Watching Your Pet's Weight

There is a wide range of different body shapes and sizes for each species of animal. Just the same as humans, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even hamsters all have a huge variation in their dimensions and weight. There is no one-size-fits-all for our pets!

This means it’s hard to determine the perfect 'average' weight for our pets. The breed, age, exercise level, and underlying health conditions all need to be taken into account when deciding whether our beloved pet is overweight or not.

For example, a whippet is a very slender breed with a small skull and delicate limbs. They may be within a healthy weight range for their breed but they may also weigh the same as an overweight dachshund who will be tiny in comparison height-wise. Equally, the energy requirements for these two breeds will vary dramatically.

There are weight guides for individual species and breeds to help pet parents determine what their furry friend should weigh. However, if you’re worried at all about the weight of your pet or you want to start making some changes, the best thing to do is to get your pet examined by your vet to discuss any concerns first.

It’s important for pet parets to be aware that diet plays a huge part in the size and condition of their beloved pets. Pets should be fed a good quality diet that is full of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals all in the correct proportions. There will be specific requirements for your pet, for example, younger animals require a higher amount of protein to sustain rapid growth as an infant.

Each dog needs to be treated as an individual. Every dog has different nutritional needs and exercise levels. This will dictate how many calories they need to consume daily and what sort of activity level they will be capable of.

Genetics play a part in the weight of your dog too. With some dogs, it won't make a difference how much you feed them, they’ll only grow to a certain height and weight and they will always be smaller than other dogs of the same breed and even the same litter.

You can get an idea of how big or small your dog should be by looking at their parents or looking at the average weights for the breed.

For example, here are some average weights below for certain dog breeds.

●      Basset Hound 20-25kg

●      Bichon Frise 4-7kg

●      Boxer Dog 28-35kg

●      German Shepard 35-45kg

●      Newfoundland 60-70kg

●      Pug 6-8kg

If you’re unsure how much to feed your dog, speak to your vet. They’ll be able to advise you on how much to feed a dog by weight (kg). They’ll also be able to help you with your dog losing weight or gaining weight.

There is slightly less variation between cat breeds compared to dog breeds. The ideal weight for an average cat is approximately 3-4 kg, although some larger cat breeds can weigh up to 11kg. Again, each cat has different nutritional needs and activity levels, therefore each cat will require a different amount of calories per day. The average cat weight may not apply to certain cats and you shouldn’t just be guided by a cat weight chart. Some cats with illnesses such as hyperactive thyroid, will have a very high metabolism, so will need to eat a large amount of food otherwise they will begin to lose weight. House cats may lead a very sedentary lifestyle and not burn off many calories during the day at all. In this case, it would be easy to overfeed them and for them to become obese.

Here are some average weights below for certain breeds of cats:

●      Domestic short-haired 3.5-4.5kg

●      Maine Coone 5-11kg

●      Persian 3-5.5kg

●      Siamese 3.2-4.5kg

●      Himalayan 3-5.5kg

 

Rabbits have a broad range of weights depending on their breed, but again, not quite as much variation is seen with rabbits as with dogs. Some breeds of rabbit weigh only 1kg, such as the Netherland dwarf. Other breeds such as the flemish giant rabbit can weigh up to 9kg.

Rabbits need to eat a large amount of hay and getting the right balance of roughage (hay) and nuggets is so important. 

Typical weights of some common breeds of rabbit include:

●      French Lop 4.5-6.5kg

●      English Lop 4.5 - 5.5kg

●      Angora 2kg - 4.5kg

Guinea pigs are generally smaller than rabbits. They usually weigh around 1kg but again there are variations between different breeds. It can be difficult to assess weight changes with some guinea pigs if they are long-haired breeds such as the Peruvian Guinea Pig as this masks the frame of the animal.

Hamsters can weigh anywhere between 20g to 100g depending on their breed. Dwarf hamsters are very small whereas bigger breeds like Syrian hamsters can be over 100g.

If your furry friend gains weight, this is usually because their diet is providing them with too many calories per day and the excess calories are being stored as fat. Your pet's weight gain is often a combination of being fed too much of their pet food and also a lack of exercise. Exercise is important for your pet's general health and well-being.

You can calculate how many calories your pet will require each day depending on their breed, age, size, and activity level. Once you know this, you can ensure they are not receiving too many calories as this will lead to excessive weight gain. Allowing your pet to exercise will help them to burn off extra calories and also have other health benefits. There are diet pet foods available if your pet does need to shed a few pounds. Always consult your vet before changing their diet.

If your pet is losing weight or they are underweight, it’s important to increase their calorie intake. This may involve assessing their diet to see if they are receiving food that has enough protein and carbohydrates. If your pet has been losing weight, it’s important to get them checked out by your vet to ensure there is not an underlying medical condition that may be responsible for the weight loss.

If you are still unsure about your four-legged friend's weight, the best thing to do is to make an appointment with your local Jollyes vet. They’ll be able to guide you on what size your pet should be and tell you their ideal weight range. They will also be able to give you important diet and exercise advice.