As America has gained weight so have our pets, making this a very good question. It’s not uncommon now for people to see overweight dogs and cats and think that they’re an ideal weight. An ideal weight for both the dog and cat can be judged by your pet’s visual appearance and using your hands to feel the ribs.
As you stand over your pet, you should be able to see a waist, or tuck behind the ribs. When viewed from the side, the abdomen should tuck up towards the rear legs. You should not see the ribs but you should be able to feel the last 1-2 ribs easily under the skin. If you have to push to feel the ribs your pet may be overweight. If you can easily see the ribs your pet may be under weight.
Our doctors are happy to help if you have concerns about your pet’s weight. In some cases, dietary counseling is helpful, in other case there could be a metabolic problem and bloodwork might be needed.
