We cherish our furry companions dearly, regardless of whether they’re a bit on the plump side or not. However, when it comes to a dog carrying excess weight, it can pose significant health issues, and a hefty pup may not be a happy pup. Having a conversation with your four-legged friend to encourage them to shed a few pounds is sadly impossible. The bestest boys and girls are mostly after an extra treat instead of a workout.
Yet, if a dog owner is determined and committed, they hold the key to transforming their pup’s life for the better. Check out these incredible before-and-after pics of dogs getting healthier through weight loss. Let’s be happy for both their dedicated owners and the dogs themselves.
#1 Two Years And Tons Of Walks Later, Shiloh Has Reached Her Target Weight
Image credits: mikerich15
Chubby puppies might be adorable, but when it comes to a dog’s well-being, a lean physique is preferable.
Unfortunately, similar to the issue faced by humans, there’s an alarming number of overweight dogs, as reported by the Association For Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In their eighth annual survey, released in March 2015, APOP revealed that 53 percent of American dogs are carrying excess weight.
#2 Did Her A Good Dechonk. Down From 74 Lbs To 48 Lbs. A Few More To Go
Image credits: h2ogood4me
#3 I Can’t Believe I’ve Lost Over 12 Lbs. I Used To Have Trouble Getting Up Off The Floor But Now I Can Run Down The Stairs And Jump Off The Couch Without Even Thinking About It
Image credits: hellofromfrankie
International studies also indicate that this problem extends globally, with surveys from various regions showing canine obesity rates at around 40 percent or higher. Furthermore, most researchers believe that this health concern is worsening year by year. According to another part of the APOP survey, in 2014, 17.6 percent of dogs were classified as clinically obese, meaning they were 30 percent or more overweight. This marked a full percentage point increase from just one year prior.
#4 2 Years Later – Looking 2 Years Younger
Image credits: trailsandtails
#5 Still The Happiest Guy Around, I’m Just Less Round
Image credits: kai100less
#6 Mom’s Dementia Caused Her To Overfeed For Months. After A Normal Diet And Lots Of Exercise, Beezie Has Shed Nearly 20 Lbs And She Has A New Lease On Life. 45,6 Lbs To 26,8 Lbs
Image credits: 1zigzag
What’s even more concerning is that a staggering 95 percent of pet owners are unaware that their pudgy dogs need to shed some weight. APOP dubs this phenomenon the “fat pet gap,” where an overweight dog is mistakenly perceived as having a normal weight.
#7 Did Someone Say Glow Up
Image credits: luca.staffy_star.saluki
#8 Looking Like A Completely Different Dog
Image credits: shortysfanclub
#9 Before And After From Cow’s Weight Loss Journey
Image credits: houseandtails
Dr. Ernie Ward, a veterinarian and the founder of APOP, emphasizes, “Pet owners often believe that their obese dog or cat is at a healthy weight, which makes addressing obesity a challenging task. Nobody wants to acknowledge that their pet is carrying extra pounds, and our initial hurdle is overcoming this denial.”
#10 From Big Bear To Little Bear
Image credits: reddit.com
#11 Look What I Did. 11 Pounds Down Is A Lot For A Chihuahua
Image credits: shortysfanclub
#12 How It Started vs. How It’s Going. I Went To My Forever Home And Since Then I’ve Lost Nearly 5 Kg
Image credits: life_of_bonniekins
When it comes to pets, like dogs, recognizing if they are overweight or obese depends on both how they look and feel. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs when you gently touch their sides. Some dog food brands have charts that can help you figure out if your dog needs to lose weight.
#13 Veterinarian Said He Needed To Lose Weight. I Present To You, Dechonkified Chester. He Didn’t Like The Journey But Never Takes Food For Granted After The Diet
Image credits: save_the_redditor
#14 Beulah’s Journey: 125 Lbs To 75 Lbs
Image credits: shareberry
#15 Will You Look At My Girl’s Weight Loss? I Am So Proud Of Chloe And How Far She Has Come In A Year
Image credits: groomeronthegollc
Sometimes, a pet’s breed and age can affect their weight. Older pets, for example, may be less active due to conditions like arthritis. But it’s our job to give them the right amount of food and make sure they get regular exercise.
#16 40 Lbs Down
Image credits: gladgladglad
#17 Chimichanga’s Weight Loss
Image credits: Permanently_disco
#18 Then And Now. Glow Up One Year Later
Image credits: jaxxvs_gsd
When pets are overweight, they are more likely to:
⦁Have a less active and shorter life
⦁Struggle with heat and humidity
⦁Need more medication due to their weight
⦁Experience joint and mobility problems
⦁Develop skin issues and a weaker immune system
⦁Face higher risks during surgery
⦁Show less interest in exercise and play
⦁Often have high blood pressure
⦁Be at a greater risk of developing diabetes
#19 From “Help! Pull Me Up” To “You Need Help? I’ll Pull You Home”
Image credits: builtbyjimmy
#20 This Was Winston A Few Years Ago And Makes Me Cringe Everytime. So Glad We Are At A Much Healthier Weight Now
Image credits: winston.sophie.corgis
#21 Really Proud Of Our Dechonked Rescue Pupper Corina. 22 Weeks Later, 22 Lbs Lighter
Image credits: mommyicant
If you want to help your dog lose weight without making them feel deprived, here are some tips to make it easier:
⦁Cut Down on Treats: Swap fatty treats with healthy ones like carrots or low-calorie dog treats to give your pup nutritious rewards.
