Losing weight is a fraught topic and can feel difficult to achieve, but there’s no great secret to success. Helping your dog to cut some weight is eminently achievable—all you need is a little focus. The key is finding a diet that works for both you and your dog, one that provides them with the delicious taste and nourishment they need without making it easy to pack on the pounds (like Ollie!). 

More than 22% of pet parents give their pet too much food in a misguided attempt to keep them happy, so don’t feel bad if a recent vet visit has sent you and your pup home with your collective tail between your legs when faced with a higher-than-average number on the scale. Most dogs these days spend most of their days inside our homes without being active in the way that many working dogs were bred to be, such as herding sheep, retrieving game, or simply running about outside freely. Plus, conventional dog foods are more caloric than ever, making it all-too-easy to accidentally over-consume.

How Can I Tell If My Dog Is Overweight?‍

Dogs are considered to be overweight if they weigh 10-20% above their ideal body weight, and are considered to be obese if they weigh more than 20% over their ideal body weight. 

In the US, obesity is the most common preventable disease in dogs. In 2022, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention survey reported that 59% of dogs are overweight— resulting in $90 million per year spent on obesity-related conditions, with 20% of pet insurance claims related to the problem. 

• Feel: a simple way to tell if your dog is overweight quickly is to feel their body for excess fat. A major indicator is how their ribs feel: if you can easily feel your dog’s ribs without having to press hard, they’re likely a good weight. In overweight dogs, the fat covering their ribs makes this harder to do. You can also check for excess fat under their stomach, which may swing as they walk, and at the top of their hips. 
• Look: if you take a look at your pup’s outline from above, do they have a clearly defined waist or are they more rotund and oval-shaped?
• Observe: watch your dog’s behaviour. Overweight dogs are typically more sedentary and may have trouble walking or breathe harder when moving about. If your dog only runs to their food bowl, instead of after a ball, you may have a problem. 

A great first step is taking advantage of Ollie’s free weight screenings, offered in their app. All you need to do is upload some photos of your dog, and The Ollie Health team will provide you with personalized feedback on the most healthful way forward. 

What Happens If My Dog Is Overweight?

Being obese can shorten a dog’s life, predisposing it to diseases such as diabetes and cancers. Even being moderately overweight can shorten a dog’s life expectancy by around 2.5 years. 

Increased risks posed by dog obesity: 

• Cancer
• Diabetes mellitus
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Osteoarthritis and faster degeneration of affected joints
• Urinary bladder stones
• Anesthetic complications

How Can I Help My Dog Lose Weight?

Always speak to your vet for guidance on medical issues if you’re concerned. The first step is educating yourself about what it takes for your pup to maintain a healthy body weight. And mostly, it comes down to diet. 

Many conventional dog foods contain fillers, artificial flavors, and other additives that can damage your pet’s health in the longer term and lead to weight gain. Ollie, by contrast, uses only real, whole, human-grade ingredients in their nutritionally-balanced recipes, which are created by veterinary nutritionists. Ollie’s meals are nutritionally complete and highly digestible, and best of all, they can be modified to your dog’s specific needs. 

How Does Ollie Dog Food Help Dogs Lose Weight?

Forget generic, high-carb-stuffed kibble: Ollie’s fresh meals are the real deal. Their irresistible meals prioritize high-quality proteins and vegetables that are rich in fiber, helping dogs to stay full and energetic while maintaining muscle mass. 

Ollie takes away the guesswork of how much to feed your pup. Each of their meal plans are carefully portioned by canine nutrition specialists based on a variety of factors, including your dog’s weight, activity level, spay/neuter status, and preferences. This means that all you need to do to ensure your BFF receives the perfect balance of nutrients and calories to promote sustainable, healthy weight loss is to put the carefully pre-portioned food into their bowl. And if you’re ever unsure, the company has a dedicated Canine Care team ready to answer any questions you have and support your dog’s weight loss journey every step of the way. 

No dog wants to eat a flavorless dinner and everyone knows that dieting’s no fun. With Ollie, your pup won’t even know they’re on a diet—they’ll be too busy happily scarfing down Ollie’s fresh, nutritious, high-quality meals made with ingredients that you recognise, such as turkey, chicken, blueberries, sweet potato, kale, and pumpkin. Lick the bowl clean, guilt-free!

Tips For Dog Weight Loss

There’s plenty you can do to help your dog shed some pounds outside the kitchen, too. Exercise is a great way to help your doggy stay active. Try sneaking in some extra steps for your pup by placing their food bowl in different spots around your home so they have to hunt for their breakfast. Bonus points if you put it at the top or bottom of the stairs, encouraging your dog to burn some calories to get to their food. 

Add in some extra playtime to your dog’s routine and bring out their favorite toys to encourage movement as they start to get healthier. Not all rewards have to be food-based! Dogs thrive on love, attention and extra walks as well.