Spot overweight early in dogs and cats

Weight rarely changes overnight. That is why early attention matters so much.

What to watch

Look for:

• a less visible waistline
• reduced activity
• more effort during movement
• slowly growing portions and extras

These small patterns add up.

Why people notice late

Because changes are gradual, they can feel normal while they are happening. That makes routine checks more useful than guesswork.

The better response

Early correction is usually gentler than late correction. That is true for both the animal and the people managing feeding.