⦁Mix Veggies with Kibble: If your dog still seems hungry, add high-fiber veggies like frozen green beans to their meals to help them feel full without extra calories.
⦁No Sneaky Treats: Ensure everyone in your household avoids giving your dog extra food or treats. Small treats can add up, so let them know it’s for the dog’s health and happiness.
⦁Track Progress Monthly: Keep an eye on your dog’s weight by assessing their body condition and doing monthly weigh-ins at the vet’s clinic. Vets often offer free weight checks and encouragement to help you along the way.
#22 One Of My Earliest Weigh-Ins (March 2018) vs. A Healthy Weight Weigh-In (April 2019)
Image credits: kai100less
#23 Chloe Went From A Chonky 35 Lbs To A Fit 24 Lbs And Is Now An Agility Athlete
Image credits: arlakin24
#24 127 Lbs To 108 Lbs. Progress Photo. I’m A Happy Mother! So Proud Of My Rescued Baby
Image credits: reddit.com
Embrace the love and barks of your four-legged pals and lend a hand when they require it, for we are also their most loved human. Together, let’s make a paw-sitive impact. Explore our earlier posts about dogs and celebrate happy, healthy hounds!
#25 Jazzy Reached Her Goal Weight
Image credits: rachel_lorelle21
#26 My Weight Loss Journey. Started At 61.2 Pounds. The Highest I’ve Ever Been. I Think I’m Off To A Great Start
Image credits: skylar_blueeyes
#27 Slow And Steady Wins The Race
Image credits: Herwiththetwodogs
#28 Weight Loss Since Being Adopted
Image credits: princesspennysausage
#29 Even As Senior Dogs We Were Successful At Weight Loss With Regular Exercise And Food Portion Control. We’re Both 100 Pounds Down (Or Pretty Close To It) And Healthier Than Ever
Image credits: kai100less
#30 My Sister’s Corgi. From 40 Lbs To 22 Lbs
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#31 Almost To Goal Weight: 32 Kg (70.5 Lbs) To 25.5k G (56.2 Lbs) In 6 Months. That’s 6.5 Kg (14.3 Lbs) Total (Around 25% Of Her Current Body Weight)
Image credits: emileelaine
#32 Her Starting Weight Was 44.7 Lbs. She Is Currently Standing At 33 Lbs
Image credits: onefitk9
#33 Look At My Baby. Jasmine Has Been On A Long Journey Since 2020
Her weight was making it harder to get around comfortably. So I changed her food and gave her fewer treats etc. (Which I think was harder for me than her.) She’s been going on more little outings and roams a little further. And slowly but surely she got her spunk back.
Image credits: jackieinalignment
#34 Look How Much Of A Good Boy I’ve Been Eating My Vegetables And Being More Active. Got A ‘Lil Chubby And Now I’m Bouncing Around Like A Puppy Again. 6 Kg Lost
Image credits: roy_the_bulldog
#35 Claude Was Dumped At A Boarding Kennel Weighing 59 Kg. His New Family Rescued Him And Started His Weight Loss Journey For A Healthier Life And He Has Dropped 33 Kg
Image credits: simpsonspremiumpetfood
#36 From 82 Pounds Down To 74! Still Got A Way To Go But Off To A Good Start
Image credits: kimgwynn12
#37 Squishy’s Eyes Have Lit Up Over The Years
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#38 New Year, New Me
Macky here. In August the vet told my pawents that I was fat. They were embarrassed, but at least I was fat and happy (pic 1). That made my pawents put me on this miserable diet and exercise routine. I have lost 8 pounds so far (2 more to go) and I look/feel so much better (pic 2). I’m still miserable on my diet but I continue to love the extra playtime and walkies.
Image credits: mackyandbuoy
#39 My Hooman Says I’m Not At My Goal Yet But I Made A Ton Of Progress In Less Than A Year! A Couple More Pounds To Go
Image credits: lablabdog
#40 When We Got Buddy He Was 53 Lbs. Today He Is Just Around 32 Lbs
When you see your dog every day, things like weight loss are so much less noticeable until you look back at pictures of their starting point.
Image credits: minipacklife518
#41 Maggie Has Lost 6 Lbs And Is Now At A Healthy And Happy Weight. We Think She Looks Amazing
Image credits: iffydog
#42 Meet Lemmy Kilmister. We Welcomed This Chonker As A Foster. He Was Tipping The Scale At 47 Lbs. One Year After, He Got To A Much Healthier 30 Lbs… And A Foster Fail
Image credits: mrserries
#43 Piper Met Her Goal! From 100 Lbs To 50 Lbs In A Year
Image credits: TheDarkArtsHeFancies
#44 10 Months Post-Adoption, And 55 Lbs Lighter
Image credits: rachel_lorelle21
#45 Murphy’s Transformation. Before vs. After
Image credits: Dagonz14
#46 How It Started And How It’s Going
Image credits: tots_takes_the_world
#47 Six Months Ago Today, Momma Brought Me Home
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#48 He Has Lost 5 Kg In Four Months
Image credits: busterboylabrador
#49 Adopted This Chubby Little Beagle Bulldog 2 Years Ago Today. Look At How His Weight Loss Has Improved
Image credits: rainbaybe
#50 Lost A Little Bit Of Weight
Image credits: Runnercorn54