It’s no secret that Americans love their pets. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association, 68 percent of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to about 84.6 million homes. Of those pets, the vast majority are dogs—and we love them just like family. That’s why it’s so important to make sure our furry friends are healthy and happy—and that includes maintaining a healthy weight. But how can you tell if your puppy is overweight? Here are a few signs to look for. Typically new born puppy’s 2.6 oz (7g) for toy breeds to 28 oz (800g) for a giant breed. Medium breeds fall somewhere in the middle at about 8.8 oz (250g).
One of the easiest ways to tell if your puppy is carrying around too much weight is by feeling their ribs. If you can’t feel your puppy’s ribs or they seem well-hidden under a layer of fat, that’s an indication that they could stand to lose a few pounds. Of course, every dog is different, and some breeds are prone to carrying more weight than others. But as a general rule of thumb, you should be able to feel your pup’s ribs without too much difficulty.
Puppies are constantly growing so it’s often difficult to tell if they are a healthy weight without consulting a vet. Your vet will be able to guide you on how much your pup should weigh at different growth stages, depending on their breed. They’ll also weigh them whenever you take them in for check-ups or to collect their flea and worming treatment. If your dog is overweight but not eating much, you may want to schedule a vet appointment to have your dog checked for health conditions, including hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid, what regulates the body’s metabolic rate, is underactive and therefore slows the metabolism.
Don’t just wait to go to the vets to find out however, as there are several signs you can look for that will tell you if your puppy is overweight or underweight:
Signs that your puppy is overweight can include not being able to see or feel their ribs, or not being able to see a clear waist behind the ribs when looking at your dog from above. For an obese dog, it’s best to start out slow and increase exercise over time once they will start to loose weight .
Your puppy may be underweight if you can clearly see their ribs, vertebra, and pelvic bones, and are unable to feel any fat on their bones. Because some dogs have very thick fur coats that can hide the ribs, it’s important that you get hands-on! When looking at an underweight dog, you may also be able to see a very narrow waistline and some muscle loss around the shoulders and thighs. There are some serious consequences of being too underweight which include a weakened immune system, delayed wound healing, loss of muscle strength and reduced mobility.
Here’s some tips for your puppy to gain weight if its underweight is select a food that is higher in calories and protein like what u would offer a canine athlete as these dogs need more calories to simply maintain their weight. so the puppy shouldn’t over exercise it should be moderately active or sedentary.
The best food to feed is a high quality commercial kibble designed for puppies. This ensures all the nutrients your puppy needs for growth and development are present. You can add cooked meats and vegetables or rice as you wish; however, the main diet needs to be the commercially balanced kibble.
Here are some tips for choosing healthy puppy food:
- Choose the Puppy Food Brand Wisely. You want a puppy food from a pet food company that has undergone AAFCO feeding trials.
- Be Mindful of the Calories.
- Puppy Size Matters.
- So Does the Size of the Puppy Food.
- Check the Puppy Food Ingredients.
- Keep Your Puppy Trim & Healthy.
This kind of food will help them gain weight. Some safe human foods your puppy can eat: Peanut Butter,Greek Yogurt, Lean Proteins: Chicken & Beef, Apples Pasta, Bread ,Watermelon, Corn ,Rice and Sweet Potatoes.
Does your pup seem extra sluggish and tired lately? If so, it could be a sign that they need to slim down. Just like humans, carrying around excess weight can be exhausting for dogs—and that fatigue will show in their energy levels. So, if you notice your normally lively puppy starting to lag behind on walks or taking more naps than usual, it might be time to cut back on the calories.
When dogs are overweight, they often have difficulty breathing—and that’s not just because they’re out of shape. Excess fat tissue in the neck can actually compress the trachea (windpipe), making it difficult for dogs to get enough air. If you notice your pup panting more than usual or coughing after moderate activity, those could be signs that they’re carrying around too much weight—and you should take them to see the vet as soon as possible. You should feel you pet’s ribs should be easily felt and you should see a noticeable waistline when looking from the side and from above. In other words, if you have a hard time feeling your puppy’s ribs or observe a rounded belly, these are signs of overfeeding and that your puppy may be should gain between 10-15% of his birth weight each day. But a simple rule of thumb is to expect your pup to gain about 5 ounces per week for small breeds and 2.5 pounds a week for large breeds. Anything more than that could be setting your puppy up for future obesity.
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for all dogs—but it can be especially tricky for puppies since they’re still growing and developing. If you’re concerned that your pup might be carrying around too much weight, watch for these three signs: difficulty breathing, excessive fatigue, and hidden ribs. Of course, if you’re ever in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and consult your veterinarian. if you want to work out how much your puppy will weigh on it’s full grown then you can estimate your puppy’s full-grown weight by using the puppy weight calculator, which follows the simple formula: Adult weight = (Puppy weight / Puppy age in weeks) * 52.
