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. Also read on for our in-depth talk about obesity-related illnesses, exercise, and how to tell if your dog is overweight with the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), the UK’s leading vet charity.

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 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

#2 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

#3 Dennis The Dieting Dog Lost 79% Of His Body Weight With Healthy Habits

Image credits: boredpanda.com

“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 Handsome Ex-Chonker

Image credits: raabixr

#5 If You’re Considering A New Year Resolution, Think About Making Yourself A Priority. From Thick To Svelte

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#6 For Those Who Haven't Seen The Before And After. 86.4 Lbs Down To 44.4 Lbs

Image credits: kalechipsthedog

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 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

#8 "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

#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 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

#11 Pics From Shiloh's Weight Loss Journey. Before (2016) & After (2019) - Down 72 Lbs

Image credits: keeping.up.with.shiloh

#12 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

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 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

The PDSA team confirmed that overweight and obese dogs can have a reduced lifespan and have a greater risk of contracting diseases like cancer, getting injured, and having trouble breathing.

“It’s not just different breeds that need different amounts of exercise. Dogs will have changed exercise needs based on their age and temperament too. As a general rule, adult dogs should have at least 30 minutes of walking a day but many dogs will prefer and need more. Some dogs will want to exercise for in excess of 2 hours,” the PDSA team told us.

“It’s a good idea to consider if your dog might prefer several, shorter walks spread throughout the day. And if you’re not sure how much is too much, try to let your dog take the lead. Give them the option to sniff, run around, chose which route to take and if they don’t want to go home at the end, maybe consider going a bit further. And remember, it’s not just walking that can give your dog exercise, playing games, using puzzle feeders, or training your dog will help keep their minds and bodies active.”

#16 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

#17 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

#18 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

According to the PDSA, here’s how you can check to see if your dog is overweight:

“The best way to tell if your dog is overweight is to look at their body shape or body condition score.

• Look at your dog from the side and from above. They should have a smooth, tucked-in waist.
• Feel under your dog’s tummy. It should go in, not bulge out.
• Feel along your dog’s side and back. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs, spine, and hipbones quite easily but they shouldn’t stick out.
• Feel the base of your dog’s tail. There shouldn’t be any build-up of fat where the tail meets your dog’s back.
• Once you’ve decided if your dog is the ideal shape, you can then use their weight to help you keep track and decide if they need to gain or lose.”

#19 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

#20 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

#21 "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.”

#22 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

#23 My Dog Who Lost Half Of His Body Weight

Image credits: CrankyGravy

#24 Dear Squishy, I Would Carry You Even If You Weighed 1000 Lbs

Image credits: builtbyjimmy

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. 

#25 Jack Went From 20.5 To 14.1 Kg In 6 Months

Image credits: boredpanda.com

#26 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

#27 Nala Is Ready For Summer. She Lost About 7 Lbs Since She Came To Our Home

Image credits: maggiewaggy

#28 My Sister’s Corgi. From 40 Lbs To 22 Lbs

Image credits: funnygal1224

#29 Scarlet And Simba Before And After Pictures. Scarlet Lost 5 Lbs And Simba Lost 7 Lbs In 3 Months

Image credits: scarletnsimba

#30 Fudge Would Eat Anything Apart From Lettuce; Luckily, He Went From 58 To 48.8 Kg

Image credits: boredpanda.com

#31 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

#32 Bertha The Obese Rescue Puggle Is Losing Her Obese Title

Image credits: bertha_gets_bitty

#33 "One Whole Year With My Hoomuns. This Is Me A Year Ago Compared To Today"

Image credits: luluthecolliex

#34 "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

#35 I Bless You With These Images Of Chimichanga. Chim Went From 10 Lbs To 6.5 Lbs

Image credits: Permanently_disco

#36 Before & After

Image credits: lorena.meier811

#37 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

#38 Minus 44 Lbs, But A Big Smile As A Plus

#39 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

#40 When I First Got Snausage And Now

Image credits: karmacomatic

#41 Guess What! This Is Baloo, Which Follows The Weight Loss Program And Has Reached 26.6 Kg. The Result Is Spectacular

Image credits: kalaazar

#42 Formerly Chonky Chocolate

Image credits: keeping.up.with.shiloh

#43 Look Who’s Getting Slim. From 116 Lbs To 107.7 Lbs

Image credits: janelynchofficial

#44 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

#45 Pic On The Left He Is 9 And On The Right Is About A Month Before His 16th Birthday

Image credits: mewtwoDtwo

#46 Fozzy After Many Months Of Hard Work. She's Now Been Sustaining Her Weight For A Year

Image credits: acciomydignity

#47 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

#48 Give A Round Of Applause To Gemini The Service Dog For Her Amazing Transformation

Image credits: keyvetcare

#49 Top Pic 2014 - 15 Kg-Ish - Bottom Pic 2017 - 9 Kg

Image credits: mila.minnie

#50 Over A Year Ago I Was Phat

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#51 "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

#52 My Sister's Dog Had A Bit Of Weight Loss

Image credits: KyraShangea

#53 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

#54 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

#55 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

#56 Weight Loss Journeys Aren't Just For People. Here's Some Dogspiration

Image credits: balthazar_and_gomez

#57 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

#58 "3 Lbs Down And My Beach Bod Is Ready"

Image credits: secretlifeofmarge

#59 Dechonked Bella After Getting Her From My Mil. Down From 32 Lbs To 23 Lbs

Image credits: TigerPickles

#60 A Lot Of Progress Was Made

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#61 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

#62 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

#63 Meet Laila. These Are Her "Before" And "After/In Progress" Photos. Isn’t She The Cutest?

Image credits: mustlovedogsgh

#64 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

#65 Rescued Senior Corgi. Weight Loss Progress

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#66 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

#67 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

#68 Dechonk Complete

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#69 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

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#70 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

#71 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

#72 "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

#73 New Mexico Has Agreed With Ginny. I Didn’t Realize How Fat She Was

Image credits: sixpluspup

#74 Bit Of A Difference

Image credits: fluffytosnuffy

#75 Could Your Dog Benefit From Losing That Extra Weight? The Proof Is In The Picture After Tess Lost A Massive 6kg

Image credits: welovepetsportsmouth

#76 Tiny, The Golden Retriever Is Getting Actually Tiny

Image credits: tinythegolden

#77 "Check Out How Slim I Look"

Image credits: snehasfosters

#78 "Hurry Up And Take The Photo, I Want My Toy!" Quarantine Progress Photo

Image credits: achihuahuanamedsophie

#79 Porkier Days vs. Nowadays

Image credits: porkface_porkstar

#80 Bobby, Who Was Known For Raiding Neighbours’ Houses For Food, Went From 63,45 To 52,95kg

Image credits: boredpanda.com

#81 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

#82 Humongous Hooch The Rotund Rottie Went From 82.2 To 69.7 Kg

Image credits: boredpanda.com

#83 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

#84 Rescued Honey In February When She Was Built Like A Table vs. Now

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#85 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

#86 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

#87 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

#88 This Dog Lost So Much Weight That He Can Finally Fit In The Cat's Bed Which He Likes To Steal

#89 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

#90 Princess Leia Lost 8 Lbs On 2 Months

Image credits: leia082015