Whether they're digging into a bowl of food, or earning a treat for a job well done, it's no secret that our dogs love to eat. However, the path to canine obesity can be a slippery slope with serious consequences, and it's important to be aware of how food and exercise can impact your dog's health.

There is no "one size fits all" approach to help your dog safely lose weight. The caloric needs of dogs to maintain or lose weight all depend on different factors such as their age, reproductive status, and activity level. As a general guideline for most overweight dogs, a 3-5 percent loss of body weight per month is a typical goal, but it's important to work with your veterinarian to come up with a safe and effective plan suited for your dog's specific needs.

Spotting the Signs

There are a few signs that may indicate your dog is overweight:

• When looking at your dog from above, they should have a slight taper to their waist
• When looking at your dog from the side, you should see a slight tuck to their abdomen
• You should be able to easily feel each of their ribs individually, without seeing them through the skin

While these are general guidelines, it is important to note that there may be differences based on breed and/or coat type.

Possible Health Risks

40-45% of all dogs are overweight, and 25-30% of all dogs are obese. There are a number of health risks associated with canine obesity, such as:

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Heart Disease
• Urinary Tract Disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Cancer
• Respiratory Problems

Slowing Down Feeding

Is your dog a speed-eater? Veterinary behaviorists recommend slowing down your dog’s intake to help them feel more satisfied and to reduce begging behavior. Here are some easy ways:

• Slow-feed bowls have ridges and barriers that prevent your dog from just gulping down their meal
• Kongs are rubber chew toys that you can stuff with your dog’s food, treats, or frozen broth. This also satisfies their chewing instinct and slows down their eating
• Food puzzles are toys that your dog interacts with to extract their food. They may have to roll, lick, or paw them, and they provide mental stimulation too!
• Feeding through training: If your dog is a food motivated, you can use their regular meals as reinforcement during training sessions

Reaching a Healthy Weight

Once a dog is overweight, it can be a challenge to get them back to a healthy weight. Prevention is important, but if your dog needs to shed some ounces, here are some tips to get started:

• Work with your veterinarian: They can help you assess your dog’s health and diet, and formulate a safe exercise and weight loss plan
• Know how much you are feeding: Research shows weighing food is more accurate than measuring it in a scoop
• Track calories and follow your veterinarian’s guidelines if you need to feed less
• Weigh your dog regularly: At least once a month can help you stay on track
• Limit treats: Make sure they don’t take up more than 10% of your dog’s daily intake
• Low-calorie snacks: Focus on healthy treats, such as veggies and apples

It's important to remember that caloric input will have a greater impact on your dog’s weight than exercise. A dog walking a 15-minute mile (4 miles/hour) burns less than one calorie per pound per mile!

We created the below infographic that you can download and print to share with your communities and puppy buyers!