Is My Dog A Healthy Weight? How Obesity Impacts Your Dog’s Mobility And Spark For Life - Get Fit For 2026!

Did you know that obesity is a key factor in your dog's joint health? Overweight dogs are more likely to have joint stiffness than healthy-weight dogs. Not to mention that obesity increases their risk of many other health conditions, such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes.

So how can you tell if your dog is overweight? How can you help them lose weight, support their joints, and improve their quality of life?

Is my dog overweight? - Body condition scoring

Like humans, your dog's body weight can creep up without you noticing. With around half of all dogs in the UK being classed as overweight, it's understandable if you're not sure what a healthy weight dog should look like.

Body Condition Scoring

The best way to tell if your dog is an ideal weight is to look at them and feel them all over. Use the chart linked below to help you assess your dog's body condition score. Ideally, you want them to fall in the middle of the chart...not too overweight and not too underweight. 

Get your dog to stand up squarely and assess the following...

• Ribs - You should be able to easily feel your dog's individual ribs with your fingers without having to dig in too much. Ideally, there should be no fat over the ribs, but you don't want them sticking out.

• Waist - Looking at your dog from above, their waist should nip in behind their ribcage in an hourglass shape. Their abdomen should be narrower than their ribcage.

• Tuck up - Now, looking from the side, your dog's abdomen should tuck up from their ribcage to their pelvis.

• Spine and pelvic bones - You should be able to feel the ridges of the spine and the pelvic bones from above, but these should be covered with a layer of fat, so they shouldn't be too prominent. 

Check your dog’s body condition against THIS chart by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Ways to help your dog lose weight

As we run rapidly towards 2026, why not make your dog’s weight loss their New Year’s resolution?
Can your dog lose weight just by walking more? Yes, of course they can. Just like in humans, more exercise burns more calories. So getting out and about in the New Year will help them to lose weight, improve their overall health, and support their joints. 

But getting a wiggle-on isn't the only thing to help your dog lose weight.

1. Keep them busy at home. 

Consider a puzzle feeder, or spend more time in the garden playing fetch or tug-of-war. The more they move, the more calories they burn.

 2. Cut the treats—ahh! 

We all love a treat, and treating our furry friends is the best thing ever! But too many treats, especially human food, can pile on the pounds. 

• Did you know that a small 15g cube of cheese for an average-sized dog is the same as us eating 2 hamburgers!

3. Always follow the feeding guide and weigh their portion.

It's easy to overfeed extra calories if you measure by eye. If your dog is very overweight, you might need a specialist weight loss diet. Speak to your vet for advice.

Scatter feed.

Make your dog work for his meal. Scatter kibble around the room, or out in your garden—this encourages them to move, and it's super fun! 

Canine obesity and joint health

Weight is a key factor in your dog's joint health and is a common cause of joint stiffness in dogs. Extra bodyweight means extra strain on your dog's joints. 

Fat tissue itself impacts negatively on your dog's joint health. Fat tissue has a pro-inflammatory effect, increasing the impact on your dog’s joints. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight will work wonders for their joint health and mobility. The fitter, and closer to a healthy body condition score, the better for their mobility.

Support your overweight dog's joints with Antinol

You're doing all the right things, getting out more, cutting the calories, and keeping your dog busy. Add a super potent joint supplement to your dog's daily routine and really get that tail wagging!

Antinol Joint Care Pro is backed by over 25 years of research and is recommended by vets worldwide. If you feel your dog has been slowing down or has joint stiffness, support their lifelong joint health with a supplement you can trust. 

Let’s leap into 2026 with all four paws! Order your dog’s Antinol today.

Looking to up your dog’s exercise? Why not take up a new sport? Get the lowdown on canine sports here.