perception of their pets’ bodies and the reality, there are many possible contributors to obesity and overweight pets such as:
- Food—including type, amount, and feeding methods
- Lack of physical activity
- Age—as pets age their dietary needs, digestion, and metabolism change
- Depression—some dogs and cats eat too much to self-soothe when depressed
- Genetics
- Disease—certain conditions (including hypothyroidism, Cushing’s, parasitic infection, fluid retention from heart, liver, or kidney disease) can cause weight gain in pets
- Pain—pets in pain may be unmotivated to play or be physically active
- Certain medications
- Environmental influences—studies show owner age, income, and awareness/perception can contribute to weight gain in pets
- Spay/Neuter status
Because there are many possible contributors, it’s important to communicate and work with your veterinarian to pin down culprits and begin addressing them.
Complications of obesity
Some owners may not realize how serious excess weight is in cats and dogs nor that it can cut years off their lives. Excess weight, even a pound or two, causes complications, disease, and discomforts in cats and dogs including:
- Reduced life expectancy
- Reduced quality of life
- Limited mobility
- Uncomfortable/painful movement
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
- Kidney disease/failure
- Liver disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory dysfunction
- Skin disorders
- Inflammation
- Orthopedic disease
- Metabolic and endocrine disorders (including diabetes)
The longer a pet is overweight or suffers from obesity, the more at risk they are for complications and disease. By preventing or treating obesity, we have the potential to eliminate these painful and dangerous complications and chronic diseases that excess weight can cause.
If we are treating only complications of obesity while ignoring obesity as a disease, the complications will continue to arise and progress. We must treat both.
How to help dogs and cats achieve a healthy weight
Pets who are overweight or have obesity can be dangerously unhealthy. It is a fact that cats and dogs at healthy weights live longer, healthier lives than those that carry extra pounds. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat obesity.
To achieve or maintain a healthy weight in dogs and cats, a visit with a veterinarian is top priority. They can assess the cause of your pet’s excess weight, diagnose or rule out underlying disease or pain, formulate a plan, monitor progress, and adjust as necessary.
Always ask questions or bring up concerns, especially if your veterinarian doesn’t address something. Ask about appropriate nutrition, exercise, and whether your cat’s or dog’s body condition score is within a healthy range.
More ways to get and keep pets healthy:
- Starting as young as possible, create and maintain good nutritional and physical habits
- Feed pets quality food that matches their life stage and any health conditions as recommended by your veterinarian
- Read food labels for content, calories, and recommended serving sizes
- Feed appropriate amounts of food (using a measuring cup) on a schedule rather than open-bowl feeding
- Eliminate table scraps
- Limit treats and snacks (no more than 10% of overall diet) and opt for low-calorie, healthy treats
- Provide daily exercise that is appropriate for your pet’s health status, age, and fitness level—cats should have 15-20 minutes and dogs 20-30 minutes of minimum daily exercise
- Use treat puzzles or hunting feeders to encourage slower feeding, predation behaviors in cats, and help with portion control
- In multi-pet households, feed pets separately and don’t allow pets to finish another’s leftovers
- Pick up leftovers 15-30 minutes after feeding time
The above information, along with regular visits with a veterinarian, will help keep dogs and cats at their ideal, healthy weights. In doing so, they’ll have a greater chance at a healthy, happy, and long life.
References
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. https://www.petobesityprevention.org/
Blanchard T, Hoummady S, Banuls D, et al. The perception of the body condition of cats and dogs by French pet owners and the factors influencing underestimation. Animals. 2023;13(23):3646. doi:10.3390/ani13233646
Forrest R, Awawdeh L, Esam F, Pearson M, Waran N. Potential Owner-Related risk factors that may contribute to obesity in companion dogs in Aotearoa New Zealand. Animals. 2022;12(3):267. doi:10.3390/ani12030267
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Body Condition Scoring (BCS) systems.
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Published online 2010.
https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/weight-management/weightmgmt_bodyconditionscoring.pdf
Your pet’s healthy weight. American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/your-pets-healthy-weight
2023 Survey — Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. https://www.petobesityprevention.org/2023