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How do I know if my dog or cat is overweight? What signs should I see?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What signs should I be looking for to know if my dog or cat is overweight?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on January 9th, 2019

Sadly, overweight pets are so common that those actually at a healthy body weight may appear too thin to many people. As a general rule of thumb, a dog or cat’s ribs should be easy to feel under a *thin* fat covering, but should not be visible or difficult to feel. Additionally, a dog or cat should have a visible “waistline” with a tuck up in their abdomen. Your veterinarian can assess the body condition scores of to provide a more objective measurement of your pet’s weight, but tools like the PetCoach Healthy Pet Weight Calculator can also help to guide pet owners at home. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to a pet’s health, as obesity can lead to an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and a number of other health conditions.

82Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on March 2nd, 2017
Your veterinarian can assist you in determining obesity. A physical exam can be done along with a Body Condition Score (BCS). There are 2 systems, a 5 point system and a 9 point system. This information along with Maggie's weight can determine if she is obese or not.
She should have a thin layer of fat over her ribs which should be easily felt. Looking at her from above and from the side, her waist should be easily discernible. She should not be rectangular. She should also have a nice abdominal tuck sloping from her chest to abdomen.
The following link can describe the BCS in more detail. http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/sites/cliniciansbrief.com/files/BodyConditionScoresforDogs.pdf
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 2nd, 2018
She actually doesn't appear to be underweight based on the pictures shown. I'd have to examine her to be sure, but the biggest indication that she is not underweight is the fact that she appears to have well-developed muscles. Dogs of this breed tend to be naturally lean and put more weight on their muscles rather than their ribs, or belly.

If I was concerned that she was underweight, then I would first want to rule-out a disease, or parasite causing her to lose or not gain weight. It's best to have a veterinarian evaluate her, so you can ensure she's healthy and ensure that you are not going to feed her unnecessarily.

Dog obesity is a big problem in the U.S., which means that the average person thinks a fat dog is at ideal weight; and a dog with an ideal body condition, or a lean body condition is thought to be starving. The truth is that the lean dogs are statistically healthier and live longer than overweight dogs. Some dogs (much like people) are able to naturally maintain a lean body condition. I suspect Lulu is one of those dogs, but would urge you to have a veterinarian examine her to make that call.

Below is a link to a body condition scoring guide. This is what veterinarians use when assessing whether a dog is overweight or underweight. We prefer them to be at a BCS of 4 or 5, but some are naturally at a 3.

https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20dogs.pdf

At this time, I recommend feeding her normally and would not recommend a diet change until she can be evaluated by a veterinarian.

I hope that helps and all is well with Lulu.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Is my cat overweight? How to determine a healthy body condition.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very hard to assess that from just pictures. In one of the pictures that you can see her right side she looks ok though it really takes an examination and palpation to be able to say it accurately. You want to be able to feel the ribs easily though they should not be prominent. That is one of the things we evaluate when assessing body condition score. Your veterinarian could easily tell you with an examination. Good luck!

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How to feel if my furry dog is a healthy weight under all that fur?

Thank you for your question. From the photo of Joshie it does not appear that she is overweight. It can definitely be difficult to evaluate based on a photo though, especially in a furry dog like Joshie. Putting your hands onto her body can help you determine her body condition. You should feel a waist/area where he trunk slenders around her abdomen. You should be able to feel her ribs when you run your hands over her chest but they should have a small/thin layer of fat over them. When you run your hands under her, her belly should narrow/have a tuck. You can read this article for more information on proper body condition scoring: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-is-overweight/ If you are still concerned, a vet can examine Joshie and let you know for certain!

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How to tell if my cat is a healthy weight without a scale at home?

He looks a bit skinny, but it is difficult to determine from an image alone. An adult indoor cat should weigh between 8 and 10 pounds. It should have a layer of fat over the ribs, but you should be able to easily feel them. The hips should not be too prominent or "bony" and he should have a waist when looked at from above. You should bring him to your veterinary clinic to weigh him. They should allow you to do this for free. You could also buy. A small scale. Most are less than $30. Place him in a carrier or basket and weigh him, then weigh the container andbsubstract it from the total weight.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Is my cat too thin? How do I know if his weight is healthy?

Have DoReMi examined by your veterinarian. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites which can affect weight and weight gain. Blood work may diagnose metabolic conditions or endocrine imbalances as well. Your vet can teach you how to assess your cat's Body Condition Score (BCS). This, in addition to weighing, can help you get and keep your cat into peak condition. You can follow this link to familiarize yourself with the BCS prior to the visit to your veterinarian. https://www.purina.co.uk/cats/health-and-nutrition/exercise-and-weight-management/assessing-your-cat's-body-condition

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My kitten looks chubby. How can I tell if they're overweight?

It's difficult to say for sure from the picture, but it looks like Phoenix has a bigger belly than he should. We assess overweight animals by assessing their body condition and scoring it based on observations. It's a bit vague, but gives a good idea of how much fat needs to be lost. Below is a link to a guide for scoring body condition. It's best to keep them at a 4-5 BCS, because thinner cats tend to be healthier and live longer. https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20cats.pdf For further information about maintaining an ideal body condition, please read the short article at the link below. http://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/evr_ct_obesity_in_cats_and_what_to_do_about_an_overweight_cat I hope that helps and all is well with Phoenix.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Is my cat too skinny? How can I tell if she's underweight?

Your cat looks like a good weight to me. Here is another link that you will find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-do-i-determine-if-my-cat-is-overweight/ The chart about the body condition score will allow you to better determine if your cat's weight is good. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My dog's stomach is bloated. Sonogram shows fat. Is he overweight?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Fat can accumulate in other areas than just under the skin. It can also accumulate in the abdomen and chest. What you are pinching in the picture is just skin, not the fat underneath the skin. To assess fat, you need to feel the ribs. If you have to push and cannot readily feel the ribs then Krispy is overweight. You should also see an hourglass shape in the abdomen when looking at him from the side and the top. It looks like Krispy doesn't have an hourglass shape, therefore he is overweight. The assessment of weight isn't just based upon numbers on a scale, but 64 pounds seems excessive for a dog that size. I hope this helps! Kisses to Krispy!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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