Sharing our lives with our dogs brings so much joy. The flip side is that sometimes, unintentionally, we might share some not-so-healthy habits with them too. It turns out that our dogs can be just as likely as people to face a very common health challenge! Being overweight or obese.

Those few extra pounds on your pup can cause serious health problems. It increases their chances of developing a wide range of illnesses and conditions, and can even shorten their lifespan. Added weight also makes a big difference in their quality of life, affecting how easily they can move, their energy for playtime, and even their general mood.

Even a little extra weight on your pup can cause serious health problems, increasing their risk for many illnesses and conditions, and potentially shortening their life. This overweight also significantly impacts their daily wellness, affecting their ability to move freely, their enthusiasm for play, and even their mood. 

Because these effects are so serious, being overweight is now recognized as a major medical disease for our pets, just as it is for humans, and is perhaps the most significant health challenge they face.

If you think your dog might be carrying extra weight, here are some steps you can take to help.

Start with a Visit to Your Vet

The best first step is to take your dog to your veterinarian. They will weigh your pet and, importantly, show you how to figure out what your dog's ideal, healthy weight should actually be. Working together, you and your vet can create a sensible plan to help your dog lose those extra pounds.

Your vet might suggest a special prescription diet designed for weight loss. Or, they might help you figure out the right amount of your dog's current food to feed so they can slim down while still getting all the important nutrients their body needs.

The vet will also do a check-up to see if any hidden health issues could be contributing to the weight gain. For example, dogs can sometimes have a condition called hypothyroidism, which means their thyroid isn't working properly, and treating this can really help with weight loss. They'll also examine your dog for any heart problems or issues with their bones and joints that might need to be considered when planning an exercise routine.

Understand What a Healthy Weight Looks Like for Your Dog

Following your vet's initial assessment, it's also useful to get a general idea of healthy weight ranges, as these can differ quite a little between various breeds and ages.

Even with breed guidelines available online, we always recommend relying on your vet's professional expertise. They can accurately assess your pet’s current weight, their overall body condition, and review their diet. From there, your vet can help you determine if a weight-loss plan would be beneficial and help you set a sensible target weight to work towards.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that some specific dogs might be naturally shorter or taller than the official breed standard outlines. For these dogs, their ideal weight would be considered with their height, still within the context of their breed.

Gradual is Best for Losing Weight Safely

Now that you have a better idea of your dog’s healthy weight goal, it’s important to approach their weight loss journey with patience. Helping your pooch slim down shouldn't be rushed, as losing weight too quickly can actually be unhealthy.

As a general guide, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention experts suggest that a dog can safely lose about 1 to 3 percent of their total body weight per month. However, remember that these are general figures, and the best pace for your pet might differ depending on their current weight and breed.

Introduce Exercise Slowly Too

Similar to how you'd adjust their food, it's best to introduce more activity to your dog slowly, avoiding any sudden, intense changes. Your vet will likely suggest starting with short periods of exercise. Then, as your dog starts to lose some weight and get fitter, you can gradually make these exercise sessions a bit longer.

For dogs who are overweight or dealing with arthritis, soothing activities like walking or swimming are excellent choices. These kinds of exercises are much easier on their joints compared to more impactful activities like running or jumping. And if arthritis is making movement uncomfortable for your dog, looking into options designed for joint support might be helpful. For example, K9 Mobility Ultra and PetMix Mobility focus on supporting joint health, which could help your dog exercise with greater comfort.

When you begin, think about short, easy walks on flat ground. Over time, you can gradually make the walks longer and maybe start including some rolling hills. At the start of your walk, let your dog have a chance to warm up and relieve themselves. After that, you can gently pick up the pace so they get some good exercise that gets their heart pumping a little.

Always pay attention to how your dog is feeling during exercise…

If they start panting very heavily or begin to lag behind you, that’s a clear signal to slow down and take it easier. It's especially important to be careful with dogs that are overweight, and even more so if they are French Bulldogs, Pugs, or Pekingese, as these dog breeds can sometimes have more trouble breathing and can overheat quickly. It's much safer for them to plan walks for the cooler parts of the day, such as early in the morning or later in the evening.

Depending on your dog's health, your vet might suggest a starting exercise plan, perhaps something like 20-minute walks about five times a week. Each week, you can try to slowly increase the amount of time during the walk where you're moving at a brisker, heart-pumping pace. If your dog handles this well and seems comfortable, you can eventually work up to walking twice a day or even trying some gentle jogging, if that's appropriate for their age and condition.

Matching Food to Your Dog's Needs

When you're looking at dog food, always remember that they're not all the same. This makes it really important to choose food that effectively meets your dog's specific needs and current situation.

You'll want to search for natural dog food options that are healthy and specially made to help with whatever your dog might be dealing with. This could mean a food designed for weight management, one that offers support for sensitive joints, something formulated for digestive comfort, or a formula that helps with any other particular health need they have.

Stay Consistent for Lasting Success

Did you know that studies have actually looked into what happens after dogs successfully lose those extra pounds? They found that about half of those dogs, unfortunately, ended up gaining the weight back. 

But there's good news too! The same research showed that this “rebound” weight gain was much less likely to happen if dogs continued to eat a weight-loss type of diet, even after they reached their ideal weight.

So, after all your hard work in helping your dog lose weight and once you've found a new food formula that's working well for them, the best thing you can do is keep going with it! As with many things, consistency is often the most important part when it comes to your dog.