If your vet has asked you to keep tabs on your dog’s weight, you might be wondering: how to weigh a large dog at home? Don’t fret, we will give you all the answers here!
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Whenever you take your pet dog to a veterinary clinic, the doctors there will weigh the dog before any diagnosis. This is done to check whether the dog is too skinny or getting obese.
If the dog is overweight or underweight, the vet will ask you to keep a check on the weight but how exactly can you do this? You can use a common weighing scale, but you just need to be able to hold your dog’s attention long enough to get a good reading.
Here we will discuss everything that you need to know about the process of weighing a dog. So, let’s get straight into it.
How to Weigh a Large Dog at Home?
Use a weighing scale but distract your dog long enough to get a good reading.
Take a scale where you can take proper weight measurements of your dog. Then place a container on the weighing scale evenly. This container will interest your dog to get in it so that you can measure the weight of the dog. If your dog gets on the weighing scale without creating any problem, you need not take the help of a container.
You need to ensure that your dog stands on the weighing scale without moving for at least 5 seconds. You need to keep him occupied for this period. Try showing him something that your dog likes.
Take quick measurements as your dog will start getting impatient if you make them stand on the weighing scale for a prolonged period.
Once you are done taking the measurement, do not forget to note it down as you might forget it later. This information is beneficial as you need to provide this data to the doctor in the veterinary clinic when you take your furry friend for a checkup next time.
If you have used a container for the weighing process, then while calculating the final weight of your dog, subtract the weight of the container.
But whenever you see something unusual about your dog or are simply concerned about your dog, consult your nearest veterinary clinic as less weight or overweight can lead to something more harmful for your dog.
How to Weigh My Dog Without a Scale?
Use large weighing scales at subway stations meant for luggage.
There are also alternative ways to weigh your dog. It is time to explore the other possible options to weigh your dog without using a weighing scale.
If you don’t have a weighing scale to measure the weight of your dog at home, then you can find a weighing machine nearby, such as the ones easily available in the subway bus stations.
The ones installed in the bus stations are used to measure the weight of the luggage that a passenger is carrying with them. As these weighing platforms are used to measure luggage weight, they are pretty big, making it easy for your dog to stand on them.
Weigh your dog, but if an employee is present at that place, always seek permission before making your dog stand on the weighing platform.
One of the easiest ways is to take the responsibility off your shoulders. Take your dog to a veterinary clinic, and all of these clinics possess one or more weighing scales.
These visits will not only help you to know the weight of your dog, but along with that, you will also get the necessary advice to improve the health of the dog.
Why Weigh Your Dog at Home?
If your dog is too thin or obese, it could be susceptible to many medical problems. You should keep a close look at your dog’s health and especially check the weight from time to time at home. So, to monitor properly, you need to know how to measure the weight of your pet at home.
Secondly, taking your dog to a veterinary clinic needs time from your schedule, which is not always possible for most pet owners because of our busy lives. That is why it is better to weigh your dog at home.
Why Weighing a Large Dog is Difficult?
While it is relatively easy to weigh a large dog (you can just use a normal weighing machine), it might be difficult to do so for large dogs.
The weighing process of a puppy is quite different from weighing a fully grown dog. As mentioned earlier, to do it all by yourself, you need to know the proper method to get the job done.
Properly trained dogs may sit on the weighing scale without doing anything. In this case, it becomes easy for you as an owner to weigh your dog. But if your dog is untrained, or you are in the process of training, then it can be quite difficult to make them sit at one place and weigh them.
Why Do Dogs Gain or Lose Excessive Weight?
If you see that your dog is gaining a lot of weight in the last few days, the possible reasons behind this can be
- Lack of exercise
- Consuming too much food.
- Being lazy.
- Chronic illnesses such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, and a few others.
- Some breeds are genetically more inclined towards obesity, including: Cairn terriers, beagles, dachshunds, Norwegian elkhounds, Labrador retrievers, Shetland sheepdogs, rough collies, basset hounds, and American cocker spaniels.
When your dog is losing weight, the following are the possible causes of losing weight.
- Not eating an adequate amount of food.
- Diabetes Mellitus and Cancer.
- Parasitic infections.
How Frequently Should You Measure the Weight of Your Dog?
As we are talking about adult dogs here, unlike puppies, they don’t require regular checkups and weight measurements. According to most veterinary clinic doctors, a dog should be weighed at least twice a year.
This will help you identify whether there are any health-related issues in the dog’s body. Certain factors affect the weight of your dog. Primary factors affecting a dog’s growth are
- Age of the dog.
- Chronic conditions often affect the regular food intake of the dog.
If you find something unusual after assessing your dog’s weight, you can take him to a veterinary clinic to get to know more about the health condition of your dog.
Final Words
Irrespective of the animal species, most physical examination starts by weighing the patient. Some dog species don’t cause any trouble while weighing, but you might face issues while weighing a few species of dog.
We hope that you have found out how to weigh your pet friend without any trouble in the comfort of your home. You don’t need to be an expert, you just need a bit of presence of mind! One of the most important things you need to remember is never to force your dog. Weigh them depending on the mood.
We have written about several common health problems in dogs such as heartworm, diabetes, and bleeding gums. Do read and learn more about your dog to keep it protected.