The pet obesity crisis is causing untold harm to dogs everywhere. In the United States alone, the majority of household dogs are overweight or obese. 55.8 percent according to the newest data, in fact. Pudgy dogs aren’t happy dogs. They have more health problems and their quality of life drops considerably. So losing a bit of puppy fat is a good thing for your canine.
Bored Panda has collected some of the very best before and after photos showing how obese dogs transformed into magnificent, healthy, and happy best boys and girls. All with dedication and help from their caring owners and vets. Scroll down, upvote your fave pics, and share photos of your own doggos in the comments, dear Pandas!
Dr. Ernie Ward, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, told Bored Panda that the overwhelming veterinary medical consensus is that obesity is the number one health threat to dogs, as well as cats. “Dogs suffering from obesity have a much greater risk of developing arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. Studies also show that dogs with obesity live about 2.5 years less than those at a healthy weight.” Scroll down for our full interview about dog health, obesity, and fitness with Dr. Ward.
When you’re done looking through this magnificent list of fit woofs, have a gander at our previous post about how mega-chonky cats turned lean and floofy (there’s plenty of valuable info and two expert interviews about feline health if you want your cat to get fit there, too!).
#1 "I Thought I’d Share My Most Popular (And Hotly Debated) Before And After Photo So You Can See How Far I’ve Come"
Image credits: lusealdog
#2 If You’re Considering A New Year Resolution, Think About Making Yourself A Priority. From Thick To Svelte
Image credits: kai100less
#3 Pics From Shiloh's Weight Loss Journey. Before (2016) & After (2019) - Down 72 Lbs
Image credits: keeping.up.with.shiloh
“More recent research proves that overweight or dogs with obesity have a lower quality of life, as reported by their pet parents. To put it bluntly, the fact is that dogs with obesity aren't able to live and enjoy their best lives, and we must do better,” Dr. Ward went straight to the point.
“When people ask me if it's better for a dog or cat to have obesity, I tell them ‘neither.’ Obesity is a disease and, as a veterinarian, I swore an oath to prevent animal disease and suffering. My goal is to prevent pet obesity and I've spent the last twenty years researching and teaching nutrition and weight loss methods to committed veterinary professionals and concerned pet parents.”
According to Dr. Ward, dogs and humans are actually very similar when it comes to their weight loss and health journeys. We’re both omnivores; we both use similar metabolic energy sources; we both benefit from aerobic activities—like walking.
“For dogs and humans, the weight-loss equation is about 60% to 70% diet and 30% to 40% physical activity. For cats, a species with different physiology and metabolism, it's about 90% diet and only 10% exercise.”
#4 Dennis The Dieting Dog Lost 79% Of His Body Weight With Healthy Habits
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#5 My 90-Year-Old Neighbor Hasn’t Walked Her Dog In Years So I Volunteered To Do It For Her. So Proud Of Buddy’s Weight Loss
When I first meet Buddy the poor guy could barely walk/waddle without getting out of breathe. He hated the leash and refused to leave his owner’s side so I had to carry him down the street and force him to walk back. Now he loves his daily walks and can even run. So proud of Buddy!
Image credits: strikeoutsteph
#6 Obese Chihuahua Lost Half Of Her Body Weight After Following A Low-Calorie Diet
Bertha tipped the scales at 13 lbs when she was handed in to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco after her owner passed away. The 11-year-old pooch was more than three times the recommended weight for a Chihuahua and could barely carry the massive weight on her tiny legs. She was adopted by an owner who knew she could help the dog slim down and lead a happier life which they succeeded to accomplish.
Image credits: bertha_birdie
The pet health expert continued: “The first step toward a healthier weight for your dog is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They will first determine your dog's Body Condition Score (BCS), establish target weight loss goals and ideal weight, and calculate the number of calories you should feed each day.”
However, some canines will require special therapeutic diets. While others simply need to reduce their caloric intake.
“Your veterinarian will also make sure there isn't an underlying medical condition or disease causing the weight gain and that it's safe to begin an exercise program. In general terms, a dog (and their pet parent) needs about 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day.”
