Meddor
Weight alone doesn’t tell you: two dogs of the same weight don’t have the same build. Vets look at body condition, on a 1 to 9 chart published by WSAVA, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Answer three questions, hands on your pet: the tool tells you which score your answers match.
The vets’ chart
WSAVA scores body condition from 1 to 9. From 1 to 3, the animal is too thin; 4 and 5 are ideal; from 6 to 9, it’s over ideal. Here’s a summary of what its dog chart describes:
| Score | What you see and feel |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Ribs, spine and hip bones visible or very easy to feel, with no fat; waist and tuck very marked |
| 4 and 5 | Ribs easy to feel under a thin layer of fat; waist visible from above; belly tucked up from the side |
| 6 | Ribs under slight excess fat; waist visible but not marked; belly still tucked up |
| 7 | Ribs hard to feel; fat over the lower back and the base of the tail; waist absent or barely visible |
| 8 and 9 | Ribs can’t be felt without pressing hard; heavy fat deposits; no waist or tuck, belly sometimes swollen |
For cats, the chart also looks at the fat pad under the belly: minimal at 5, noticeable at 6, moderate at 7, prominent at 8, with a clearly rounded belly.
How to do the three checks
- Ribs: run your hands flat along their sides, without pressing, as if stroking them.
- Waist: look at them from above, standing. Behind the ribs, the body should narrow.
- Belly: look at them from the side. In dogs, it tucks up behind the ribs; in cats, feel for a fat pad under the belly.
Why it matters
According to AAHA guidelines, 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese, and a study of Labradors found that those kept at ideal weight lived 15% longer on average. AAHA stresses tracking weight at every life stage.
For neutered, inactive cats, FEDIAF notes that a score of 4 out of 9 may be better than 5.
Frequently asked questions
They’re above ideal: should I feed less?
Talk to your vet first: they’ll confirm the score, look for a cause and tell you how much and how fast to slim them down. Our portion calculator then helps you weigh the right amount.
They’re too thin
Thinness or weight loss is worth a vet visit before changing their food.
What’s the ideal weight for their breed?
The WSAVA chart doesn’t give a weight: it looks at their shape. Ask your vet what weight to aim for.
Sources
- WSAVA, body condition score charts for dogs and cats, 2013.
- Creevy et al., “2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines”, JAAHA, 2019: overweight dogs, the Labrador study.
- FEDIAF, Nutritional Guidelines, October 2021: ideal score for neutered, inactive cats.