Weight is a pretty big issue, not just in people - many dogs are overweight. Regularly assessing your pets’ BCS and adjusting their meal portions and sizes accordingly, will keep your furry loved ones over healthier and happier for years to come! Keeping your dog at a healthy weight for their whole life is crucial for long-term wellness. If you can feel sharp edges of protruding ribs with your palms alone, your dog might be too thin. If you can feel the contours of the ribs with your palms, (and do not have to use your fingers to push through fat deposits to feel the ribs), then your dog is likely an appropriate weight. Keep an eye out on your pet’s shape: you should be able to see a defined waist.Ī quick home test to determine if your fluffy dog is a good weight is to run your palms along the side of his or her rib cage, just behind their front legs. If your pet’s weight gain occurs gradually, it can be more challenging to spot. It is often easy to see if your pet is overweight: there are telltale signs of a pudgy face and body, waddle, and reluctance to go for walks or exercise that will reveal the extra pounds. An “ideal” body condition would be a score of 4 or 5. The BCS system rates a dog from 1 (emaciated, minimal muscle mass, undernourished) to 9 (morbidly obese, excessive fat deposits). Veterinarians and pet food companies have adopted this BCS system for evaluating a pet’s health and body composition. Instead of fixing on the number on the scale, a more objective way to determine your dog’s ideal weight is to focus on the Body Condition Score (BCS). The American Kennel Club assigns a breed standard for weight and size, but we there can be a huge variability even within individual breeds. These all contribute to the average weight for each breed. From the tiny 3-pound teacup Chihuahua to the giant 175-pound mastiff, each breed varies in muscle mass, skeletal size, and coat density. Fairly common in both dogs and cats, your vet can identify these issues through lab work and recommend specific strategies to help your pet reach a healthy weight range.Īlso, remember not all dogs are built the same. Some pets have medical conditions such as hormonal imbalances that lead to weight gain. Your vet can assess your pet’s overall body health with a complete physical exam and a scale similar to the body mass index for people. Your next visit to the clinic is a great time to talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s weight. but how do you know your dog’s weight is a good weight for their frame? You may even know exactly how much they weigh right down to the ounce. You walk them at least twice a day and frequently go on hiking or running adventures. You feed them good food and healthy tasty snacks. ![]() ![]() How to tell if your dog is a good weight. ![]() Overweight dogs and cats are prone to arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, joint and bone issues, and shorter life spans. Did you know that the leading health threat for your pet is obesity? With 55% of dogs tipping the scales as overweight or obese, those few extra pounds can quickly pile up into a multitude of health problems.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |