SYMPTOM
Difficulty feeling ribs
An inability to easily feel the ribs through the body wall when applying gentle pressure with flat hands.
Caloric surplus
The most common cause of excess body fat is simply a sustained imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure. This may result from overfeeding of main meals, excessive treats and supplementary foods, table scraps, or feeding practices that do not account for the animal's actual energy requirements. Many commercial feeding guidelines overestimate appropriate portions, and the cumulative effect of even small daily caloric excesses can produce significant weight gain over months.
Reduced activity
A decrease in physical activity — whether due to lifestyle changes, reduced walk duration, indoor confinement, ageing, or mobility limitations from orthopaedic conditions — can reduce energy expenditure below the level needed to maintain a healthy weight. If food intake remains unchanged while activity decreases, the resulting caloric surplus leads to fat accumulation. This pattern is particularly common in middle-aged animals whose exercise routine has gradually diminished without a corresponding dietary adjustment.
Hypothyroidism
Reduced thyroid hormone production decreases metabolic rate, causing the body to store excess energy as fat even when food intake has not increased. Dogs with hypothyroidism may gain weight despite eating normal or even reduced portions, and the weight gain is often accompanied by other signs such as lethargy, cold intolerance, skin and coat changes, and a general slowing of metabolic activity. The weight gain tends to be distributed broadly rather than localised to specific areas.
Hyperadrenocorticism
Excess cortisol production (Cushing's disease) can cause a distinctive pattern of fat redistribution and accumulation, particularly in the abdominal region, producing a pot-bellied appearance. While the overall body condition may obscure rib palpation, the weight distribution pattern may differ from simple dietary obesity. This condition is typically accompanied by other characteristic signs including increased thirst, increased urination, panting, skin changes, and muscle wasting in the limbs that contrasts with the central fat accumulation.
Post-neutering metabolic shift
Neutering or spaying can alter metabolic rate and appetite regulation, predisposing some animals to weight gain if their dietary intake is not adjusted following the procedure. Hormonal changes associated with gonadectomy may reduce energy requirements by a notable percentage, and some animals also experience increased appetite. Without proactive dietary management after the procedure, gradual weight gain is common in the months and years following neutering.
Why timing matters
Early observation
When difficulty feeling the ribs is first noticed, it typically indicates that a layer of subcutaneous fat has accumulated over the rib cage beyond the thin covering considered normal for most breeds. In the early stages, the ribs may still be palpable with firm pressure but require more effort to locate than would be expected. This early weight gain is often gradual enough that owners, seeing their animal daily, may not recognise the change until prompted to assess body condition. The difficulty may first become apparent during grooming, veterinary examination, or when comparing the animal's current shape to earlier photographs.
Later presentation
When the ribs become increasingly difficult or impossible to feel even with firm pressure, it suggests a more substantial accumulation of body fat. At this stage, the animal's body shape may have changed visibly — loss of the waist tuck when viewed from above, a rounded or barrel-like profile when viewed from the side, and fat deposits becoming apparent over the spine, at the base of the tail, and around the limbs. The animal may also show secondary effects of excess weight, including reduced exercise tolerance, laboured breathing during mild activity, and difficulty with movements such as jumping, climbing stairs, or rising from rest.
Weight gain sufficient to obscure rib palpation typically develops over months, though the rate can vary significantly depending on the underlying cause. Dietary-related weight gain tends to follow a steady, progressive trajectory that correlates with caloric surplus. Endocrine-related weight gain may follow a more distinctive pattern — relatively rapid accumulation accompanied by other metabolic changes such as altered thirst, coat changes, or energy level shifts. In some cases, weight may plateau at a certain level, while in others it continues to increase. Seasonal variations in activity level can also influence the rate of gain, with some animals accumulating weight during less active winter months.
Conditions commonly associated
When to explore further
Difficulty feeling the ribs that has developed despite no obvious increase in food intake or decrease in activity may suggest a metabolic or hormonal contribution to the weight gain rather than a purely dietary cause.
When excess body condition is accompanied by other signs such as increased thirst, increased urination, coat changes, skin thinning, or a pot-bellied appearance, the combination may point toward an endocrine condition rather than simple caloric surplus.
Progressive weight gain in an animal that is already receiving appropriate portions and regular exercise warrants consideration of whether an underlying condition is affecting metabolic rate or fat distribution.
Difficulty feeling the ribs in combination with reduced mobility, reluctance to exercise, or laboured breathing suggests that the excess weight may be impacting the animal's functional capacity and overall comfort.
Rapid or sudden weight gain — noticeable over weeks rather than months — is less typical of simple dietary weight gain and may warrant earlier assessment to explore whether a medical cause is contributing.
Regularly assessing body condition by feeling over the ribs with a flat hand, looking at the animal's profile from the side and from above, and comparing to breed-appropriate body condition charts can help track changes over time. Noting whether the weight change has been gradual or relatively sudden, and whether it correlates with dietary changes, reduced activity, or other health shifts, may provide useful context for understanding the underlying cause.
Last reviewed: 24 April 2026 · Dr Alastair Greenway MRCVS