Is My Dog Overweight?

Is my dog overweight? The 10% rule

Nearly half of dogs in Europe are overweight, and most owners cannot see it, because a slightly rounded dog now looks normal. Here is how vets measure it, why it matters more for small dogs, and what actually works.

How much is too much

+10%
Overweight

10% above ideal weight. A 10 kg dog at 11 kg is already overweight.

+20%
Obese

20% above ideal weight. The same dog at 12 kg is obese.

The numbers feel small because we judge dogs by human standards. One or two kilos on a person is nothing. On a small dog it can mean 25% over normal weight, which is a medical problem, not a cuddly one.

The figure check

Look from the side and from above, then feel.

UnderweightRibs, hips and spine visible. Deep tuck.
IdealWaist visible from above, tuck from the side. Ribs felt under light pressure.
OverweightNo waist, no tuck. Ribs cannot be felt without pressing.

The rib test decides it. Run your fingers along the ribcage with gentle pressure. If you cannot feel the ribs, the dog is carrying too much.

Where it comes from

Too much food, or food that is too rich
Too many treats
A change of food without a change of amount
Not enough exercise
Misjudging the ideal weight
Breed tendency
Age
Hormones and neutering

The neutering window. A 2013 study found weight gain is most likely in the two years after neutering, regardless of age at surgery. Metabolism and behaviour change straight away; feeding usually does not. If your dog was neutered recently, weigh monthly for the next two years.

What it costs the dog

Shorter life
Heart and organ strain
Joint problems
Skin problems
Weaker immunity
Diabetes
Urinary stones

What works

Start with the vet

A proper body condition score, a target weight and a check for the conditions that cause weight gain (thyroid, Cushing's). Then regular weigh-ins, ideally every one to two weeks at first. The follow-ups matter as much as the food.

Write it down

Weight, food weighed in grams, treats, walks. A diet diary is how you find out why week four stalled. Weigh the food; do not scoop it.

Reduce energy, not volume

A weight-loss food is lower in energy and higher in fibre and protein, so the bowl still looks full and the dog still feels fed. Cutting the normal food in half leaves a hungry dog and a short ration of everything else. If your vet recommends a dietetic weight-loss food, we stock Happy Dog VET Adipositas.

Cut the treats

They are the easiest calories to remove. Use a few pieces of the daily ration for training instead. Everyone in the house has to agree.

Add activity

Longer walks, more of them, and games. Build up gradually in a dog that is carrying a lot.

Keep going

Safe weight loss is 1 to 2% of body weight a week, so a proper programme runs for months. A 2015 study found that feeding a weight-loss diet is on average cost-neutral once the scraps and snacks stop.

See your vet before starting if
  • your dog is very overweight, elderly, or has joint or heart problems
  • weight has changed quickly in either direction without a change in feeding
  • your dog drinks or urinates more than usual, or has a pot belly with thin legs

Based on "Diet management strategies as a client-retention tool" by Cornelia Günther, veterinarian, and "Feeding multimorbid patients" by Pascale Huber, veterinarian, Happy Dog veterinary team. Reviewed for Happy Dog UK, September 2026.

References
  1. German AJ, Morgan LE: How often do veterinarians assess the bodyweight and body condition of dogs? Vet Rec 2008;163:503–505.
  2. German AJ et al.: Feeding obese dogs during weight loss is on average cost-neutral. J Small Anim Pract 2015.
  3. Lefebvre SL et al.: Effect of age at gonadectomy on the probability of dogs becoming overweight. JAVMA 2013;243:236–243.
  4. Brooks D et al.: AAHA Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, 2014.

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