Body Condition Score
Maintaining your pet at a proper body weight is an integral part of maintaining good health. A pet that is skinnier than normal my be so due to illness or malnutrition; and not only is more susceptible to disease and injury but slower to recover as well. An overweight pet is not any better - diabetes is seen in dogs and cats as well as humans! Also, obesity is seen as a complicating factor in heart troubles, arthritis, hepatic (liver) disease,and other ailments. Additionally, diagnostics and treatment on obese animals is more of a challenge; organs are not readily palpable, xrays are of lower quality do to additional absorption by the fat, catheters are more difficult to place, and so on.
Purina Pet care has developed the following guide to help assess a pet's body condition:
Cats
1 |
Emaciated Ribs visible on shorthaired cats; no palpable fat; severe abdominal tuck; lumbar vertebrae and wing of the illia easily palpated. | 
|
2 |
Very Thin | |
3 |
Thin Ribs easily palpable with minimal fat covering; lumbar vertebrae obvious; obvious waist behind ribs; minimal abdominal fat | 
|
4 |
Underweight | |
5 |
Ideal Well proportioned; observe waist behind ribs; ribs palpable with slight fat covering; abdominal fat minimal. | 
|
6 |
Overweight | |
7 |
Heavy Ribs not easily palpated with moderate fat covering; waist poorly discernible; obvious rounding of abdomen; moderate abdominal fat pad. | 
|
8 |
Obese | |
9 |
Grossly Obese Ribs not palpable and under a heavy fat cover; heavy fat deposits over lumbar area, face, and limbs; distention of abdomen with no waist; extensive abdominal fat deposits. | 
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Dogs |
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1 |
EmaciatedRibs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences evident from a distance. No discernible body fat. Obvious loss of muscle mass. | 
|
2 |
Very ThinRibs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences easily visible. No palpable fat. Minimal loss of muscle mass. | |
3 |
ThinRibs easily palpable, with minimal fat covering. Waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from the side. | 
|
4 |
UnderweightRibs easily palpable, with minimal fat covering. Waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from the side. | |
5 |
IdealRibs palpable without excess fat covering. Waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident. | 
|
6 |
OverweightRibs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Waist is discernible viewed from above but is not prominent. Abdominal tuck apparent. | |
7 |
HeavyRibs 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 absent. | 
|
8 |
ObeseRibs 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 |
Grossly ObeseMassive fat deposits over thorax, spine and base of tail. Waist and abdominal tuck absent. Fat deposits on neck and limbs. Obvious abdominal distension. | 
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Phone: (510) 841 - 4412 Fax: (510) 841 - 3019 email: staff AT uvhberkeley DOT com
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