There are simple checks you can do regarding your pet’s size (Image: Getty)
A vet shared how to check that your dog is at the optimum weight – and you don’t necessarily need to get the scales out.
On , a veterinarian called Maria told her 568,000 followers that you can assess your pooch simply by looking at them. Maria said: “How do you know if your dog is fat or too thin? I’ll explain.” The animal expert then went on to share her top two tips…
1. Look at your dog’s shape
Maria advised: “One of the easiest things to do is to look at the silhouette, the shape of its body.” Demonstrating on a toy dog, and gesturing towards its tummy area, she continued: “From the profile, there should be no tummy here”.
Next, you can make some observations by “looking at them from above”. The vet explained: “We should notice a curvature in the thorax, then some tucking in the waist and then again, it will widen at the hip.”
There are key signs that could show if your dog is too plump or overly skinny. Maria noted: “If you can see the bones and this curvature here is too extreme, your dog is too thin. On the contrary, if your dog does not even have this slight curvature and it’s all straight or even has outward curvature, your dog is overweight.”
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2. See if you can feel your dog’s ribs
If your pet’s bones are visible, it doesn’t tend to be a good sign. However, it is perfectly normal to be able to feel them.
Maria said: “In addition to the silhouette, we will also observe and examine certain bones as those in the column, ribs and hips. One, they should not be seen.
“Secondly, when you examine them, you should notice them, but only when exerting slight pressure. If you just brush here or can easily see them, your dog is probably too thin.
“On the contrary, if in order to feel the bones you have to exercise a lot of pressure, your dog will probably be overweight.”
While it may not seem like a big deal if your pet is over-weight, Maria believes it’s vital to take action.
She said: “Yes, it is important to take care of it. It is also your responsibility because you are the one who feeds him, who chooses the quantity and quality of the food.
“Not only for aesthetics, they don’t care about that. It’s for their health. If they are too thin, there is either malnutrition or a disease that is consuming that animal. And if they are overweight, they are at risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, joint pain.”
If you have any concerns about your pet, we recommend booking an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. They should be able to advise on the best course of action to take.