Ideally you will be able to see its waist tucked behind the ribs. If you can see the outline of your dog's individual ribs and the waist is noticeably more narrow than its ribcage, then your pet is underweight; however, if the waist is in line with the ribs or bulges out past them then it is overweight.
Should I be concerned about my dogs weight?
If your dog drops over 10% of his or her total body weight in a short period and with no discernable outside factors, then you should be concerned. Just like with human beings, you need to keep tabs on your dog's weight since it is so often an indicator of health, like any other bodily change.
What is an unhealthy weight for a dog?
Using body weight as a guide, dogs are considered to be overweight when they weigh 10-20% above their ideal body weight. They are considered obese when they weigh 20% or more above their ideal body weight.
What are signs of an overweight dog?
Symptoms of obesity in dogs include:Weight gain.No or little visible waistline.No palpable ribcage.Excess body fat.Distended abdomen.Lack of grooming.Lack of mobility.Lethargy.Obesity in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery ...
How do you know if your dog is too fat or skinny?
Stand your canine chum up and run your hands over their sides. If you can't feel their ribs – or if you can't feel them very well – there's too much fat and you have an overweight dog. If there's too much rib, i.e. you can't feel much between your dog's skin and its ribs, you have an underweight dog.
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