Nearly half of UK dogs are overweight, yet most owners don’t realise it or know how to spot the signs.
When Catharine Taylor’s miniature schnauzer Paddy was seven years old, the dog weighed 12kg, a third more than her ideal healthy weight.
“I could see her getting heavier and it made me anxious,” says Catharine. “My vet told me to exercise her more, but she didn’t want to move. I later found out she had back pain because of arthritis. I had to wheel her around in a pet stroller. I didn’t know how to help her.”
Anyone who has loved a dog will sympathise with Catharine’s distress.
The UK dog obesity epidemic
“Overweight is the third most common diagnosed disorder in dogs after dental disease and infected ears,” says Dan O’Neill, professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College.
His research has found the most afflicted breeds to include Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, English Springer Spaniels and Border Terriers.
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Even if you think your dog’s just “cuddly”, excess weight could prevent the everyday interactions that give stimulation and joy.
“If your dog can’t get up the stairs, into the car or onto your lap on your sofa, it can cause intense frustration that leads to real suffering,” Dan says.
At the extreme end of the spectrum are serious health issues. Excess weight raises the risk of diabetes and certain cancers. Ultimately, Dan says: “The more overweight a dog is, the sooner they will die.”
Why some dogs are always hungry: the ‘greedy’ gene
Dr Eleanor Raffan, a vet and geneticist based at the University of Cambridge, says we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves, especially if we own Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Pugs or any of the breeds found to be genetically predisposed to hunt and beg for food.
“The breeds more prone to obesity are also the most highly food motivated,” says Eleanor.
She was on the team that found a quarter of Labradors and two-thirds of flat-coated retrievers have a gene mutation that triggers a “starvation signal”, so they are always hungry.
“It really isn’t the owners’ fault,” Eleanor explains. “With them always pestering you for food, it can be a lot of effort to keep your dog at a healthy weight. It doesn’t take much relaxation to let a food-motivated dog become overweight.”
How to tell if your dog is overweight
“Most weight gain happens because we’re not aware of it,” says Georgia Woods-Lee, a veterinary nurse and nutrition specialist at the University of Liverpool.
“We’ve lost what normal looks like,” she says. “Many dogs shown in adverts and even at dog shows have a degree of being overweight. Yet they’re being held up as the best of their breed.”
Common signs your dog is overweight include:
- No visible waist when viewed from above
- Ribs hard to feel without pressing
- Belly hangs down rather than tucks up
- Struggles with stairs, jumping or longer walks
“If their weight is going up, they are eating too much, whether it’s too much going in the bowl or extra snacks.”
What should you feed your dog?
Choosing the right dog food can feel overwhelming. Georgia offers a simple rule: Look for the word “complete” on pet-food packaging.
“It’s a legally protected term and it means the food delivers all the nutrients and calories your dog needs to keep its weight stable,” she says.
Feeding guides printed on packets are a useful starting point:
- Weigh out the food
- Don’t rely on your eye
- Adjust portions if weight increases
The real issue: treats and snacking
For many owners, as Catharine found, weight gain creeps in almost unnoticed, often driven by small, frequent treats. Catharine knew they were contributing to Paddy’s weight gain, but saw them as essential during her early days as a rescue dog.
“She was frightened of everything at first and I used treats to train and socialise her.”
The PDSA recommends that treats should make up only 10% of a dog’s daily food allowance. We can start by swapping high-calorie snacks such as dental sticks, marrow biscuits and gravy bones for healthier treats:
- Low-calorie berries (never grapes)
- Vegetable pieces such as courgettes, peppers and cucumber
Anne McBride, chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), chops up a frankfurter into 50 pieces and semi-dries it in the oven to make dog treats.
“A treat for a medium-sized dog should be as big as a little fingernail. It’s just a taste,” she says.
How to help an overweight dog lose weight
Once a dog is overweight, a controlled diet is essential. Eleanor Raffan advises owners to seek help from their vets, who can prescribe formulated weight-management foods.
“People are often reluctant because of the cost, but they’re expensive because they’re high in protein and fibre to promote a sensation of fullness.”
It worked for Paddy. Eventually she was referred to the obesity care clinic at Liverpool University’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital. Within a year, she hit her target weight, thanks to a specialist diet, pain relief, physiotherapy and regular weigh-ins.
Now 11, she has maintained it.
Weight-loss drugs for dogs: what owners need to know
Weight-loss injections for dogs may sound far-fetched, but they are already in development.
Biotech firms are trialling medications that work like the human hunger suppressants known as GLP-1 inhibitors, which mimic a natural hormone involved in appetite control. Researchers hope they could do something similar for dogs, but they are not yet available in vets’ surgeries.
Importantly, these drugs could make the weight-loss journey easier and less distressing for both owners and their pets.
“For some dogs, being hungry is horrible,” says Georgia. “These medications could make their experience of weight loss so much better.”
If trials go well, some experts estimate they could reach the market around 2028.
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