Is Your Pet Overweight? Why a Healthy Weight is Crucial for Joint Health 🐾
Did you know that maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways to support joint health in pets? This applies to dogs, cats, and even small furries. Being overweight can put unnecessary strain on their bodies and lead to a number of serious health concerns, including:
Diabetes
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Certain cancers
Arthritis and mobility issues
We’re not here to be a Debbie Downer, but extra weight really can be harmful—particularly to musculoskeletal health. Just like in humans, excess weight puts increased pressure on your pet’s weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees. In fact, for every additional 0.5 kg of body weight, around 2 kg of pressure is added to each knee joint (based on human models, which are comparable to our pets).
Common Causes of Pet Obesity
📌 Ageing – Metabolism slows with age
📌 Breed susceptibility – Some breeds are more prone to weight gain
📌 Dry food diets – Many contain high carbohydrates and fats
📌 Free-feeding or overfeeding – Not weighing portions can lead to overeating
📌 Neutered or spayed pets – Hormonal changes can affect metabolism
📌 Health conditions – Some illnesses may cause weight gain
📌 Injuries – Reduced activity can lead to weight build-up
📌 Lack of exercise – Sedentary lifestyles are a big contributor
What is a Body Condition Score (BCS)?
BCS is more than a number on the scales. It's a hands-on way to assess your pet's body fat percentage and overall condition. Think of it as a visual and physical check that considers ribs, waistline, and fat coverage, matched to a universal chart.
It’s one of the most effective tools to evaluate whether your pet is at an ideal weight, underweight, or overweight—and it helps you determine the right amount of calories they need per day.
Top Tip: BCS is used by vets, nutritionists and can be easily understood by pet parents too. Being honest with yourself is key!
Adjusting Raw Feeding for Weight Management
If you feed raw, you’ve probably heard of the rule of thumb: 2–4% of body weight per day. And yes, that works in most cases. But when weight loss is the goal, it’s all about calorie control—not just weight percentage.
Even small reductions in daily intake can have a huge impact over time. That’s why knowing your pet’s actual calorie requirement is a game-changer.
How to Calculate Daily Calorie Needs
Working out calories doesn’t need to be a headache. Here's a brilliant UK-friendly tool:
👉 Vet Calculators - Calorie Calculator
You'll need:
Your pet’s current weight
Their Body Condition Score (BCS)
Whether they’re neutered/spayed
The calculator will give you their Resting Energy Requirements (RER) and Maintenance Energy Requirements (MER). This info is essential if your pet needs to lose or gain weight—or just isn’t finishing meals.
Brands That Include Calories on Raw Food Labels
Some raw brands make your life easier by printing calorie content directly on the packaging. These include:
Natures Menu
Kiezebrink
Alaska
Cotswold Raw
Natural Instinct
Benyfit Natural
Nutriwolds
Poppy’s Picnic
Purrform
If your preferred brand doesn’t list calories, don’t worry—you can calculate it using the nutritional breakdown on the label.
Quick Guide: How to Calculate Calories in Raw Food
Use this formula:
Protein (g) × 4 = kcal
Fat (g) × 9 = kcal
Carbohydrates (g) × 4 = kcal
For example, let’s look at Dougie’s Chicken 80:10:10:
Protein: 16.7g
Fat: 12.9g
Moisture: 66.2%
Ash: 3.7%
Fibre: 0.5%
Carbs: 0g (calculated as the remainder to 100%)
Calculation:
16.7 × 4 = 66.8 kcal
12.9 × 9 = 116.1 kcal
0 carbs × 4 = 0 kcal
Total: 182.9 kcal per 100g
Even though this sounds like a lot of numbers, once you get the hang of it, it’s a powerful tool to take control of your pet’s diet and health.
