You can easily calculate your dog's BMI yourself using our calculator. The only thing you need is your dog's weight and shoulder height. Further details, as well as examples of ideal values for some dog breeds, can be found further down in the table – I will also tell you why the BMI is not optimal for assessing your dog's weight status.
BMI calculator
Calculation of the Dog BMI
About the BMI of a dog To calculate, you need two essential pieces of information: that Weight of the dog and his Size. The dog's weight is usually measured in kilograms, while size is usually given as the length of the back from neck to tail and is measured in centimeters.
The common formula for calculating the BMI for dogs reads:
Around the Size of your dog To measure, place a tape measure from the base of the neck to the start of the tail. The Weight can with a special Animal scales or a normal household scale.
It is important to emphasize that this BMI for dogs – similar to that BMI for humans – serves as a guide only. A high or low BMI does not necessarily mean that the dog healthy or unhealthy is.
It is always advisable to have one when in doubt vet to consult someone who can assess the dog's general health in detail.
Interpretation of the BMI
After calculating the BMI for dogs it is important to understand what this number means. Similar to humans, we can divide BMI into different ranges to better assess the dog's health:
- Underweight: A low BMI indicates that the dog may not have enough body mass. This may indicate inadequate nutrition, parasites, or an underlying health issue.
- Normal weight: A BMI in the normal range indicates that the dog likely has a healthy amount of body mass, which is generally positive for the dog's health.
- Overweight: A higher BMI can be a sign that the dog has too much body mass. This can increase stress on joints and organs and increase the risk of various diseases.
- Obesity (obesity): A very high BMI is a strong indicator of obesity. This is a serious health condition that can lead to numerous problems, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
It is crucial to emphasize that the BMI a Guideline is. It can vary depending on the racedem Olddem Gender and the individual metabolism of the dog. Therefore, it should not be viewed as the sole indicator of the dog's health.
It is also important to note that some dogs are naturally leaner or stronger than others, without this necessarily indicating an unhealthy condition. The Interpretation of BMI should therefore always be considered in the context of other health indicators and ideally in consultation with one vet take place.
Another important point is that the BMI scales for dogs are not standardized and may vary from one source to another. It is therefore advisable to always seek professional advice BMI not to be viewed as an absolute measurement of health.
Example values for ideal values:
BreedGenderWeightSizeBMIPapillonmale3.5 kg28 cm0.7Maltesemale3.5 kg23 cm0.86Shetland Sheepdogmale7 kg37 cm1.07female6 kg35 cm0.97Jack Russel Terriermale6 kg28 cm1.21Beaglemale10.5 kg36 cm1.65Greyhoundmale33 kg70 cm2.66Australian Shepherdmale27 kg55 cm2.77female20 kg50 cm2.26Labrador Retrievermale27 kg55 cm3.02Golden Retrievermale38 kg60 cm3.57Leonbergermale60 kg75 cm4.52female53 kg70 cm4.27
To one Determine the ideal value for your raceyou must first calculate the BMI for your race. To do this, you have to find the ideal weight and size in the breed standards. Significant deviations from this ideal value should then be avoided.
As always: Always clarify any health questions with your veterinarian.
Calculating BMI for dogs not optimal
Calculating body mass index (BMI) for dogs is not optimal and can lead to misleading results. BMI was originally developed for humans and does not take into account the different body structures and proportions of dogs.
Accurately assessing a dog's weight and body condition requires individual consideration of factors such as breed, size, muscle mass and activity level.
In practice this is more likely to happen Body Condition Score (BCS) used to assess a dog's body condition. The BCS is a visual and tactile assessment of a dog's body fat and is usually presented on a scale of 1 to 9 or 1 to 5.