Is my dog or cat overweight?

Many house pets in North America are overweight or obese, usually because they get too many treats and not enough exercise. However, extra weight can lead to serious health problems for your pet, including osteoarthritis, diabetes and heart and respiratory issues.

If you’re not sure if your pet is overweight, you can easily check if you know what to look for when you examine them. Healthy dogs and cats have a waist between their ribcage and hind legs that you can see when standing over them, and their belly should tuck in toward their hind legs. When you run your hands down your pet’s sides and back, you should feel their ribs and spine through a thin layer of fat.

If your pet’s overweight, talk to your vet about how to help them get to a healthy weight for their size and breed. This typically includes feeding them only the recommended amount of food, cutting down on treats and table scraps and making sure they get enough exercise. Just like humans, cats and dogs need to move to lose weight, so make sure to take your dog for long, regular walks, and play with your cat to raise it’s heart rate.

A pet at a healthy weight will live a longer, healthier life than one that’s overweight, so make sure your furriest family members stay in shape.