Dog health & weight articles

A German Shepherd's joints are already working with less margin than most breeds. Here's why keeping them lean is more than a general health tip for this one.

Few breeds have a bigger gap between their working-life calorie needs and a typical pet routine. Here's what that means if your Malinois isn't working a full shift anymore.

Beagles are about 2.7 times as likely to be overweight as crossbred dogs. The reason comes down to their nose, and so does the fix.

Dachshunds are built in a way that makes a lean body genuinely protective, not just healthier. Here's the spine research and what actually helps.

A flat face already makes breathing harder for French Bulldogs. Extra weight adds a second, compounding problem. Here's what that means in practice.

About 1 in 5 Labradors carries a gene variant that makes them genuinely hungrier. Here's what that means for how you should feed them.

A weight-loss plan that works for a 3-year-old dog isn't automatically safe for an 11-year-old one. Here's what actually changes, and why.

It's a strong claim: extra weight costs a dog years of life. Here's what the actual research behind that claim found, and what it does and doesn't prove.

An overweight dog's joints are already under strain, so the exercise that helps has to be chosen carefully. Here's what actually works, safely.

The feeding chart on a dog food bag is a rough guess at best. Here's how to find the number that actually matters, and use it properly.

Neutering and spaying genuinely change how many calories a dog needs. Here's what the research actually says, and how to adjust before the weight creeps on.

Puppy weight gain looks nothing like adult weight gain, and the rules are different too. Here's what's normal, and when a growth pattern is worth a vet visit.

Before you assume your dog is just greedy, it's worth knowing that some breeds carry a gene that genuinely makes them hungrier, not just harder to say no to.

Vets don't guess at calorie needs, they use a formula. Here's exactly how it works, with worked examples so you can do the maths for your own dog.

Vets don't rely on a number on a scale to judge weight, they use a hands-on check called body condition score. Here's exactly how to do it at home.