Assess your dog's body fat percentage and 9-point WSAVA Body Condition Score to identify whether your dog is underweight, ideal, or overweight, and calculate target daily calories.
Measure Portions with a Scale: Measuring cups have up to 20% margin of error. Weighing kibble on a kitchen gram scale ensures exact daily caloric intake.
Limit Treats to 10% of Calories: Swap high-calorie commercial biscuits for baby carrots, green beans, or cucumber slices.
Low-Impact Joint Exercise: For overweight dogs, prioritize swimming or brisk leash walks over high-impact jumping to protect hip and elbow joints.
Bi-Weekly Weight Checks: Aim for safe, steady weight loss of 1% to 2% of total body weight per week.