![]() ![]() Severe waistline and tummy tuck.Ģ/5 or 3/9 Ribs, pelvis, backbone easily palpated and somewhat visible. Severe tummy tuck and dramatic waistline on both cats and dogs.ġ.5/5 or 2/9 Ribs and backbone and pelvic bones visible, but only minor loss of muscle mass. Now, assign a numerical score to what you see and feel.ġ/5 or 1/9 Ribs, backbone, pelvic bones stick out. Both areas should be covered with minimal fat allowing you to actually feel bone without pressing too hard. And pet him from neck to tail to feel the backbone. You can also run your hands over your pet’s rump to feel the pelvic bones. Obese pets with a BCS of 5/5 or 9/9 have ribs covered by a thick layer of fat making them very difficult to see or feel. These ribs are not only easy to feel but are easy to see. An emaciated pet with a BCS of 1/5 or 1/9 will have ribs that stick out with no fat layer. ![]() A good comparison is feeling the knuckles of your hand: too thin is the feeling of the knuckles with your hand closed in a fist too much fat is the feel of your knuckles on the underside or palm side of your hand and ideal is feeling the knuckles when your hand is resting on a flat surface.Ī pet with a BCS of 3/5 or 4-5/9 will have ribs that are easy to palpate without applying any pressure with your fingers. You should feel a thin layer of fat with the ribs right underneath. Place your thumbs on the backbone and spread your fingers across his rib cage. If your pet is a healthy weight, you should easily feel his ribs. “If your pet is a healthy weight, you should easily feel his ribs.” Does he have a tummy tuck? Does his abdomen slant upwards between the ribcage and the hind legs? Or does he have a saggy belly? Does she have a waistline that curves in behind the rib cage giving her an hourglass figure? Next, sit on the floor and look at your pet from the side. Start by looking at your cat or dog from above. Here is how the numbers stack up for both scales:Īssigning a score to your pet requires visualization and palpation. Reference points are therefore extremely important. A cat with a BCS of 3 would be at an ideal weight on the 5 point scale (3/5) and thin on the 9 point scale (3/9). For example a dog with a BCS of 5 would be obese on the 5 point scale (5/5) but would have an ideal weight on the 9 point scale (5/9). Whatever method you choose, it is best to identify the scale by referencing the highest number. Others like the 1 to 5 scale, which has fewer categories. Some veterinarians prefer the 1 to 9 scale, which has more latitude to identify subtle changes in weight. Two recognized BCS scales are utilized, one ranging from 1 to 5 and the other from 1 to 9. Think: chihuahua versus bulldog versus great dane.ĭespite the variety of body types in dogs and cats, there is an organized system of evaluating BCS. It may seem more complicated than the human scale because, although people come in lots of different shapes and sizes, the pet world has a bigger variety of both-especially the canine portion of the pet population. The pet version of BMI is called BCS (Body Condition Score) and it is a quantitative, yet subjective, method for evaluating body fat. Luckily, there is a way to measure the body condition of our furry friends, too. Pet owners are also focused on the weight of their pets. Weight-conscious people are familiar with BMI (Body Mass Index) as a yardstick to identify ideal weight in humans. ![]()
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