01/09/2025
Did you know the greatest risk to our pets health is obesity? 🐾currently it is estimated that around 50% of dogs, 43% of cats and 31% of small mammals are classed as overweight or obese in the UK. This number is also sadly growing still!
How do you know if your pet is overweight? 🐾
In practice, we used a body condition scoring system, which looks at features of the patient rather than what is on the scales. All animals should have a visible waist from the top, their last 2 ribs should be easily felt and they should have a tucked belly from the side. This is regardless of breed and age.
What can happen if your pet is overweight? 🐾
Your pets will become more prone to lifelong conditions such as diabetes, certain heart conditions and respiratory distress. It can also make them more prone to certain cancers. Overweight pets are also at higher risk of joint disease and bone issues later in life.
Who is most at risk? 🐾
Neutering can contribute to obesity due to a lack of hormones, so it is advisable to monitor their food intake and weight post neutering. Some breeds are potentially predisposed to gaining weight, but this is likely due to their inactive or greedy nature! Older pets may gain weight quicker as well due a decrease in activity level.
How can we prevent it? 🐾
Feeding your pet to the feeding guidelines detailed on the food you give them can help reduce the risk of weight gain. Understanding an ideal weight for your particular breed/species is also important, as well as considering exercise plans and activity levels. Avoiding high calorie treats and giving your pets human food can also massively decrease the risk of obesity- pets require a lot less calories than people do and they can soon mount up if they are having snacks throughout the day on top of their normal diet.
If you are concerned about your pets weight, would like to find out if your pet is overweight, or would like help with maintaining your pets diet correctly, please contact us and we will put you in touch with one of our clinic nurses for further advice ☎
Below are some guides on body condition scoring by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention 📈
