How many kilograms overweight counts as a real problem?

A 2kg gain on a 5kg dog is a 40 percent increase, a substantial and concerning amount, while the same 2kg on a 40kg dog is only a 5 percent increase, barely noticeable and not generally a cause for concern.

This is why vets and body condition scoring systems work in percentages of ideal weight rather than flat kilogram thresholds, and why comparing your dog's situation to a friend's dog's kilogram gain is not a useful comparison.

Around 10 to 15 percent above ideal weight is commonly considered overweight, while 20 percent or more above ideal is commonly considered obese, with associated health risks that increase as the percentage rises.

These thresholds are general guides, and a vet's hands on body condition assessment alongside your dog's actual weight gives a more complete picture than the percentage alone.

If you know or can estimate your dog's ideal weight, calculate the percentage above that figure your dog's current weight represents to understand roughly where it falls on this scale.

If you are unsure of your dog's ideal weight, a vet can estimate it based on breed, frame size, and body condition score, giving you a number to calculate against rather than relying on a guess that may be off in either direction.