Let’s Talk Weight for Dogs and Cats
Is Your Pet Too Chunky?
Every single week, someone looks at my dogs and says, “Wow, they’re so skinny.” Or my personal favorite, “You better put some weight on that dog.”
And every time, I have to bite my tongue.
Because what I really want to say is: this is exactly what a healthy dog should look like. But since I don’t usually argue with strangers, I choose to smile and move on.
Here’s the reality no one wants to talk about: over 50% of our dogs and cats are overweight or obese. That’s not normal. And it’s definitely not healthy.
The Kibble Problem
Let’s start with the elephant in the room. It’s kibble. I’ve talked about it before and I’ll keep talking about it until I change people’s minds. Is it the only problem? No. Is it a big one? Absolutely.
Most kibble is loaded with starches. In the body, starch turns into sugar. Dogs and cats are not built to process sugar efficiently, so what happens? That sugar gets stored as fat.
Cats are an even bigger concern. They don’t even have the enzyme (amylase) needed to break down starches. So why are we feeding cats kibble at all?
Great question.
If You Feed Kibble, Here’s What I Recommend
If you’re a kibble feeder, I’m not here to shame you. But I am here to tell you that portion control matters.
Start by reducing the amount of kibble you’re feeding and replacing it with real food:
High-quality protein
Meat
Eggs
Fresh, whole foods
This does not mean adding rice or potatoes. It does mean incorporating appropriate fruits and vegetables for dogs.
For cats, it’s even simpler. Add meat. Salmon, chicken, lamb, duck, turkey.
Raw Necks for Cats
I also use raw necks for dogs and cats, specifically OC Raw Necks. Duck necks and turkey necks are incredible for mental stimulation, dental health, and nutrition.
OC Raw packages their necks in a way that makes it easy. Inside the box, there are smaller packs with two necks individually wrapped. You can thaw one pack at a time, which I love.
Stop Trusting the Feeding Guidelines
One of the biggest mistakes people make is relying on the feeding guidelines on pet food bags.
Those guidelines are inflated and are based on the assumption that your pet eats only that food and nothing else. No treats. No chews. No extras.
But pets are individuals, just like humans. Those feeding charts are guidelines, not rules.
Feeding Equals Love (and That’s a Problem)
Small, overweight dog
Another major issue? We equate feeding with love. Our dogs and cats love treats. We love making them happy. So we give more… and more… and more.
Dogs are opportunistic eaters. If food is available, they will eat it. That’s instinct. Cats are hunters, too. The begging behaviors are natural. Some of us reinforce them by constantly feeding (pun intended lol) into it.
And suddenly, we’re overfeeding without even realizing it.
Treats Count as Calories
Overtreating is a huge contributor to weight gain.
If you’re training, most trainers will tell you not to feed a full meal beforehand or even to skip a meal so your dog is motivated. And yet, people hand out treats all day long without factoring them in.
Anything your pet ingests has calories.
I don’t treat my dogs casually. When I do treat, it’s intentional and for training only. I stick to single-ingredient, high-quality options like:
Obesity Isn’t Just a Cosmetic Issue
An overweight dog or cat isn’t “cute.” It’s heartbreaking.
Obesity puts tremendous strain on joints, increases the risk of diabetes, shortens lifespan, and lowers overall quality of life.
And here’s something I see all the time: people tell me they have a “picky” dog or cat… and the animal is overweight. That doesn’t add up.
In the wild, animals don’t eat two guaranteed meals every single day of their lives.
It’s Okay to Skip a Meal
This one makes people uncomfortable, but I’ll say it anyway: fasting is not dangerous for healthy animals.
It’s natural.
Fasting gives the digestive system a break, helps clear toxins, and supports metabolic health. Yet humans panic if their dog skips one meal.
The Bottom Line
The obesity epidemic in pets is growing, and we’re not making enough progress. Weight loss is hard once the weight is on, which is why prevention matters so much.
Their health matters more than comments from strangers.
For smart, engaging conversations about pet wellness, listen to the Toni Unleashed podcast on Apple and Spotify.