#7 Half Myself Isn’t Half Bad. 79 Kg To 31 Kg
Image credits: kai100less
#8 Handsome Ex-Chonker
Image credits: raabixr
#9 Luna Is A 2-Year-Old Rescue We Brought Home About 6 Months Ago, And She Was An Absolute Unit. She’s Lost About Ten Pounds
Now she can really get after those squirrels
Image credits: loveOpossum
Walking is the best way to get this exercise. It’s easy. It’s quick. It’s efficient and accessible to nearly everyone. “I prefer it to most other exercises because that's what dogs were designed to do best and most naturally. Plus, it's free! When walking, be sure to use a walking harness and not a neck or choke collar to prevent injury to the trachea or windpipe region of the throat and neck,” Dr. Ward added.
The professional added that dogs can safely lose from 3% to 5% of their body mass each month. As long as they’re on a vet-supervised weight loss program. “Younger and more active dogs may lose a little more, depending on the amount of exercise the pet parent can provide. The most important thing to do is to monitor the weight each month. If your dog isn't losing the appropriate amount of weight in three months, you need to change the strategy.”
#10 Before & After. 114 Lbs In 2017 (Halfway Through His Weight Loss Journey) To 75 Lbs In 2019. Looking Good Shiloh
Image credits: keeping.up.with.shiloh
#11 Bertha The Obese Rescue Puggle Is Losing Her Obese Title
Image credits: bertha_gets_bitty
#12 For Those Who Haven't Seen The Before And After. 86.4 Lbs Down To 44.4 Lbs
Image credits: kalechipsthedog
He revealed that he’s seen “too many” dogs that haven’t lost an ounce of weight while following the exact same exercise regimen and eating the same food for months on end.
“Weight loss is a dynamic and adaptive process, and dog parents must constantly evaluate what's working or not. The great news is that, unlike cats, most dogs can reach their target weight within six to nine months. Cats can only lose about a half-pound per month, meaning losing four pounds will take about eight months if all goes well.”
Though it might take a while, getting your pet to a healthy weight is always worth the effort. Dr. Ward reiterated that dogs (and cats, too) who are lean end up living longer, have fewer diseases, and enjoy life more.
“That's my ultimate goal: to help pets and the people who love them live longer, happier, more fulfilling lives. And that begins with a nutritious diet, adequate exercise, and healthy body condition.”
#13 "One Year Ago vs. Today. 19 Lbs vs. 8.2 Lbs. Can You Believe That’s Me?"
Image credits: suki.angel.baby
#14 "I’m Actually A Smaller Noah Than I Was 3 Years Ago, But With The Same Huge Personality"
Image credits: noahthechubbycorgi
#15 "Even My Face Looks Different. I’m Definitely A Brand New Pup"
Image credits: suki.angel.baby
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, around 100 million dogs and cats are considered to be overweight or obese. That’s a 25 percent increase over the last 5 years.
Dr. Justin Shmalberg, service chief of integrative medicine at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, told The New York Times that many pet owners aren’t concerned about the animals gaining a little bit of weight.
“In part, it’s an issue of perception. Generally, the public is more tolerant of obese animals than they are of thin ones. There’s not as much stigma with animals being overweight as with people.”
#16 It Has Taken 2 Years Since We Adopted Her, But Reba Has Dropped More Than Half Her Weight And I Couldn’t Be More Proud Of Her
Image credits: OkieDogDad
#17 My Friend's Dog, Gracie, Was Starting To Get A Little Chunky So He Put Her On A Diet. 5 Months Later And Gracie Is Looking Pretty Fit
Image credits: DieJenkins
#18 Zeus Is A Proof Anything Is Possible If You Work Hard Enough For It. You Are Looking At 10 Month Difference. 107 Lbs vs. 82 Lbs
Image credits: dobbie.zeus
No matter how ‘cute’ chonky dogs might look, it’s just not worth cutting their life short and racking up the vet bills. High blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, diseased organs, increased risk of cancer—all of these things affect overweight dogs that have haphazard diets and don’t get enough movement.
Even moderately overweight doggos live shorter lives. If dogs are supposed to be our best friends, we owe it to them to help them slim down, feel fitter, and live longer. With the help of expert vets’ advice, of course.
#19 Shiloh Couldn't Walk More Than 10 Meters Before Having To Stop And Rest. 3 Months Later, She's Lost 30 Pounds And Can Walk Over 1 Km Without Stopping
Image credits: mikerich15
#20 Labrador Duke Was Double His Ideal Weight Before The Pet Fit Club
Duke was morbidly obese. He's lost 5 kg and is weighing in at a healthier 55 kg.
