Is my pet overweight ?

In Western countries, being overweight is now considered the most common pet condition. How is your four-legged friend doing ? Come and take the test.

Depending on the study (and the country), the prevalence, i.e. the number of overweight dogs varies between 20 and 60%. In cats, the figure is between 11 and 52%. Unfortunately, these figures tend to increase, which raises the question of animal health and welfare.

How are overweight and obesity defined ?

Not all authors agree on this point, which explains why the figures quoted above are so disparate. However, in general, overweight is defined as 10% over the ideal weight, and obesity as more than 20% over the ideal weight.

Pet Body Condition Scoring — Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

Which animals are most at risk ?

There are many risk factors and scientists agree that obesity is a multifactorial disease.

There are animal-specific factors, like :

• Breed: Retriever dogs are generally recognised as a risk breed,
• Sex: female dogs are often considered more at risk, whereas in cats, males are more frequently affected,
• Sterilisation: sterilised animals are at greater risk of overweight and obesity, particularly because sex hormone levels have a strong influence on energy requirements,
• Age: as in humans, fatness is influenced by age,

as well as factors described as environmental:

• Lifestyle and physical activity: cats living exclusively indoors are more affected by overweight and obesity, this is related to the fact that they are often less active than cats having the possibility to go outside, but not only… the stress generated by living in a flat (for example) also plays a role.
• Food: the quantity of calories ingested is important, as is the quality of the food. Beware of treats and small “extras”, it is often the owner’s behaviour that tips the energy balance.

Even if genetics play a role, overweight and obesity are, in the vast majority of cases, the result of an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure.

 Pet Body Condition Scoring — Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

How do I know if my pet is overweight ?

The method generally used by professionals to assess the body condition of pets is called the Body Condition Score (BCS). This rating scale can be done at home in a quick and easy way. It ranges from 1 to 9, with 1 being the leanest and 9 the most obese.

This scoring is done by

• Observing the animal in profile and from above: the size must be marked, but not more than that,
• Feeling the ribs: they should be felt, but not protruding.

It is considered that each step up to the next level, beyond 5/9 (which is the “ideal” weight), corresponds to a 10% increase in fat tissue. For example, if your dog or cat has a score of 6/9, this means that he is 10% overweight. He is overweight. Scores of 7, 8 and 9/9 are assigned to obese animals.

This method, although highly dependent on the experience of the operator, is a reliable method. Indeed, imaging studies have shown that the deposition of fatty tissue during weight gain occurs preferentially in the subcutaneous zone and mainly in the thorax and lumbar region.