Defining Healthy Body Condition

MUSCLE TISSUE

Defining Healthy Body Condition

Healthy Body Condition Score - Dog and cat

Healthy body condition

Assessment of body weight, body condition score, and lean body mass is a better indicator of overall health in dogs and cats than body weight alone.1

Although regularly monitoring body weight is a good practice, weight is just one component of a healthy body condition. The variation within breeds, especially mixed breeds of dogs, can make it difficult to pinpoint an ideal weight. Also, body weight can remain stable while fat mass increases and lean body mass declines.

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Purina scientists developed and validated a 9-point Body Condition Score (BCS) system for dogs and cats.2,3 The BCS system assesses external body fat and can help estimate a pet’s optimal body weight, regardless of breed or body size.

Independently validated in published peer-reviewed studies and currently recommended by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, this practical tool to support weight management for dogs and cats is now used by veterinarians worldwide.4-7

Dog - Hourglass shape when viewed from above. Easily feel ribs. Tummy tuck when viewed in profile. Cat - Minimal fat pad on tummy when in profile. Easily feel the ribs. Hourglass shape when viewed from above.

Using Purina's 9-point BCS system, the ideal body condition is defined as a visible waist (when viewed from above) and abdominal tuck (side profile), and easily palpated ribs.

 

An ideal BCS is defined as 4-5 for dogs, and 5 for cats.

Pets with a BCS of 8 or 9 are considered obese.

Lean Body Mass - Image

Lean body mass

Evaluating muscle mass, in addition to assessing the body condition score, is important to help account for losses of lean body mass that may occur even in overweight pets.8

Lean body mass includes skeletal muscle, organs, and the skin—essentially all soft tissue except fat. Maintaining lean body mass is important for overall health.9-11 Lean body mass serves as an amino acid reservoir from which dogs and cats can build the proteins that are essential components of every cell, including immune cells, red blood cells, and hormones.

Lean body mass also accounts for 95% of an animal’s metabolic rate (the rate at which they burn calories) and having a higher percent of lean body mass compared to fat, generally increases the basal energy metabolism.12

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association muscle condition scoring system, which has been validated in published, peer-reviewed research, provides a tool to evaluate for loss of muscle mass in dogs and cats.8,13 Based on visual assessment and palpation, muscle mass is rated as normal, or as mild, moderate, or severe muscle loss.

Key things to remember

  • A pet's body condition score, muscle condition score, and body weight should be regularly monitored.
  • Using Purina's 9-point BCS system, the ideal body condition is defined as a visible waist (when viewed from above) and abdominal tuck (side profile), and easily palpated ribs.
  • An ideal BCS is 4-5 for dogs, and 5 for cats.
  • Maintaining lean body mass is also important for overall health and can be assessed with the WSAVA muscle condition scoring system for dogs and cats.

Explore areas of managing a healthy weight

MANAGING A HEALTHY WEIGHT

MANAGING A HEALTHY WEIGHT
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WEIGHT-RELATED CONDITIONS
Weight Management

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Find out more

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  3. Laflamme, D. P. (1997). Development and validation of a body condition score system for cats: A clinical tool. Feline Practice, 25(5–6), 13–18. 
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  9. Kealy, R. D., Lawler, D. F., Ballam, J. M., Mantz, S. L., Biery, D. N., Greeley, E. H., Lust, G., Segre, M., Smith G. K., & Stowe, H. D. (2002). Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220(9), 1315–1320. 
  10. Cupp, C. J., Kerr, W. W., Jean-Philippe, C., Patil, A. R., & Perez-Camargo, G. (2008). The role of nutritional interventions in the longevity and maintenance of long-term health in aging cats. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 6(2), 69–81. 
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