{"id":5958,"date":"2020-04-28T09:16:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T08:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/?p=5958"},"modified":"2022-03-30T11:53:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T10:53:00","slug":"how-to-keep-your-puppy-at-a-healthy-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/how-to-keep-your-puppy-at-a-healthy-weight\/","title":{"rendered":"How to keep your puppy at a healthy weight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Obesity is a problem for both humans and dogs. It\u2019s one of the fastest growing health concerns for vets and pet owners, and it affects dogs of all breeds and ages. With a growing puppy, it\u2019s especially important to adopt good habits when it comes to their diet and exercise routine to make sure your puppy is a healthy weight – meaning they’ll grow into a happy, healthy dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason it\u2019s so important is because overweight puppies are much more likely to grow into overweight adults. And this can affect their quality of life, and even shorten their lifespan. But you can keep your puppy at a healthy weight with the right guidance – and we\u2019re here to show you how!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to tell if your puppy is the right weight?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The first step is to check if your puppy is at their ideal weight. A rough guideline to follow is what\u2019s called the \u2018body condition score\u2019. This test shows you where your dog sits on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being very thin, and 5 being obese. However, it\u2019s important to remember this isn\u2019t always as accurate for puppies, since their body composition is a lot different to grown-up dogs. So definitely take it with a pinch of salt if you\u2019re using it for a young dog. Here\u2019s how to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should take note of the 3 key areas across the tummy, ribs and waist, to give your puppy their score. And if your puppy sits in the ideal weight category, you should see and feel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n