You should feel the ribs easily and see a waist — extra weight quietly shortens a dog's life.
Run your hands over the ribs: you should feel them under a thin layer, like the back of your hand. From above the dog should have a visible waist, and from the side a tucked-up belly. Padding over the ribs and no waist mean the dog is overweight.
Package guidelines are starting points that often overfeed. Weigh food rather than eyeballing it, count treats as part of the daily total, and adjust portions to the dog's body condition and activity, not to a fixed number.
Even mild excess weight raises the risk of arthritis, diabetes, heart and breathing problems and shortens lifespan. If weight will not shift on a controlled diet, ask your vet to rule out thyroid or other medical causes.
Correct answer: Easy to feel under a thin layer
You should feel the ribs easily, like the back of your hand; padding over them signals excess weight.
Correct answer: A visible waist behind the ribs
A visible waist from above and a tucked belly from the side indicate a healthy body condition.
Correct answer: Adjust to the dog's body condition and activity
Bag guidelines often overfeed; weigh food and adjust to condition, counting treats in the daily total.
Correct answer: It raises the risk of arthritis, diabetes and a shorter life
Extra weight strains joints and organs and shortens lifespan, so keep dogs lean throughout life.
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