Is your dog or cat overweight? By learning the signs of pet obesity and understanding your pet’s body condition score, we can help owners better understand how to work with their veterinarian when a diagnosis of obesity is made, to better manage this disease.
“They don’t look overweight…”
You’re not alone if you’ve said this.
In fact, studies referenced by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention show that over 50% of dogs and cats in North America are overweight or obese, yet most pet parents don’t realize it.
As veterinarians, we frequently hear:
“They just look fluffy.”
“She’s big-boned.”
“He doesn’t eat that much!”
The truth? Even a small amount of excess weight can significantly affect your pet’s health, mobility, and lifespan.
Let’s talk about how to tell if your pet is at a healthy weight, and what to do about it if they’re not.
Why Pet Obesity Is a Serious Problem
Excess weight in our pets can be linked to many things, including:
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Arthritis and joint pain
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Diabetes mellitus (particularly in cats)
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Heart and respiratory disease
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Reduced lifespan
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Decreased quality of life
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Increased anesthetic and surgical risk
Even being 10–15% overweight can increase strain on joints and internal organs, potentially causing further issues in the future for your pet.
How Do I Know If My Pet Is Overweight?
1. Can You Feel Their Ribs Easily?
You should be able to feel ribs with light pressure, similar to running your fingers over the back of your hand. If you have to press firmly, your pet may be overweight.
2. Do They Have a Visible Waist?
Looking from above, your dog or cat should have a gentle inward tuck behind the ribs. From the side, there should be an abdominal tuck, not a straight or sagging line.
3. What Is Their Body Condition Score (BCS)?
Veterinarians will use one of two scales to assess BCS. These are either a 9-point scale or a 5-point scale, depending on preference.
The Body Condition Scoring systems are as follows:
|
BCS Score |
Description |
Visual Example |
|
1/9 = 1/5 |
Dogs: All bony prominences, including the ribs and pelvis are visible from a distance. No obvious body fat and obvious loss of muscle mass. Cats: No palpable fat. On short-haired cats, ribs are visible with an obvious, severe abdominal tuck. Spinal vertebrae and pelvis are obvious and easy to feel. |
|
|
2/9 = 1.5/5 |
Dogs: Ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones easily visible. No palpable fat. Some evidence of other bony prominences. Minimal muscle mass loss. Cats: Characteristics are shared between 1 and 3/9. |
|
|
3/9 = 2/5 |
Dogs: Ribs are easy to feel and may be visible without any palpable fat. The tops of the lumbar vertebrae are visible and pelvic bones are becoming prominent. There is an obvious waist present. Cats: Ribs can be felt with minimal fat cover. Lumbar vertebrae are obvious. There is an obvious waist and minimal abdominal fat. |
|
|
4/9 = 2.5/5 |
Dogs: Ribs are easily felt, with minimal fat covering. Waist is noted easily when viewed from above. Evident abdominal tuck. Cats: Shared characteristics of BCS 3 and 5/9. |
|
|
5/9 = 3/5 |
Dogs: Ribs can be felt without excess fat covering. Waist is observed behind the ribs when viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed. Cats: Well proportioned; waist observed behind ribs and ribs palpable with slight fat covering; abdominal fat pad minimal. **This is an IDEAL body condition score for dogs and cats.** |
|
|
6/9 = 3.5/5 |
Dogs: Ribs are felt with slight excess fat covering. Waist is discernible when viewed from above but is not prominent. Abdominal tuck is apparent. Cats: Shared characteristics of BCS 5 and 7/9. |
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7/9 = 4/5 |
Dogs: Ribs can be felt with difficulty. Ribs have a heavy fat cover. There is obvious fat over the base of the tail and lumbar spine. Absent, or barely visible waist. Abdominal tuck may be present. Cats: Ribs are not easily felt with moderate fat covering. The waist is poorly distensible and there is obvious rounding of the abdomen. The abdominal fat pad is moderate. |
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|
8/9 = 4.5/5 |
Dogs: Ribs are under a very heavy fat cover and not palpable, or are only palpable with significant pressure. There are heavy fat deposits over both the lumbar spine and tail base. The waist and abdominal tuck are absent. Obvious abdominal distension may be present. Cats: Shared characteristics of BCS 7 and 9/9. |
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|
9/9 = 5/5 |
Dogs: There are massive fat deposits over the ribs, spine and tail base. The waist and abdominal tuck are absent. Visible fat deposits on the neck and limbs. Obvious abdominal distention. Cats: Ribs are not felt under heavy fat cover. Heavy fat deposits over the lumbar area, face and limbs. There is no waist and an extensive abdominal pad. The abdomen is obviously distended. |
|
Not only do our pets look better when they are at an ideal body condition score, they also generally live longer and healthier lives!
