- BCS 1 Severely underweight
Dog: Ribs, pelvic bones and all bony prominences visible from a distance (in short-haired animals); no palpable body fat and no muscle mass
Cat: Ribs visible (in short-haired animals), fat not palpable, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones clearly discernible, abdominal line strongly drawn in, loss of musculature
Dog: Ribs easy to feel, little fat present, spinous processes of the lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones prominent, waist pronounced
Cat: Ribs easily palpable, have minimal fat covering; Lumbar vertebrae and waist clearly visible
Dog: Ribs have some fat deposits and are easily palpable, dorsal vertebrae not visible, recognizable but not pronounced waist, abdominal line is drawn in
Cat: Ribs somewhat covered with fat and easily palpable, spine not visible, some fat on abdomen, abdominal line present, waist not overly prominent
Dog: Ribs and backbone are difficult to feel and have a heavy covering of fat, fat deposits in the lumbar spine area and at the base of the tail, waist difficult to see
Cat: Ribs barely palpable, moderate fat coverage, abdomen is clearly rounded, abdominal fat present
- BCS 5 Very overweight
Dog: Ribs and backbone are difficult to feel and have a heavy covering of fat, fat deposits in the lumbar spine area and at the base of the tail, waist difficult to see
Cat: Ribs barely palpable, moderate fat coverage, abdomen is clearly rounded, abdominal fat present
As you can see, the gradations in the underweight and overweight areas are very fine, it takes a little practice to recognize them. We recommend that you seek guidance from a veterinarian or experienced pet nutritionist.