when is your dog TOO "healthy"?

[schelmischekitty]

my hubby keeps telling me that sheeba is too fat, and that axle is well on his way.  i think they're just fine, but i was wondering what everyone's ideas were on how to tell if your dog is a porker.  thanks!

[shangrila]

You should be able to tell by looking and feeling. The feel test is that you should be able to feel the bones and ribs through a thin layer of fat - you should not be able to see them (that would be too skinny), but you should be able to feel them. For the look test, you should be able to see that the abdomen is tucked in from the side and thinner from the top. Here's a link to an article that has illustrations of different body types for the "look" test http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?acatid=194&aid=175

[schelmischekitty]

*ahem* ok, maybe they are too healthy... sheeba's body only resembles a beach ball, and axle isn't very dippy either...

[schelmischekitty]

in axle's top shot, right side is start of shoulders, left going toward his butt.

[CrazyLoveRosie]

I think much like humans, dogs are supposed to have that Coke bottle shape. So from the top view, your dog's shoulders should appear wider than its waist and then widening again around their hips.