Dog Body Condition Scoring
What is body condition scoring?
Body condition scoring was developed as a way to standardise the assessment of
whether animals are underweight or overweight. It is based on a scale running from 1-9
where 1 is an emaciated animal and 9 is grossly obese. The place on the scale on which
the animal falls is determined by assessing several criteria. These are:
– How easily felt the ribs are
– How obvious the waist and abdominal tuck are
– How much excess fat is beneath the skin
– How much muscle mass is present
Why is body condition scoring useful?
Body condition scoring allows vets and animal owners to easily share this information
with one another. It has been shown that the body condition score is related to the
percentage above which dogs are overweight and consequently can be used to suggest a
target weight for dieting overweight dogs. Since even within individual breeds there are
a range of shapes and sizes that dogs come in, body condition score allows target
weights to be tailor made rather than just suggesting the breed average.
There are a number of diseases that dogs can get where the risk or severity is worsened
if the animal is obese. Body condition scoring can be used to define those animals at
risk. For more information on the risks associated with obesity, please see our leaflet on
the risks of obesity in dogs.
So where does weighing fit in with body condition
scoring?
Whilst body condition scoring is excellent for assessing broadly whether a dog is the
correct weight or not it is not as fine grained a measure as weighing your dog is. Many
dog foods specify guideline amounts to feed based on weight. However, some of the
veterinary prescription diets base the recommendations for amounts fed on both the
weight and body condition, so these two measures can be used in conjunction.
Weighing is also useful whilst your dog is on a diet since this allows allows a precise
measure of the progress made whilst on the diet. Rate of weight loss recommendations
are based on percentage body weight lost per week so having a record of bodyweight is
important.
How often should I condition score my dog?
In situations where your dog is having their weight checked regularly, it is useful to
condition score your dog at the same time that they are weighed. Having the weight and
the condition score side by side allows adjustment of diet and target weight so that they
continue to be appropriate for your dog.
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Too thin:
1. Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony
prominences evident from a distance. No discernible body
fat. Obvious loss of muscle mass.
2. Ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones easily visible. No
palpable fat. Some evidence of other bony prominence.
Minimal loss of muscle mass.
3. Ribs easily palpated and may be visible with no palpable
fat. Tops of lumbar vertebrae visible. Pelvic bones
becoming prominent. Obvious waist.
Ideal:
4. Ribs easily palpable, with minimal fat covering. Waist
easily noted, viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident.
5. Ribs palpable without excess fat covering. Waist observed
behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up
when viewed.
Too fat:
6. Ribs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Waist is
discernible viewed from above but is not prominent.
Abdominal tuck apparent.
7. Ribs palpable with difficulty; heavy fat cover. Noticeable
fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent
or barely visible. Abdominal tuck may be present.
8. Ribs not palpable under very heavy fat cover, or palpable
only with significant pressure. Heavy fat deposits over
lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent. No abdominal
tuck. Obvious abdominal distension may be present.
9. Massive fat deposits over thorax, spine and base of tail.
Waist and abdominal tuck absent. Fat deposits on neck and
limbs. Obvious abdominal distention.
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