Is my dog overweight?

A 60 second check you can do at home.

2 min read 2 views 0 likes

Around half of dogs in the UK are overweight, and most owners do not realise.

The three checks

  1. 1Ribs: run flat hands along the sides. You should feel ribs easily, like the back of your hand
  2. 2From above: there should be a clear waist behind the ribs
  3. 3From the side: the belly should tuck up, not run straight or sag

If they are carrying weight

Weigh food rather than scooping it, cut treats to 10% of intake, swap biscuits for carrot or their own kibble allowance, and add sniffy walks rather than sprinting.

Go slowly

Aim for 1 to 2% of body weight per month. Rapid weight loss in cats is dangerous; always involve your vet.

Why it matters

Lean pets live longer, move better and need less pain relief in old age.

#weight#health

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