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#21 Jack Went From 20.5 To 14.1 Kg In 6 Months
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#22 Look At Wolfgang Go. Weight Loss Progress From June To November
"Guys, check out the picture of me doing “The Wolf” the beginning of June compared to November! Even when I was close to 90 pounds, I knew I wanted to live a life without limits. However, I wasn’t sure I would be able to roll back over! (Also, Mom wasn’t sure I could roll back over either, so she didn’t let me go outside unsupervised). However, I knew I had to start somewhere; the first few days were the hardest, but I’ve never looked back!"
Image credits: Wolfgang’s Weight Loss Journey
#23 "Excuse Me, Does Anyone Know Who's That Dog On The Left? I’m Just Teasing! I Know It Is Me"
"I like looking at old photos of me because it is a good reminder of how far I’ve come! I was 90 pounds in the picture on the left and I was still so happy, because I knew things would get better, and I’d go from obese to beast. Thanks to my friend Karen for showing me these side by side pictures!"
Image credits: wolfgangthebeagle
#24 Ruby Has Been Dechonkified For A While Now, But I Wanted To Share. She Went From 24.2lbs To 15lbs. She’s Still Obsessed With Food, But I’ll Never Let Her Get Fat Again
Image credits: rooneygirl420
#25 Pic On The Left He Is 9 And On The Right Is About A Month Before His 16th Birthday
Image credits: mewtwoDtwo
#26 I Bless You With These Images Of Chimichanga. Chim Went From 10 Lbs To 6.5 Lbs
Image credits: Permanently_disco
#27 We Adopted On October 27th. She Was Very Overweight. She’s Lost A Pound A Week And Gained So Much Energy
Back then she could barely lean over to lick herself. She’s been working really hard along her weight loss journey! We are so proud of our little tank - look at her progress
Image credits: chalkandcheese.nelsonbc
#28 Can You Believe It’s The Same Dog? Pictures Were Taken About 10 Months In Between And 10 Kg Lighter. We Still Can't Believe Our Eyes
Image credits: theladydog.shiva
#29 Dear Squishy, I Would Carry You Even If You Weighed 1000 Lbs
Image credits: builtbyjimmy
#30 I Was Dropped Off At A Vet Clinic And Asked By My Previous Owners To Be Put Down Because I Was 173 Pounds And Couldn’t Move Well
Misfits of Alberta animal rescue found me a foster mom (who became my forever mom) who helped me drop 100 pounds. I hope my journey inspires you to never give up!
Image credits: kai100less
#31 Kayla, Who Used To Be Addicted To Pizza, Lost 17 Kg
Kayla is a Mastiff type dog who, at her heaviest, weighed 61kg.
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#32 Fudge Would Eat Anything Apart From Lettuce; Luckily, He Went From 58 To 48.8 Kg
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#33 Look Who’s Getting Slim. From 116 Lbs To 107.7 Lbs
Image credits: janelynchofficial
#34 Nala Is Ready For Summer. She Lost About 7 Lbs Since She Came To Our Home
Image credits: maggiewaggy
#35 My Rescue Boi Was An Absolute Unit When We Lived At My Parents' House Because They Gave Him Constant Table Scraps. Now He's A Tight, Fit Little Nugget
Image credits: pugbreath
#36 My Dog Who Lost Half Of His Body Weight
Image credits: CrankyGravy
#37 I Got Darling Belle About Two Months Ago (On The Left) And Immediately Put Her On A Diet. Show Her Some Love As She Continues Her Dechonkin’ Journey
Image credits: thumper_spot
#38 Here's Callie! Blind, Deaf, And Old, But So Much Happier Now That She's Getting Daily Walks And Losing Some Of That Fat
Image credits: DandelionDaimon
#39 When I First Got Snausage And Now
Image credits: karmacomatic
#40 When My Parents Started Fostering Shiloh, She Weighed Twice As Much As She Should And Needed A Stool To Get Up On The Couch. She Has Finally Lost 63 Lbs
She went from 126 lbs to 63 lbs and is going to her forever home! (And can jump up on her own)
