What this means
A dog who is putting on weight can be spotted by the waist: seen from above there is no longer a clear narrowing, and when you feel along the ribs it is hard to find them under a layer of fat. Write down when the weight began to rise, how much your dog eats, how much it moves, and whether anything else in its life has changed, such as neutering or lower activity.
The most common reason is simple: the dog eats more than it burns. After neutering, or with age, a dog's energy need falls while the amount of food often stays the same. So the first thing to look at is how much and what your dog gets in a day, including snacks and bites from the table.
But weight gain is not always only a matter of food. When a dog gets heavier while eating little, is lethargic, feels the cold or loses coat, or when the belly turns round while the rest of the dog gets thin, a hormone disorder needs to be looked for. A bigger belly may also be fluid or enlarged organs rather than fat, and only an examination can tell the difference.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Too much food and too little exercise
The dog takes in more energy than it uses, so fat builds up gradually. After neutering or with age the need falls, but portions often stay the same.
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An underactive thyroid
A shortage of thyroid hormone slows the metabolism, so the dog gains weight even when eating little. Lethargy, feeling the cold and thinning coat are often seen.
About the condition: Hypothyroidism -
Too much adrenal hormone
An excess of cortisol causes a rounded belly, thinning skin and weakening muscle. The dog drinks and urinates more and is hungry all the time.
About the condition: Cushing's disease -
Fluid collecting in the belly
Heart or liver problems can cause fluid to collect, so the belly grows although the dog is not getting fatter. The dog may breathe harder or tire sooner.
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Pregnancy
In an unspayed bitch the belly grows because of pregnancy. If she may have been mated, or you do not know when her last season ended, tell the vet.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- When the weight began to rise and how fast
- How much your dog eats in a day, snacks included
- Whether your dog moves less or tires sooner
- Whether the belly is round while the rest of the body is thin
- Whether your dog drinks and urinates more
- Whether the coat is thinning, the skin looks thin or your dog feels the cold
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your dog is gaining weight while eating little, if the coat is thinning, your dog is lethargic or drinking more, or if you are not sure whether it is fat or a swollen belly. If the belly grows suddenly or your dog struggles to breathe, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Hypothyroidism Hormones and metabolism Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too little of the hormones that regulate metabolism. Because these hormones affect almost the whole body, a shortage gradually slows many of its processes. The changes come on slowly, so they are easy to mistake for ageing or simple laziness.
- Obesity Hormones and metabolism Obesity is a condition in which too much fat builds up in a dog's body. The extra weight strains the joints, heart and breathing, raises the risk of diabetes and other diseases, and makes it harder for the dog to move and enjoy an active life. Weight creeps on gradually, so it is easy for an owner to miss, and a vet can help assess the dog's body condition.
- Cushing's disease Hormones and metabolism Cushing's disease is a condition in which the body makes too much of a stress hormone. This hormone affects many of the body's processes, so an excess gradually changes a dog's appetite, skin, coat and muscles. The changes come on slowly, so they are easy to mistake for simple ageing.
Body systems: Hormones and metabolism