Staying fit and losing weight are usually the top two New Year's resolutions for humans.
But what about your dog? Has he put on a few pounds? How can you determine if your dog really is overweight (as opposed to fluffy), and if he is, what can you do about it?
The tool used by many canine professionals to determine whether or not a dog is overweight is the Nestle Purina Body Condition System. Your dog’s body condition score should be a four or five.
Ideally, you should be able to easily feel your dog’s ribs. (If you can see them, your dog may be too thin.) When looking at your dog from above, you should see a waistline. When looking at your dog from the side, the abdomen should be tucked.