Boonie Tails

By Grace Keilbach & Annika Carlson

More Than Extra Fluff: How to Know if Your Pet is Overweight

Due to the overwhelming love we feel for our furry friends, we are often blind to what is actually good for them, especially when it comes to their weight. We love our animals no matter what they look like. A chubby dog or cat is just that much more to snuggle, right? Unfortunately, your pet being overweight or obese is not just a cosmetic issue, but it actually comes with many severe health consequences—in fact, some veterinarians call it our pets’ biggest health threat.

Although everyone wants the best for their animals, we tend to have a misaligned idea of what a healthy pet looks like. Recent studies suggest that up to 61% of cats and 59% of dogs are overweight or have obesity, meanwhile 70% of cat owners and 84% of dog owners assess their pets’ body condition as healthy.¹ We don’t want to make pet owners feel guilty, but we need to acknowledge that we have a blind spot when it comes to our pets’ weight.

Obesity in dogs and cats is linked to a host of health problems including arthritis, chronic kidney disease, bladder/urinary tract disease, liver disease, low thyroid hormone production, diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, and cancer,² not to mention the fact that all those extra pounds cause extreme discomfort for your animal. All of this combined means that the lifespan of overweight dogs is up to two and a half years shorter, on average, than the lifespan of dogs with a healthy body weight.³ 

As humans (who weigh much more than animals), we tend to have a hard time conceptualizing how much just a few extra pounds may amount to on our pets. Check out this chart created by veterinarians at Gladstone Animal Clinic for a better understanding of how serious extra weight on your pet can be:

Signs your pets need to start their weight loss journey 

As owners, it is our job to help our pets live their best, healthiest, and longest lives. Here are some ways to tell if your dog is a healthy weight:

1. Body Shape. Standing above your pet, their body should have a slight hourglass shape, with a refined waist. If your pet’s body is more of an oval shape, they are more than likely overweight.

2. Ribs. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs easily with only a thin layer of fat in between. If you have to press hard to feel them, or if the ribs are never visible, your pet is overweight.

3. Side View. Your furry friend’s belly should be higher than its chest, not sagging. 

4. Behavior. Inactivity and excessive eating can be signs that your pet is not comfortable moving around due to excess weight.

More detailed information here.

If you think your pet might need to start losing weight, don’t worry—you’re not alone, and it's never too late to start helping your dog live a healthier lifestyle. 

Tips and tricks to get started

• Check your pets’ food! An overweight or inactive dog does not need to consume the same amount of calories as a healthy, active dog. Ask your vet or do research about foods designed for pet weight loss. 

  • Portion sizes on pet food packaging are often generalizations that don’t reflect individual animal needs. We recommend starting with the recommended feeding and then adjusting down or even up as needed. For example, Squishy receives two cups for each meal whereas Brandy, who is a similar weight but has a different metabolism, receives only two thirds of a cup. 

  • If you have multiple pets, it’s important that you feed each animal separately. Never free feed in multiple pet households—there will be no way for you to know how much each animal has eaten.

• Keep your pet active! Dogs should be getting thirty minutes to two hours a day of physical activity. If you can’t go outside, try getting creative with toys and indoor play!

• Make meal times interactive! Try slow feeder bowls or even make your own! 

  • You can scatter food (“Pretend they’re chickens,” says Aria), roll food up in towels, or make other DIY slow feeders. Anything to get them moving!

Boonie of the Week

It’s hard enough to see the overwhelming amount of stray dogs stuck on the island, but it is absolutely heartbreaking seeing dogs who are wanted by their families be torn away from them. With nowhere else to go, Ella and Simba ended up in our care. We soon grew to love this playful puppy, watching her overcome her fear of water and play-fight with the other puppies, forgetting she was twice their size.

Ella’s story finally got its happy ending this week, when she was adopted by another Saipan resident. It’s always hard to say goodbye, but nothing makes us happier than seeing dogs find their way to loving homes. To make sure no one has to leave their pets behind again, sign this petition to urge United Airlines to reinstate pet-safe travel.