Just like their people, pets in today's world struggle with weight issues. A recently adopted stray pet may be underweight. A dog that is stressed may eat too much or too little. Your older pampered pooch may have packed on too many pounds. There are several visual clues to determining if your dog is overweight, underweight or just the right size.
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Thin
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Indications that your dog is too thin include ribs, vertebrae and pelvic bones that are easily visible. If there is an obvious waist in front of your dog's back legs and no fat that can be pinched, your dog probably needs to gain a few pounds. A dog's abdomen naturally goes into a tuck as it extends toward his back end. If the abdominal tuck is too obvious, this too is a clue that your dog is too thin. The amount of food available to a thin dog should be increased.
Underweight
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The underweight dog needs to gain a few pounds to reach his ideal condition. An underweight dog has many of the same characteristics as the thin dog, though these characteristics are not quite as pronounced in the underweight dog. The underweight dog's ribs can easily be felt, and there is not much fat on his body. If you look at him from above, you can easily see his waist and abdominal tuck. The amount of food available to an underweight dog should be increased.
Ideal
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The dog that is at her ideal weight has ribs that can be felt but aren't visible beneath her skin. You should see a slight waist if you look at her from above. Her abdomen is tucked, though not quite as pronounced as it is in the thin and underweight dog. There is a fold visible where her flank meets the rest of her body. If your dog is at her ideal weight, it is important that you maintain the amount of food available to her and that you ensure she continues to get regular exercise.
Overweight
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The overweight dog has a bit more fat over his ribs than the dog that is at an ideal weight. However, you can still feel his ribs. His abdomen is rounded and the abdominal tuck isn't obvious. His flanks are concave and the flank folds hang down. The flank folds may jiggle when the overweight dog walks or runs. It is important to decrease the amount of food available to the overweight dog and to increase the amount of exercise he receives, in order to get him to his ideal condition.
Obese
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The ribs and backbone of the obese dog are difficult to feel beneath the fat. The obese dog's abdomen is rounded and you can not see her waist. Her flank folds sway when she walks. There are multiple health issues that obesity can cause in dogs. It is important to decrease the amount of food available to her and to increase the amount of exercise she receives. You may wish to consult with your veterinarian about how best to help your obese dog get in better shape.
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