How To Help Your Dog or Cat Lose Weight with Dr. Molly Brinkman

This week on Dr. Molly Says… it’s just us!!! New season, new podcast setup, new vet clinic building (!!)… and an uncomfortable conversation we probably need to have about pet obesity.Because… statistically? A LOT of our dogs and cats are overweight. And before you get defensive — hear me out. This isn’t about aesthetics. We’re talking about real health consequences, chronic disease, arthritis, diabetes, mobility loss, and yes… shorter lifespans.We’re breaking down how veterinarians actually evaluate weight (hello body condition score), why so many pets gain weight without owners realizing it, and some hot takes about treats, free feeding, “active lifestyles,” and why your dog maybe doesn’t need a snack every time they pee.We also get into:How to tell if your dog or cat is actually overweightWhy body condition score matters more than the number on the scaleThe surprising diseases linked to obesity in dogs and catsWhy labs, beagles, and indoor cats can be especially prone to weight gainFree feeding vs meal feeding (yes… we’re doing this debate)Why treat calories count WAY more than you thinkHow spay/neuter changes metabolismThe real math behind feeding recommendationsWeight loss strategies that actually work in real lifePLUS: we discuss Solo cup measurements pretending to be “one cup,” chunky cat culture, why your veterinarian is not trying to offend you, and my slightly controversial opinion about potty treats.LOVE YOU GUYS 💛Timestamps:00:00:00 Welcome back! Season 2, podcast updates & the new clinic build00:02:45 Why pet obesity is uncomfortable to talk about00:04:00 Hot take: your dog doesn’t need a potty treat forever00:05:00 The shocking number of overweight pets in the U.S.00:06:00 Why weight matters beyond “looking chunky”00:07:00 Body Condition Score explained (4–5/9 is the goal)00:09:00 How to actually tell if your pet is overweight00:13:00 Diseases linked to obesity in cats00:15:00 Arthritis, mobility & obesity in dogs00:17:00 How pets become overweight in the first place00:18:00 Labs, beagles & genetics of appetite00:19:00 Why your pet probably isn’t as “active” as you think00:20:00 Feeding guides vs actual calorie calculations00:21:00 Free feeding vs meal feeding debate00:23:00 Treat calories add up FAST00:26:00 Spay/neuter, hormones & metabolism changes00:28:00 Helping pets lose weight realistically00:30:00 Measuring food correctly (the Solo cup problem 💀)00:32:00 Treat rules, exercise & muscle mass00:34:00 When weight loss isn’t working: thyroid & medical causes00:35:00 Multi-pet household struggles00:36:00 Exercise ideas for indoor cats00:38:00 Why vets keep bringing up weight (even when owners hate hearing it)00:39:00 Fresh food, calorie density & marketing myths00:42:00 Weight loss diets, supplements & final thoughts00:43:00 Outro---------------------------------------------------------------Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple:https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028---------------------------------------------------------------Follow Dr. Molly:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysaysTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysaysFollow the podcast:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod