Dog Condition

Dog Obesity — Online Weight Management Help

Obesity shortens dogs' lives and causes joint pain, diabetes, and breathing problems. Get a personalised weight management plan from a licensed online vet — including diet advice and prescription support.

Licensed Vets
$65 Flat Fee
Same-Day Rx
24/7 Access
Online vet care - virtual veterinarian consultation
Overweight dog body condition scoring during TelaVets nutrition consult

Canine weight management

A vet-guided path to a healthier weight for your dog

  • Body condition score coaching using rib and waist palpation on video

  • Calorie calculation based on ideal — not current — weight

  • Prescription weight-loss diet recommendations — Hill's Metabolic, Royal Canin Satiety

  • Treat substitution and measuring cup accuracy audit

  • Exercise prescription safe for arthritic or brachycephalic dogs

  • Thyroid and metabolic disease screening when weight gain is unexplained

Canine obesity — defined as twenty percent above ideal body weight — shortens lifespan and worsens arthritis, diabetes, and respiratory effort in brachycephalic breeds. Owners often underestimate portions and overestimate exercise.

Video lets vets coach you through rib palpation and waist tuck assessment in real time, turning abstract "he looks heavy" into a scored plan with measurable weekly targets and prescription diets that reduce begging behavior.

Common signs of dog obesity we can help with

  • Visibly rounded body
  • Difficulty feeling ribs
  • Reluctance to exercise
  • Excessive panting
  • Reduced mobility
  • Lethargy
  • Struggling to groom

What causes dog obesity?

Obesity is reversible in most dogs — but guessing portions rarely works without veterinary calorie math.

Caloric surplus

Free-feeding, large treat portions, and table scraps easily double daily calorie needs without owners noticing.

Insufficient activity

Sedentary indoor lifestyles fail to burn energy — especially in breeds bred for active work.

Medical contributors

Hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease cause weight gain despite normal appetite; lab work rules these out when diet fails.

How our vets diagnose it online

Weight consults are among the most data-driven telehealth visits — scales and measuring cups tell the truth.

  • Assign body condition score 1–9 with live coaching
  • Inventory all food sources including training treats and puzzle feeder calories
  • Review spay/neuter timing and post-surgical weight trajectory
  • Assess mobility limits that reduce exercise capacity
  • Recommend thyroid panel when weight loss stalls on strict diet

Treatments we may prescribe

Your vet designs a calorie budget, selects prescription satiety diets when helpful, and sets safe incremental exercise goals.

  • Prescription weight-loss diet (Hill's Metabolic, Royal Canin Satiety)

  • Measured feeding plan

  • Low-calorie treats

  • Exercise prescription

  • Thyroid testing if indicated

  • Joint pain management alongside weight loss

All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.

Keeping your dog at ideal weight

  • Measure kibble with a gram scale — cup sizes vary wildly between brands.

  • Limit treats to ten percent of daily calories using single-ingredient options.

  • Increase activity gradually — five extra minutes daily beats weekend warrior hikes.

  • Weigh monthly and adjust food before a pound becomes ten.

  • Involve all family members so secret feeding does not sabotage the plan.

Why pet parents choose TelaVets

  • Licensed DVMs Only

    Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.

  • $65 Flat Fee

    One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.

  • Same-Day Appointments

    Most pet parents are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.

  • Next-Day Prescriptions

    When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.

  • Stress-Free Home Visits

    Your pet is assessed in their calm home environment, which often makes symptoms easier to evaluate on video.

  • Secure & Private

    Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.

How TelaVets works

  1. Book your consultation

    Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.

  2. Connect with a licensed vet

    Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.

  3. Get your treatment plan

    Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.

What Our Pet Parents Say

Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care

"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."

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David Long

Verified Pet Parent

"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."

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Courtney Hughes

Verified Pet Parent

"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"

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Maria

Verified Pet Parent

"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"

JG

Jackie Gardner

Verified Pet Parent

"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."

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Lara Durand

Verified Pet Parent

"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"

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Wanida Walker

Verified Pet Parent

"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"

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Amanda Tobias

Verified Pet Parent

"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"

JH

Jana Humble

Verified Pet Parent

"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."

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Marilyn Kerr

Verified Pet Parent

Frequently asked questions about dog obesity

Yes. Our licensed vets can assess symptoms of obesity via video consultation, review your dog's history, and provide a clinical assessment with a treatment plan.

Treatment depends on severity and cause. Our vets will create a personalised plan which may include prescription medications, dietary changes, or at-home care instructions.

Same-day appointments are usually available. Most pet owners are seen within 1–3 hours of booking.

Yes. If medication is clinically appropriate, our licensed vets can issue prescriptions same-day, with next-day delivery to your door.

If your dog shows severe distress, inability to breathe, uncontrolled bleeding, or sudden collapse, seek emergency in-person care immediately. For other concerning symptoms, an online consultation is an excellent first step.

Get expert help for your dog's obesity today

Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets