A healthy weight - is my dog obese?

Expert approved

Brian Faulkner

Veterinary Surgeon
RCVS Registered

Keep track of the healthy weight for your pet by watching the body-conditioning scoring video below – you should be able to feel your pet’s ribs and see their waist. Carrying too much weight can lead to problems such as arthritis or diabetes.

Dr Brian Faulkner, MRCVS

Petplan Vet Expert

Brian is a long standing vet and President of the UK Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons. He's worked in more than 250 veterinary practices as a clinician, consultant and confidence coach. Brian holds several academic positions, is a keynote speaker and the founder of Colourful CPD, and organisation providing training for veterinary practices.

Brian co-writes our articles on pet health, where we cover everything from common conditions to supporting your pet after an operation.

Find out more about Brian

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A healthy weight - is my dog obese?

Expert approved

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Dr Brian Faulkner, MRCVS

Do dogs eat less in summer?

Do dogs need to eat more in winter?

How to put your dog on a diet

Christmas dinner for dogs

The pros and cons of raw dog food

Signs of poisoning in dogs

Think Twice! Easter Eggs and Dogs

When to switch to senior dog food?

Signs of poisoning in dogs

What dogs shouldn’t eat on autumn walks

Puppy food – 6 steps for healthy eating

What to feed your dog

When to switch to senior dog food