Image credits: mikerich15
#41 My Sister’s Corgi. From 40 Lbs To 22 Lbs
Image credits: funnygal1224
#42 When Hard Work Pays Off. 13 Lbs Down To 6 Lbs, This Little Girl Shows Will Power And Determination To Lose The Weight
Image credits: haarescue
#43 Now That’s A Throwback! Me The First Week At My Momma’s (March 2018) And This Is Me Now
Image credits: kai100less
#44 Weight Loss Journeys Aren't Just For People. Here's Some Dogspiration
Image credits: balthazar_and_gomez
#45 Here Is A Good Picture Showing Lucy's Weight Loss. The Top Photo Was At Around 16 Lbs. The Bottom Photo Is 13.5 Lbs
Image credits: clksommer
#46 Guess What! This Is Baloo, Which Follows The Weight Loss Program And Has Reached 26.6 Kg. The Result Is Spectacular
Image credits: kalaazar
#47 "3 Lbs Down And My Beach Bod Is Ready"
Image credits: secretlifeofmarge
#48 New Mexico Has Agreed With Ginny. I Didn’t Realize How Fat She Was
Image credits: sixpluspup
#49 Top Pic 2014 - 15 Kg-Ish - Bottom Pic 2017 - 9 Kg
Image credits: mila.minnie
#50 Formerly Chonky Chocolate
Image credits: keeping.up.with.shiloh
#51 A Lot Of Progress Was Made
Image credits: ecodecovets
#52 "My Humans Rescued Me Six Months Ago And I Was Obese. Now I Have Lost A Lot Of My Flub And I Run Around Everyday In The Park"
Image credits: hiitbear
#53 My Sister's Dog Had A Bit Of Weight Loss
Image credits: KyraShangea
#54 "One Whole Year With My Hoomuns. This Is Me A Year Ago Compared To Today"
Image credits: luluthecolliex
#55 Scarlet And Simba Before And After Pictures. Scarlet Lost 5 Lbs And Simba Lost 7 Lbs In 3 Months
Image credits: scarletnsimba
#56 My Dog’s Weight Loss Journey Over The Past Two Years Is Nothing To Scoff At: Sadie Went From 67 Pounds To 48 Currently
Let’s just say when I started working at a veterinary hospital two years ago, I took her health a lot more seriously and helped her loose that fluff. It’s easy when someone controls your food for you. And don’t worry, her cut paw is all healed and she no longer has to wear a cone of shame.
Image credits: kamillelosingvsg
#57 Before & After
Image credits: lorena.meier811
#58 6 Years Ago Today Was Kimmy On The Left. Last Year - And Today - Is Kimmy On The Right
2014 (48 lbs) vs. 2019 (18 lbs). Same dog. Same harness. Completely different quality of life. Not because we provided any more or less love or exercise or mental stimulation- but because we realized how harmful all that excess weight is.
Image credits: the.brink.brigade
#59 Tiny, The Golden Retriever Is Getting Actually Tiny
Image credits: tinythegolden
#60 Grunt Would Like Everyone To Know That He’s Also Made A Lifestyle Change And Is Quite The Stud Muffin Now
The vet finally convinced his daddy to lay off the treats and Grunt has been losing steadily since then! Healthy family choices include the puppers too.
Image credits: nattyballzwin
#61 "Hurry Up And Take The Photo, I Want My Toy!" Quarantine Progress Photo
Image credits: achihuahuanamedsophie
#62 Porkier Days vs. Nowadays
Image credits: porkface_porkstar
#63 After A Long Year My Baby Hit Her Target Weight
This is the type of rocking body you can get if you switch to a kangaroo and apple diet and kill every squeaky alligator you encounter. Before: 20 lbs vs. after: 12 lbs
Image credits: lars2893
#64 Belle Has Been Continuing Her Weight Loss Journey. This Weekend She Got A Haircut And She Looks Slimmer Than Ever
Image credits: thumper_spot
#65 This Cocker Spaniel Harley Was So Fat, He Was Mistaken For A Panda Once, Lost Over 4 Kg
Owner said she has been stopped by Chinese sightseers in Prince’s Street who often ask to take photos of her podgy pooch due to the uncanny resemblance to panda.
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#66 Daisy Used To Jump Into Any Available Car To Catch A Ride Home, Lost 8 Kg After The Program
Daisy was crowned ‘pet slimmer of the year’ after losing around 8 kg in weight.
