Is your dog a healthy weight?

How to check if your dog is a healthy weight | Biscuit 

Half of UK dogs may be overweight. Learn why a healthy body condition matters and how Biscuit's Weight Assessment helps you check and track your dog at home. 

Why a regular body condition check could help protect their health and give you more happy years together 

A little extra weight can be easy to miss, especially when you see your dog every day. Their shape changes gradually, fluffy coats can hide their outline and, because so many dogs now carry excess weight, a heavier body shape can look normal. 

But knowing whether your dog is at a healthy weight matters. Excess body fat is linked with poorer health and mobility, while maintaining a lean body condition may help dogs enjoy longer, healthier lives. The good news is that a simple look-and-feel check can help you spot change early. 

Why your dog’s weight can be difficult to judge 

Knowing whether a dog is at their ideal weight is not always straightforward. UK Pet Food’s 2024 research found that vets considered 50% of the dogs they saw to be overweight or obese. At the same time, 77% of owners believed their pet was the right size and weight, showing just how easily gradual changes can go unnoticed. 

PDSA has reported a similar disconnect. Veterinary professionals estimated that 46% of dogs were overweight or obese, but 80% of owners did not know their dog's body condition score. Nearly a third did not know their dog's current weight, and only 56% knew what their dog's ideal weight should be. 

That does not mean owners do not care. It shows how difficult it can be to judge weight by sight alone - and why checking body shape and how easily you can feel the ribs is so useful. 

A healthy weight can mean more healthy years 

One of the best-known studies of canine longevity followed 48 Labrador Retrievers throughout their lives. Dogs in the diet-restricted group were fed 25% less than their paired littermates and maintained a leaner body condition. Their median lifespan was 1.8 years longer, and the onset of chronic diseases, particularly osteoarthritis, was delayed. 

This does not mean every lean dog will live exactly 1.8 years longer: the study involved one breed and a relatively small group. It does show that maintaining a lean body condition over a lifetime can make a meaningful difference to both longevity and the age at which some health problems appear. 

Extra weight can put joints and soft tissue under pressure 

Carrying excess weight increases the load placed on a dog's joints and can make movement harder. Research from a UK first-opinion veterinary practice found that obesity was associated with 3.76 times the odds of cranial cruciate ligament rupture - the knee injury often compared with an ACL tear in people - than in dogs that were not obese. 

The study does not prove that excess weight is the only cause. Breed, age and sex were also associated with risk. 

While we cannot change factors such as breed or age, regularly monitoring body condition gives us an opportunity to support our dogs’ joint health. 

What does a healthy body condition look and feel like 

A number on the scales is helpful, but it does not tell the whole story. Dogs vary enormously in breed, build and muscle mass, so vets also use body condition scoring: a hands-on assessment of fat cover and body shape. 

• Ribs  You should be able to feel the ribs easily beneath a light layer of fat, without needing to press firmly. 

• Waist  Viewed from above, your dog should have a visible waist behind the ribs. 

• Tummy  Viewed from the side, the abdomen should tuck upwards towards the back legs rather than forming a straight or sagging line. 

Some healthy dogs naturally have a less obvious waist or tummy tuck, and thick or long coats can disguise their shape. Looking and feeling together gives you a better picture. If you are unsure, your vet or vet nurse can assess your dog's body condition and advise on a healthy target. 

"The bad news is that owners of food-obsessed dogs have to work much harder to keep their dogs at a healthy weight - the good news is that it can be done." 

Dr Eleanor Raffan, veterinary surgeon and University of Cambridge researcher 

Check and track your dog's weight with Biscuit 

Biscuit's new Weight Assessment gives you an easy way to check your dog's body condition at home and keep a record over time. 

1. Submit two photos of your dog, following the in-app guidance. 

2. Answer a few simple questions about how your dog looks and feels, including whether you can feel their ribs. 

3. Receive a weight report and score to help you understand their current body condition. 

Complete the assessment regularly to make gradual changes easier to spot. A single result is a useful snapshot; a series of results shows the trend. If your dog's score changes, or you have concerns about their appetite, mobility or health, speak to your vet before changing their diet or exercise routine. 

The Weight Assessment is available with Biscuit Plus, for paid subscribers and Waggel customers who receive Biscuit Plus with their policy. 

Small checks can make a big difference 

Weight gain often happens slowly, so it is understandable not to notice it straight away. Building a regular body condition check into your dog's care routine gives you a better chance of acting early and protecting the walks, play and everyday moments you share. 

Weight gain often happens slowly, so it is understandable not to notice it straight away. Building a regular body condition check into your dog’s care routine gives you a better chance of spotting changes early and acting to protect the walks, play and everyday moments you share. 

As PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan explains: “Prevention is always better than cure, but it is never too late to make a change.” 

Whether your dog is currently at their ideal weight or their body condition has started to change, regular checks can help you understand what is happening and decide when to ask your vet for support. 

Open the Biscuit app and complete your dog's Weight Assessment today. 

Sources 

• Kealy RD et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002. 

• Lawler DF et al. Diet restriction and ageing in the dog: major observations over two decades. British Journal of Nutrition, 2008.

• Adams P et al. Influence of signalment on developing cranial cruciate rupture in dogs in the UK. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2011. 

• UK Pet Food. UK Pet Obesity Report 2024. 

• PDSA. PAW Report 2023: Dogs - Diet and Obesity. 

• Royal Veterinary College. RVC study reveals extent of dog obesity crisis in the UK, 2021. 

• PDSA. Vet charity wants to find and fix the UK’s fattest pets, 2019.  

Health note 
The Weight Assessment is designed to support routine monitoring and does not diagnose illness or replace advice from a veterinary professional.