Canine Obesity: A Paw-sitive Approach to Your Dog’s Weight Loss

In Australia, approximately 1 in 4 dogs are overweight or obese¹. While a “chunky” dog might look cute, canine obesity is a serious health concern that can significantly shorten their lifespan.

Studies have shown that being overweight can reduce a dog’s lifespan by up to 2.5 years². That’s 2 and a half years less precious time that owners get to spend with their beloved dog.

The main cause is dogs consuming more energy than they expend, which leads to weight gain. Simply put, they are eating more than they need and moving less than they should. We show our dogs love through food and bond by giving them treats, but spoiling them with “too much love” can be detrimental to their health.

Health Risks Of Canine Obesity

Canine obesity can significantly shorten a dog’s lifespan, reducing the precious years you get to spend with them. Beyond longevity, it impacts their daily quality of life. Chronic health issues also mean more frequent vet visits, medications, and diagnostic tests – which cost the owner money. Common health risks for overweight dogs include:

Joint Pain

Carrying extra weight puts immense stress on a dog’s joints, a leading cause of osteoarthritis, making simple movements like walking and jumping painful and difficult. This creates a difficult cycle: pain leads to less movement, which causes weight gain and muscle loss. This places additional strain on the joints, resulting in more pain and even less mobility.

Heart & Lung Distress

Obesity forces the heart and lungs to work much harder to circulate oxygen. Excess weight can severely worsen conditions like Tracheal Collapse or Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (common in flat-faced breeds). It also contributes to hypertension (high blood pressure), which can cause secondary damage to the kidneys and other organs.

Diabetes Mellitus

Overweight dogs are likely to have reduced insulin sensitivity. This metabolic strain significantly increases their risk of developing diabetes, which typically requires lifelong insulin injections and strict monitoring.

Pancreatitis

Overweight dogs are at a significantly higher risk of developing pancreatitis, a serious and incredibly painful inflammation of the pancreas that often requires hospitalisation.

Heat Intolerance

Excess weight makes it much harder for dogs to regulate their body temperature. This, combined with reduced heart and lung function, makes overweight dogs intolerant of hot weather and significantly increases their risk of life-threatening heat stress.

Surgical Risk

Overweight dogs have a higher risk of anaesthesia and recovery complications. Surgery can also take longer and be more technically difficult if the patient is carrying excess fat.

Is Your Dog Overweight?

Ideally, you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs easily with a thin layer of fat over them. From above, your dog should have a clear “hourglass” waistline, and from the side, their tummy should tuck up toward the hind legs.

Use a Body Condition Score (BCS) to check if your dog is overweight or obese. You can also use the Royal Canin BCS Tool for an interactive view specific to your dog’s breed size.

How To Help Your Dog Lose Weight

Maintaining your dog at a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for their health and well-being. To put it in perspective, 1kg of weight loss in a dog is equivalent to a human losing 7kg.
​​​​​​​Remember, small amounts matter and aim for a slow reduction in weight. It can take months to a year for them to safely reach their ideal weight.

Weight loss strategies for dogs include:

The Right Diet

Diets like Royal Canin Clinical Alliance Satiety + Urinary use a specialised high-fibre blend to help dogs feel full and satisfied between meals, which is perfect for those who are always asking for “seconds.” It also combines the benefits of their Urinary care range, making it a 2-in-1 diet.

Plus, we have a vet-exclusive promotion for the Clinical Alliance Range: buy 5 bags and get 1 free!

Other options include Hills Metabolic, which works with your dog’s unique biology to “flip the switch” from storing fat to burning it for energy.
If your dog has other health needs, such as food allergies or arthritis, multimodal diets from Royal Canin and Hills are a great option. These specialised formulas are designed to address multiple needs at once.

The Right Amount

A common mistake is feeding the dog for their current weight instead of their ideal weight. Always follow the feeding guide based on the weight your dog should be, not what they are now.

Diversion

It is a common mistake to assume that whenever your pet seeks attention from you, they are requesting food. The reality is, 9 times out of 10, they are likely just looking for engagement or something to do.
Instead of offering food, try playing, petting/cuddling, grooming them or going for a walk.

Stop “Graze” Feeding

Leaving food out all day (free-feeding) is a major contributor to weight gain. Instead, provide 2 to 3 distinct, measured meals per day. Automatic timed feeders can also be used to dispense small portions throughout the day, helping to regulate appetite and prevent overeating.

Watch the Treats

Frequent treats are a significant factor in canine obesity. A single piece of cheese for a dog can be the caloric equivalent of one and a half hamburgers for a human. Opt for low-calorie options like carrots or lean dried jerky. Treats should never exceed 10% of a dog’s total daily calories, and those calories must be deducted from their main daily food allowance.

Make Them “Work” for Food

Use treat-dispensing balls, snuffle mats, puzzle feeders, or hide small portions of kibble around the yard. This encourages movement, slows down fast eaters, and provides essential mental stimulation.

Safe Exercise

Regular exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight, keeps muscles strong, and wards off boredom. Enrich your dog’s life with daily walks, running and regular playing.

For elderly or arthritic dogs, gentle, low-impact exercise is key. Swimming and hydrotherapy are excellent for muscle strength and joint mobility without strain. Soft-surface walks (like lawns) reduce the impact on joints. Keep sessions short, frequent, and tailored to your dog’s comfort.

Weigh Regularly

Track your dog’s progress with consistent weigh-ins. Use the Body Condition Score (BCS) chart to monitor changes in their body shape and adjust their food allowance as needed to reach and maintain their ideal weight. Remember, small amounts matter and aim for a slow reduction in weight. It can take months to a year for them to safely reach their ideal weight.

Underlying Issues

It is important to note that weight gain isn’t always caused by overeating or a lack of exercise. Certain medical conditions can cause a dog to gain weight or develop a “pot-bellied” appearance, such as Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), Cushing’s Disease (hormonal imbalance), or fluid retention resulting from heart or liver failure.

Unfortunately, for about 25% of Labradors, a specific gene mutation (POMC) affects the brain’s ability to recognise when the stomach is full³. This mutation disrupts the signals that normally tell a dog to stop eating, causing them to feel hungry all the time, even immediately after a meal. If not managed properly, this leads to overeating, food stealing and eventual obesity.

If you are concerned that your dog’s weight is increasing despite a controlled diet, or if you notice other symptoms like lethargy, increased thirst, or coat changes, please take them to a veterinarian for a full assessment.