Why Is My Pet Gaining Weight?
Weight gain usually isn’t just about “too many treats”; it may actually be due to a combination of factors, or even underlying disease conditions.
Common causes include:
- Free-feeding dry food or providing unmeasured portions
- Overestimating calorie needs
- Reduced activity
- Age-related metabolic changes
- Treat overuse
- Neutering/spaying (metabolism drops ~20–30% following spay or neuter)
In some cases, medical conditions like hypothyroidism (in dogs) may also play a role, which is why veterinary evaluation is so important.
What Does Healthy Pet Weight Management Look Like?
Here’s what evidence-based veterinary medicine recommends:
1. Accurate Calorie Calculation
Proper, veterinary-guided weight loss is not about guessing.
We calculate:
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Ideal body weight based on breed and age requirements
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Energy requirements needed to maintain essential bodily functions whilst at rest (= Resting Energy Requirement/RER)
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Controlled calorie deficit (to ensure safe, gradual weight loss)
Not only is crash dieting dangerous for our pets (especially cats); in some cases it can be life threatening, or cause other diseases. Please consult your veterinarian before implementing any changes.
2. Measured Feeding — No Scoops!
Measuring cups are notoriously inaccurate. Instead, here is what we recommend:
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Using a gram scale
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Pre-portioning daily meals
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Limiting treats to <10% of daily calories
3. Therapeutic Diets (When Needed)
When your pet becomes diagnosed with obesity, your veterinarian may elect to prescribe a veterinary weight loss diet. Prescription weight-loss diets are scientifically backed by veterinary nutritionists, meaning they are both calorie-controlled and nutritionally complete. These diets are used to help your pet feel full, whilst also promoting safe weight loss.
4. Safe Exercise Plans
Safe and consistent weight loss requires both veterinary expertise, and owner dedication. This may look like:
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Gradual leash walks
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Sniff walks
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Controlled trail exposure
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Food puzzles
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Indoor enrichment for cats
For arthritic pets, we often pair weight loss with pain management. Movement improves once excess weight is reduced.
FAQs: What Other Pet Parents Are Asking
How fast should my pet lose weight?
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Dogs: ~1–2% body weight per week
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Cats: ~0.5–1% per week
Faster weight loss can be dangerous, particularly for cats, and in some cases, may even cause serious disease. Again, please consult with your veterinarian to determine a safe weight loss plan for your furry friends.
Can I just feed less of their regular food?
Unfortunately,ately this answer is not a simple yes or no. Whilst you may sometimes be able to continue feeding your pet their regular food, sometimes non-prescription diets may not provide enough nutrients when calories are restricted. If your pet is already on a non-weight loss prescription diet, usually your veterinarian will be able to tailor your pet’s diet to add in weight loss. Overall, consulting your veterinarian on this matter will be best to help structure a tailored plan for your pet, with their weight loss goals in mind.
Are grain-free diets better for weight loss?
No. Weight loss is about calorie control, not grain content.
Is my indoor cat automatically overweight?
Not automatically, however, indoor cats do tend to have lower calorie needs, thus requiring structured feeding and enrichment.
The Bottom Line: Is Your Pet Overweight?
If you’re unsure, you’re not alone. Many loving, attentive pet owners simply don’t realize gradual weight gain has occurred, especially in fluffy breeds.
Weight loss:
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Improves mobility
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Reduces pain
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Decreases disease risk
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Extends lifespan
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Enhances quality of life
And it’s absolutely manageable with the right veterinary guidance and veterinary tools (like VetTeq!) to track your pet’s weight.
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