Is my 85lb Pitbull overweight if she's always tired and sleeping?

Thanks for the question. The ideal weight for every dog is different, and unfortunately, obesity in pets is a big problem. We see so many overweight dogs that sometimes healthy dogs look too skinny! You should be able to lightly run your fingers across the body and feel Bubbs's ribs, but not be able to see them. He should have a waist when viewed from above, and his belly should be tucked up when viewed from the side. In your pictures I do not see any ribs, so he is definitely not underweight. I hope this helps.

Pit Bulls can have some extreme variation in size so there is not an average for the breed. Certainly some smaller framed males will be as small as 40lbs. Some huge males may be as large as 80lbs or even bigger. This could be Little's natural body type but you should make sure his stool is checked microscopically for worms and other parasites since they will steal his nutrients and you should feed a high quality dog food. Not all foods are created equal. A diet that is highly digestible with high quality protein is more likely to help maintain a good body condition than a diet with poor quality protein. Unfortunately you can't tell just by looking at the package if the protein is high quality or not. The brand I recommend is Royal Canin. Look for one of the higher calorie formulas (this information can be found on the side of the bag). Here is a helpful chart to know if he is too skinny or not. It's all dependent on the body condition score. Scroll down to the bottom to see pictures:

Hi there! Nova appears to be a very healthy weight - you can see her ribs just a tiny bit in the first picture, she's got a nice waistline, and you can't see the bones of her spine sticking out. I would not be too concerned about her weight at this time unless a veterinarian says so. At Nova's age (kind of "teenage" months for a dog her size), they grow long faster than they grow wide, which can make them have a bit of a "lanky", leggy appearance, but it's still nothing to be worried about unless she's not eating or having any GI issues. I think Nova is a beautiful dog - if you are very concerned, drop by your vet's office for a weigh-in. I'm sure they'll be happy to see her! Good luck! :)

Losing weight is concerning for heavy parasites or illness (which can be many many different things). The only way to know the cause is to have the pet examined by the veterinarian. I recommend to have this done within the next day or so. Bring in a fresh stool sample for testing. Best of luck.

Your veterinarian can assist you in determining obesity. A physical exam can be done along with a Body Condition Score (BCS). There are 2 systems, a 5 point system and a 9 point system. This information along with Maggie's weight can determine if she is obese or not. She should have a thin layer of fat over her ribs which should be easily felt. Looking at her from above and from the side, her waist should be easily discernible. She should not be rectangular. She should also have a nice abdominal tuck sloping from her chest to abdomen. The following link can describe the BCS in more detail. http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/sites/cliniciansbrief.com/files/BodyConditionScoresforDogs.pdf

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dogs. Hip and knee pain is a common cause of rear limb lameness in large breed dogs. Arthritis tends to develop in either or both joints making the animal reluctant to move. Over time they will lose muscle mass in the rear limbs as they bear more weight on the front end to compensate. This could be what you are recognizing in your dogs. Other causes of weight loss include increased activity levels, diet changes (dog food can vary drastically in the number of calories per cup) or hormonal or metabolic disorders. If the dogs are acting ill, they should go to the veterinarian for further testing. I hope this information helps!

Hi there. It's hard to say how much he should weigh without seeing him, especially given that he is a mixed breed dog. Ideal weight depends on the dog's overall size and bone structure. Feel free to post again with some photos of your dog (ideally standing, from the side, as well as some other angles), and we can let you know if he looks too heavy, too thin, or just right.

A decrease in appetite can indicate a medical problem, so it's best to have a vet examine her to make sure nothing is wrong. She actually doesn't appear to be underweight based on the pictures shown. I'd have to examine her to be sure, but the biggest indication that she is not underweight is the fact that she appears to have well-developed muscles. Some dogs tend to be naturally lean and put more weight on their muscles rather than their ribs, or belly. If I was concerned that she was underweight, then I would first want to rule-out a disease, or parasite causing her to lose or not gain weight. It's best to have a veterinarian evaluate her, so you can ensure she's healthy and ensure that you are not going to feed her unnecessarily. Dog obesity is a big problem in the U.S., which means that the average person thinks a fat dog is at ideal weight; and a dog with an ideal body condition, or a lean body condition is thought to be starving. The truth is that the lean dogs are stati

Why do you want her to be fat? It is not good for dogs to be fat. Can you post again with more information and some photos of the dog so we can help you better? Also, what are you currently feeding her? Thank you.

Thank you for your question. From the photo of Joshie it does not appear that she is overweight. It can definitely be difficult to evaluate based on a photo though, especially in a furry dog like Joshie. Putting your hands onto her body can help you determine her body condition. You should feel a waist/area where he trunk slenders around her abdomen. You should be able to feel her ribs when you run your hands over her chest but they should have a small/thin layer of fat over them. When you run your hands under her, her belly should narrow/have a tuck. You can read this article for more information on proper body condition scoring: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-is-overweight/ If you are still concerned, a vet can examine Joshie and let you know for certain!