Is my dog overweight? How to use the 9 point body condition score
Your dog is probably at a healthy weight if you can easily feel its ribs under a thin layer of fat, see a waist behind the ribs when you look down from above, and see the belly tuck up when you look from the side. That is a score of 4 to 5 on the 9 point body condition score used on the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) chart; 6 and above is over ideal. It matters: in a 14 year study, Labradors kept lean lived a median 1.8 years longer than their heavier littermates.
How to body condition score your dog in three checks
- Feel the ribs. Run your flat hands along your dog's sides. At an ideal weight the ribs are easy to feel with only a thin covering of fat, a bit like the back of your hand. If you have to press hard to find them, your dog is carrying extra fat.
- Look from above. Stand over your dog. You should see a waist, an inward curve behind the ribs.
- Look from the side. The belly should tuck up between the ribs and the back legs rather than hang level or sag.
Fluffy coats hide a lot, so rely on your hands as much as your eyes.
The 9 point scale, in plain English
This summary paraphrases the descriptions on the WSAVA body condition score chart for dogs.
| Score | Category | What you find |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Under ideal | Ribs, spine, pelvic bones and other bones visible from a distance; no body fat; obvious muscle loss. |
| 2 | Under ideal | Ribs, spine and pelvic bones easily visible; no fat can be felt; some muscle loss. |
| 3 | Under ideal | Ribs easy to feel and may be visible with no fat felt; tops of the spine visible; pelvic bones becoming prominent; obvious waist and tuck. |
| 4 | Ideal | Ribs easy to feel with minimal fat covering; waist easily seen from above; belly tuck evident. |
| 5 | Ideal | Ribs can be felt without excess fat; waist seen behind the ribs from above; belly tucked up from the side. |
| 6 | Over ideal | Ribs felt with slight excess fat; waist visible from above but not prominent; belly tuck still apparent. |
| 7 | Over ideal | Ribs hard to feel under heavy fat; fat deposits over the lower back and base of the tail; waist absent or barely visible. |
| 8 | Over ideal | Ribs cannot be felt, or only with firm pressure; heavy fat over the lower back and tail base; no waist and no tuck; belly may be visibly swollen. |
| 9 | Over ideal | Massive fat deposits over the chest, spine and tail base; fat on the neck and legs; no waist or tuck; obvious belly distension. |
Why a lean dog matters: the lifetime study
The best known evidence comes from a 14 year study, published by Kealy and colleagues in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2002 and described by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, one of the partner institutions. Researchers paired 48 Labrador retrievers from seven litters, and from 8 weeks of age fed one dog in each pair 25 percent less than its littermate. The study was funded and run by Nestlé Purina PetCare with university partners.
- The leaner dogs lived a median of 13 years, compared with 11.2 years for their littermates, who were uniformly overweight: a difference of 1.8 years.
- Hip osteoarthritis was less common and appeared later. By age 10, 6 of the restricted dogs had hip osteoarthritis compared with 19 of the others.
- The leaner dogs did not need treatment for osteoarthritis until a mean age of 13.3 years, about three years later than the control group.
- Other chronic conditions also started later, by 2.1 years on average.
One study in one breed cannot predict exactly what will happen to your dog, but it is strong evidence that keeping dogs lean, with ribs you can feel and a visible waist, is one of the most valuable things an owner can do.
If your dog scores 6 or more
- See your vet first. They can confirm the score, set a target weight and safe rate of loss, and check for medical causes.
- Measure food. Weigh or measure every meal rather than estimating, and feed for the target weight your vet suggests rather than the current weight.
- Count treats. Treats, chews and table scraps add up. Use part of the daily food allowance as training treats, or low calorie options such as green beans or carrot pieces (see the Can dogs eat this? table).
- Add activity gradually, especially for older or very overweight dogs: longer sniffy walks, gentle play and food puzzle toys.
- Re-score every couple of weeks and weigh regularly on the same scale.
Never put a dog on a crash diet; sudden severe restriction can be harmful, so let your vet guide the plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal body condition score for a dog?
On the 9 point scale used on the WSAVA chart, 4 to 5 is ideal: ribs easy to feel without excess fat, a visible waist from above and a tucked belly from the side.
Can I tell if my dog is overweight just by weighing it?
Not reliably on its own, because healthy weight varies between individual dogs. A body condition score, done with your hands and eyes, tells you how much fat your dog carries. Use both, and ask your vet for a target weight.
Do lean dogs live longer?
In a 14 year study of 48 Labrador retrievers, dogs fed 25 percent less than their littermates lived a median of 13 years versus 11.2 years and developed osteoarthritis later.
Sources
- Body Condition Score: Dog (chart), World Small Animal Veterinary Association
- Study finds dogs fed a reduced calorie diet live nearly two years longer (Kealy et al., 2002), Penn Today, University of Pennsylvania
General education only, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your dog, contact your vet; in an emergency, contact an emergency vet straight away.