Obesity in pets is not a new issue but in the wake of the Covid crisis more and more pets have become overweight. Weight gain in our pets has been the consequence of increased treat feeding (as owners have spent more time at home) and/or reduced exercise due to lockdown. As in humans maintaining a healthy weight is important for the wellbeing of our pets. Overweight pets are more likely to suffer from joint disease, heart disease and diabetes, urinary issue and skin sores. Although there are breed charts for ideal body weight for cats and dogs these are not fully representative of the variation between individuals and do not cover crossbreeds. A better way to assess your pets weight is to use body condition scoring (BCS). There are a number of online resources available to demonstrate how to BCS your pet including charts produced by the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) for dogs and cats. Your vet will routinely check and try and advise you on your pets BCS. If you are concerned about your pets weigh then the vets and nurses at Holmer will be happy to discuss this with you and help offer support with weight loss if needed. As with human weight loss the weight loss of pets can be equally as frustrating but it is important to remember that with patience and the correct diet and exercise a healthy weight can be achieved and hopefully help our pets lead a longer and happier life.