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#67 Minus 44 Lbs, But A Big Smile As A Plus
#68 My Dog One Year Apart. I Thought I’d Share His Journey - He’s Not Quite As Active As The Other Dog But He’s Doing So Much Better
Image credits: rubixx-cubixx
#69 Rescued Honey In February When She Was Built Like A Table vs. Now
Image credits: threatlevel00-00
#70 Dechonk Complete
Image credits: blondephotographer
#71 Fozzy After Many Months Of Hard Work. She's Now Been Sustaining Her Weight For A Year
Image credits: acciomydignity
#72 On Adoption We Named Him Mr. Papa At 14.8 Lbs But He's Looking More Like Mr. Papa's Fritas At This 8.6 Lbs Now
Image credits: winsloe
#73 He’s A Little Bit More Shaggy, But A Lot More Chonky In His Before Picture. From 08/2019 To 04/2020 Jerry Has Lost Almost 10 Lbs
Image credits: deladude
#74 40.2 Pounds Officially Down! What's His Weight Loss Secret? Thyroid Medication, Good Food, And A Mama Who Absolutely Refused To Give Up On Him
Image credits: jeclin91092
#75 Look At Oscar’s Amazing Weight Loss. He’s Lost 6 Kg In 2 Months
With regular weight checks and advice from our lovely nurses, we are hoping for a few more kilos to be lost and then for Oscar to maintain his new look
Image credits: downland_vets_bordon
#76 Give A Round Of Applause To Gemini The Service Dog For Her Amazing Transformation
Image credits: keyvetcare
#77 "I Am Proud To Announce That I Have Lost Over 25 Pounds. I've Cut Back On Treats, Have Been Eating A Ton Of Veggies, And I Have Been Going On Plenty Of Walks And Swims"
Image credits: beauandnala_thelabradors
#78 Av Pulled The Dog Equivalent Of His ACL Because Of His Weight. He's Since Lost 15lbs. I Need To Lose About That And He's My Inspiration. He's So Much Happier
Sometimes when you love someone, you can't see their weight is hurting them... It takes a doctor to say things need to change
Image credits: shelbyeileencosplay
#79 Dechonked Bella After Getting Her From My Mil. Down From 32 Lbs To 23 Lbs
Image credits: TigerPickles
#80 Over A Year Ago I Was Phat
Image credits: archiemacdxb
#81 Bit Of A Difference
Image credits: fluffytosnuffy
#82 Harley 6 Months Ago When She First Came To Us Compared To Today. So Proud Of Her, Completely Different Dog, Happy Healthy Girl
Image credits: bulldogs_labradorandmax
#83 Could Your Dog Benefit From Losing That Extra Weight? The Proof Is In The Picture After Tess Lost A Massive 6kg
Image credits: welovepetsportsmouth
#84 "The Evolution Of My Tail! That Extra 105 Pounds Hid My Beautiful Fluffy Tail. I Love My Tail"
Image credits: kai100less
#85 First Picture Is From May 2018 & The Second Is From Today. We’ve Been Trying To Get Weight Off Of Her
Image credits: steph_m_pgh
#86 Princess Leia Lost 8 Lbs On 2 Months
Image credits: leia082015
#87 "Check Out How Slim I Look"
Image credits: snehasfosters
#88 This Guy. He’s Done So Well On His Weight Loss
The first picture is from September 2018 at about 85 pounds. The second is from the last month or so. Now he’s weighing in around 65 I think. This boy is so much more full of life and seems happier.
Image credits: potspencilsandpitts
#89 Meet Laila. These Are Her "Before" And "After/In Progress" Photos. Isn’t She The Cutest?
Image credits: mustlovedogsgh
#90 From One Of The First Days Out With Houndog Daycare In 2017 To A Beach Trip Last Week
"I've come a long way to be the healthy dog I am today"
Image credits: loulouthealusky
#91 Rescued Senior Corgi. Weight Loss Progress
Image credits: gimbb14
#92 Bobby, Who Was Known For Raiding Neighbours’ Houses For Food, Went From 63,45 To 52,95kg
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#93 Humongous Hooch The Rotund Rottie Went From 82.2 To 69.7 Kg
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#94 Beagle Bob, Who Was So Overweight, He Couldn’t Even Wag His Tail, Went From 40 To 26 Kg
Bob was rescued from Romania to live a better life in the UK after living on the streets for the first ten years of his life.
Image credits: boredpanda.com
#95 This Dog Lost So Much Weight That He Can Finally Fit In The Cat's Bed Which He Likes To Steal
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