Body condition: the strongest proven lever for a longer life

What the research shows

In a lifetime study, 48 Labrador Retrievers were paired, and one dog in each pair was fed 25% less than its sibling. The leaner dogs lived longer: a median of 13.0 years against 11.2 years. Signs of chronic disease, such as osteoarthritis, also appeared later.

A later study of more than 50,000 dogs across twelve breeds found the same pattern in ordinary homes: overweight dogs had a shorter median lifespan in every breed studied, by up to two and a half years.

How to check at home

Vets use a body condition score from 1 to 9, where 4 or 5 is ideal. You can get close with your hands and eyes:

• Ribs: you can feel them easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard.
• Waist: seen from above, there is a visible waist behind the ribs.
• Belly: seen from the side, the belly tucks up behind the chest.
• Cats: a hanging belly pouch can be normal, but a round, broad back is not.

If your pet is carrying extra weight

Weigh the food instead of using a scoop, count treats as part of the daily amount and ask your vet for a target weight. Slow, steady loss is safer than a crash diet, especially for cats, which can develop serious liver problems when they suddenly stop eating.