Health
Dog BMI Tool
Calculate your dog's Body Mass Index (BMI) to see if they are at a healthy weight.
Tool
Understanding Body Condition Score (BCS)
While BMI can be a helpful starting point, veterinarians rarely use it alone. Instead, they rely on the 9-point Body Condition Score (BCS), which involves feeling your dog's ribs and waist.
The BCS is considered the "source of truth" for assessing a dog's weight.
| Score | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Underweight | Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, and pelvic bones are easily visible. No palpable fat. Obvious waist and abdominal tuck. |
| 4-5 | Ideal | Ribs easily palpable with minimal fat covering. Waist easily noted when viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident. |
| 6-7 | Overweight | Ribs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Waist is discernible from above but not prominent. Abdominal tuck may be absent. |
| 8-9 | Obese | Ribs not palpable under heavy fat cover. Heavy fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent. No abdominal tuck. |
