My puggle weighs 50 lbs, but I can feel his ribs. Is he overweight?

He actually doesn't appear to be underweight based on the pictures shown. I'd have to examine him to be sure, but the biggest indication that he is not underweight is the fact that he 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 he was underweight, then I would first want to rule-out a disease, or parasite causing him to lose or not gain weight. It's best to have a veterinarian evaluate him, so you can ensure he's healthy and ensure that you are not going to feed him 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. Leo is one of those dogs, but would urge you to have a veterinarian examine him 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 him normally and would not recommend a diet change until he can be evaluated by a veterinarian. I hope that helps and all is well with Leo.

Hello. Your picture seems to show a very healthy young dog, but without being able to feel how prominent the ribs & backbone can be palpated, it is impossible to ascertain his condition. A dog, under a year of age, should have some muscle & fat protecting the underlying skeletal structure. With just a little pressure, you should be able to feel ribs & backbone, not sharp points. That is a better way to tell than just by weight because size & bone structure can affect things. If there is a fairly good layer of flesh on your dog, he should be just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for the question. The ideal weight for every dog is different, and unfortunately, obesity in pets is a big problem. We see so many overweight dogs that sometimes healthy dogs look too skinny! You should be able to lightly run your fingers across the body and feel Bubbs's ribs, but not be able to see them. He should have a waist when viewed from above, and his belly should be tucked up when viewed from the side. In your pictures I do not see any ribs, so he is definitely not underweight. I hope this helps.

Hi there. We would need to see some photos of your dog in order to tell if he's underweight or not, since this depends on his overall build and body condition. Feel free to post again with some photos - we would be happy to try and help.

Bernie is very cute! From the photos he looks pretty normal but it is difficult to tell if a furry dog is a good weight or not without being able to put your hands on the pet. Run your fingers over Bernie’s rib cage. They should feel like the back of your own hand. If they feel more like the palm of your hand, he is probably carrying a little too much weight. If they feel more like running your fingers over your knuckles then he is likely too thin. Every pet has a different metabolism and all foods have different calorie content. When in doubt if his weight is good or not, have him checked out by his veterinarian. Congratulations on adding him to your family! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!

Hi there. It's hard to say how much he should weigh without seeing him, especially given that he is a mixed breed dog. Ideal weight depends on the dog's overall size and bone structure. Feel free to post again with some photos of your dog (ideally standing, from the side, as well as some other angles), and we can let you know if he looks too heavy, too thin, or just right.