Is Your Pet "Big Boned?"

Weight is not always the best indicator of how healthy your pet actually is. As we all know, muscle weighs more than fat, and therefore seemingly fit dogs can weigh more than a similar non-athletic dog. A better way to see if your pet is at its ideal weight is through a body condition score (BCS).

Ideal body condition score

The ideal BCS is 5 out of 9. 0 to 4 is thin, 5 is perfect, 6 to 9 is overweight. A BCS of 9/9 is obese while 1/9 is emaciated. A BCS of 5/9 means you should be able to feel the ribs without digging, a waist, a dip under the lumbar muscles, and a rounded back (it should be hard to balance a plate on top of the back).

An extended lifespan

Research shows that maintaining a lean body condition in dogs increased their median lifespan by 15%. This was a 14-year study and is the first completed lifetime diet restricted study. It involved 48 Labrador retrievers (from 7 different litters). That 15% equates to an extra 1.8 years of life for the healthiest dogs, so it’s certainly something you should work on with your dog.

Next time you’re at your vet’s office, have them check your dog’s BCS and keep striving for that perfect 5/9!