Your dog looks healthy. Are you sure?

12 hours ago

2 min read

October is National Pet Wellness Month, dedicated to helping companion animals stay healthy and improving their quality of life.

59% of dogs and 61% of cats assessed by veterinary professionals in the U.S. were overweight or had obesity.

Excess weight can contribute to diabetes, joint disease, breathing problems, and other serious health conditions.

Bentley, a four-year-old dog, had become so overweight that he weighed 102.3 pounds and struggled to walk because of severe arthritis.

After working with the University of Tennessee's Veterinary Obesity Center, Bentley lost nearly half his body weight and reached 55 pounds.

His veterinary team reported that he went from struggling to move around his home to walking with greater ease and energy.

Here are four health checks that can help you spot problems early.

1. Check your companion’s body condition

Look at your dog or cat from above.

Their waist should be visible behind the ribs, and you should be able to feel the ribs without a thick layer of fat covering them.

Ask your veterinarian to check their body condition and recommend a healthy weight for them.

Keep track of their weight so you can notice gradual changes.

2. Count their breaths while they sleep

Wait until they are asleep and watch their chest rise and fall.

Count the breaths for one full minute.

A resting breathing rate that is consistently higher than normal can be a sign of a heart or lung problem and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

3. Check their teeth, paws, and skin

Lift the lips and look for red or swollen gums, heavy tartar, bleeding, or loose teeth.

Dental disease is common in dogs and cats and can cause pain even when an animal continues to eat normally.

While grooming, also check under the collar, between the toes, and anywhere else that is easy to overlook for swelling, wounds, ticks, or new lumps.

4. Know when an unwanted litter could happen

Female cats can become pregnant as early as four months of age.

Dogs can also reach sexual maturity while they are still young.

If an animal has not been spayed or neutered, talk with a veterinarian about reproductive control before an accidental mating happens.

The consequences of unwanted litters extend far beyond a single household.

5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues in the U.S. in 2025, and stray animals accounted for 59% of community intakes.

Every new litter adds more animals who will need food, veterinary care, and somewhere to live.

The world's 600 million stray dogs and 87 million stray cats give birth to over 1 billion homeless puppies and kittens every year.

Tragically, those who survive, also reproduce and give birth to another generation of homeless strays - thus repeating the cycle of suffering, every year.

This is why our mission is to end the #1 cause of suffering and death for dogs and cats — overpopulation — by developing a Cookie that will only need to be eaten one time, and it will, in effect, spay or neuter — without surgery.