When it comes to your dog’s general health and wellbeing, their weight can be a significant indicator and potential risk factor. However, if you don’t know how to weigh your dog at home, it can be challenging to determine whether their weight is within a healthy range.
Even though it might not be feasible for all breeds and sizes of dogs, learning how to weigh a dog at home will make it simpler to monitor their weight and establish a baseline. Knowing your dog’s healthy or normal weight is essential for spotting weight fluctuations and possible health problems.
This is a question that pet owners should be asking themselves all the time. It’s crucial to frequently assess your dog’s weight. While gaining or losing a few pounds may not seem like a big deal to a human, it can have a significant impact on a dog’s health.
Although there isn’t a universal dog weight chart, you can get an idea of where your dog should be based on their life stage (puppy, adult, or senior), gender, and breed. But how do you know if your dog’s weight is healthy? But keep in mind that each dog is unique, so use this information only as a guide.
This could be a little difficult if you are the proud pet parent of a rescue puppy or a magical mutt if you don’t know what breed or even how old your dog is. While we think that every dog owner should keep track of their dog’s weight, getting an accurate baseline for your dog is even more crucial in this case.
You can better understand whether your dog is gaining weight, losing weight, or maintaining their current weight by tracking and logging their weight on a monthly basis.
The Body Condition Scoring (BCS) System should be used after you have established your dog’s baseline weight to determine whether that weight is regarded as healthy, overweight, or underweight. Make sure to adjust your dog’s food intake and activity level if you notice they are overweight or underweight in order to get them back into a healthy range and establish a new baseline.
How to Weigh Your Dog at Home
Despite the fact that being aware of your dog’s weight is very important, The methods available to you will depend on the breed and size of your dog, but no matter the size, there are straightforward fixes available.
There are more options for getting an accurate weight for puppies and small dogs. The quickest and easiest solution is to use a pet scale or baby scale, which provide precise measurements for smaller weights. Just put your dog on the scale and wait for the measurement to be recorded and available. If your dog is prone to movement or squirming, it is best to repeat this three times to guarantee an accurate reading.
For medium-sized dogs, the weight subtraction technique using a typical bathroom scale is your best option. For puppies and small dogs, this may not be as accurate as a pet scale or baby scale, but it is still a viable option.
If your dog is too big for you to safely hold, you should look for a pet-friendly company that will let you weigh your dog for free once a month. If you already frequent a pet store, you can still keep track of your dog’s weight while saving some money! Larger pet scales are available on the market, but these are not inexpensive investments.
Using Floor Scales to Weigh your Dog
Using your floor scale is a common method of weighing your dog at home. This saves you from having to purchase a new scale, but it can be inaccurate and difficult to use if you have a larger dog.
This choice is not advised if you have a large dog because it may result in spine and back problems.
Simply weigh yourself on your floor scale to weigh your dog using this technique. Then weigh yourself holding your dog. By deducting your weight from the combined weight of you and your dog after you have determined their respective weights, you can determine a general weight for your dog.
This is the simplest option, though it might not be as accurate as having your dog weighed by himself on a precise veterinary scale.
How Often Should I Weigh My Dog?
It is generally recommended to weigh your dogs once a year. However, if you are weighing your dog at home and have easy access to scales, then Dr. Matthew Rooney, suggests that you should weigh your dog every six months.
In some circumstances, you might want to weigh your dog more frequently. Puppies need to be weighed more frequently to make sure they’re developing normally. Dogs with chronic conditions may also require more frequent weight checks.
Find out exactly how frequently you should weigh your pet by speaking with your veterinarian.
FAQ
How do I weigh my dog at home?
- Always use the same scale when weighing your dog. …
- Weighing dogs on a flat surface is preferable, such as a floor, as carpeting skews the scales’ accuracy.
- Always weigh your dog at the same time of day, ideally when they are empty-handed and have had a chance to use the restroom.
Can I weigh my dog at Petco?
Pet owners are welcome to bring their canine or feline companion to any Unleashed by Petco location to be weighed on a special in-store pet scale.
How can I tell how much my dog weighs without a scale?
Three easy steps will help you determine your dog’s weight: Step 1: Weigh yourself. Step 2 — Weigh yourself while holding your dog. Step 3 — Subtract the two numbers.
Can you weigh a puppy with a food scale?
The simplest and most practical scales to use for puppies are digital scales. The most accurate reading will be provided by doing this, which is crucial in the early weeks of your puppy’s life. You might want to use postal scales or an electronic kitchen scale. You can find these in most supercenters or online.