Dog body condition score calculator

Answer these 3 questions the same way a veterinarian would check — by feel and by eye — and get a body condition score (BCS) from 1 to 9, the standard scale used on most clinic wall charts.

1. Run your hand firmly along your dog's side. How easy is it to feel the ribs?

Ribs, spine and hip bones are visible even without touchingVery easy to feel, with little to no fat covering themEasy to feel, under a slight, even layer of fatHarder to feel, under a noticeable layer of fatDifficult or impossible to feel, even pressing firmly

2. Look straight down at your dog while they're standing. Is there a waist (a narrowing) behind the ribs?

Extreme, pinched-in waist; bones prominentClear, obvious waistWaist visible, but not very pronouncedWaist barely visibleNo waist — as wide at the hips as at the ribcage, or wider

3. Look at your dog from the side. Does the belly tuck up behind the ribcage?

Severe tuck; ribs and hip bones clearly visibleObvious upward tuckSlight upward tuckLittle to no tuck; belly roughly level with the chestNo tuck; belly sags or bulges below the chest line

Result

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–/ 9

This combines your answers on ribs, waist and abdominal profile into one score using the same 3 physical traits the official chart is built from — it is not a substitute for a hands-on exam. Body condition can be hard to judge through a heavy coat; if you are unsure, or your score comes out at 2 or below, or 7 or above, ask your veterinarian to confirm at the next visit. Sources: WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee body condition score chart; Laflamme DP, 1997, Canine Practice 22:10–15.

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