Overweight increases joint, metabolic and quality of life risk. Adjust calories and exercise with veterinary criteria; not miracle diets or extreme fasts.
What to do now.Weigh, record treats and ask the vet for a plan (rule out illness). Related:how much to eat
Definition (guideline)
Reference:WSAVA — nutrition; AVMA — dogs
Exceso de condición corporal frente a la ideal de la breed/individuo.
Triage by duration, frequency and condition
- Species:dog.
- An isolated episode in an active animal ≠ repeated signs, blood, pain or lethargy.
- Puppies/kittens, seniors and animals with chronic illness: lower threshold.
Warning signs — go
- Dyspnea on exertion, limping, sudden anorexia — consult.
What not to do
- No restricción agresiva sin supervisión en puppys/seniors.
What to bring to the consultation
- Weight, current diet, treats, previous tests.
Based on reference sources.Editorial criteria anchored to reference sources (Merck, AVMA, ASPCA or others cited). It does not replace in-person veterinary care. No operative doses no source of the case.
Editorial plan (without miracles)
- Weigh in clinic or at home with repeatable method; record prizes and “table food” for a week.
- Ask the vet for calorie adjustment: rule out illness before blindly cutting rations.
Habits that usually fail
- Invisible prizes (visit, training, "a little piece" of each dish).
- Pee-only walks without a stretch of jogging/sniffing adapted to the condition.
Frequently asked questions
Can I medicate at home
Do not use human drugs or viral tips without veterinary indication.
Do you wait "to see if it goes away?"
Not if there is alarm, suspected toxicity or high-risk animal.
Does this replace a veterinarian?
No.
Sources
- WSAVA — Global nutrition toolkit wsava.org· consulted 2026-08-07
