Maintaining a Healthy Dog Weight: A Guide to Assessing Your Dog’s Condition

A significant 56 percent of dogs in the United States are currently classified as overweight or obese, according to recent studies. Determining a healthy weight goal for your dog, whether they are underweight or overweight, can be a challenging task due to the diverse nature of dog breeds and their individual characteristics.

The weight of dogs can vary widely among breeds, with differences between males and females and complications arising from mixed breeds. To address this complexity, Purina’s veterinarians and scientists have introduced the Body Condition System (BCS), a globally recognized standard for evaluating pet weight in the veterinary industry. RuthAnn Lobos, DVM, CCRT, CVAT, Purina Senior Veterinarian, explains, “The BCS is a nine-point scale that aids veterinarians in assessing a dog’s body condition and determining if their weight requires adjustment.”

Identifying an “Average” Dog Weight: A Challenge Given the multitude of dog breeds and sizes, establishing an average weight for all dogs becomes impractical. Weight considerations may also be influenced by a dog’s gender and whether they have been spayed or neutered.

Despite resources offering average weight ranges for various breeds, these ranges often lack specificity and fail to account for a dog’s sex and other contributing factors. For instance, a Labrador Retriever may have a typical weight range of 25 to 36 kgs, but this does not necessarily apply to all female Labs.

Furthermore, weight ranges do not accommodate mixed breed dogs, making it challenging to determine an accurate average weight. Even if the dominant breed is known, mixed breeds introduce additional uncertainties.

A Better Approach: The Body Condition System Instead of relying on inaccurate averages, veterinarians widely employ the Body Condition System. This system allows veterinarians to assess a dog’s current body condition through physical and visual observations, determining whether they are underweight or overweight.

If you suspect your dog is overweight, maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for their overall well-being. Proper diet and exercise, in the right proportions, can help your dog achieve and maintain an ideal weight. Transitioning to a weight management dog food may be recommended by your veterinarian.

Adjusting Your Dog’s Diet: Simple Checks To gauge if your dog’s diet needs adjustment, consider the following:

1. Rib Check: Place your thumbs on your dog’s backbone and spread your hands across their rib cage. You should be able to feel their ribs.

2. Profile Check: Examine your dog’s profile at eye level. Look for a tucked-up abdomen behind their rib cage.

3. Overhead Check: View your dog from overhead and check for a visible waist behind their ribs. Most dogs at a healthy weight should exhibit an hourglass figure.

If your dog’s ribs and waistline are not in good condition, consult your vet to adjust their food intake accordingly. Seeking veterinary advice is essential to rule out any potential medical issues contributing to weight gain.

Underweight Concerns: Helping Your Dog Gain Weight While many focus on preventing their dogs from becoming overweight, it’s equally vital to address concerns about dogs being underweight. If your veterinarian determines that your dog is too thin, they may recommend increasing their food intake or suggest a higher-calorie food to promote weight gain.

During this process, it’s important not to overindulge your dog in treats or human food. Treats should constitute no more than 10 percent of their daily caloric intake to ensure a balanced and complete nutrition profile.

Exercise remains a critical component, even for underweight dogs, as it contributes to muscle building and mental well-being.

Dispelling the Myth of Average Dog Weight In reality, there is no average weight for dogs because each dog is unique. Their ideal weight is influenced by various factors, emphasizing the importance of individualized assessments. To delve deeper into dog weight and overall health, consult our experts on our Pet Expertise page.