Is my dog overweight? The way to answer that is body condition score, or BCS: a 9-point scale, where 1 is very thin, 4 or 5 is ideal, and 9 is very fat, judged by feeling the ribs and looking at the waist. This guide is the is my dog overweight calculator in words: how to score your dog, what each score means, and what to do about it. Every figure is a guide, not a diagnosis: if you are worried about your dog's weight, ask your vet. The is my dog overweight calculator asks the same questions and gives you a score for your dog.
The short version is: feel the ribs, look at the waist, and give your dog a score out of 9. At a score of 4 or 5, you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, you can see a waist from above and from the side, and there is a small pad of fat on the belly. At a score of 6 or more, you cannot feel the ribs, there is no waist, and the belly hangs. A dog at a score of 6 or more is overweight, and a dog at a score of 8 or 9 is obese. The dog body condition score chart gives the 9-point scale in full, and the dog ideal weight chart by size guide gives the ideal weight for every size.
How the overweight calculator works
The calculator asks you to feel your dog's ribs, to look at its waist from above and from the side, and to look at its belly — and it gives you a body condition score out of 9. It may also ask for your dog's weight and breed, and compare the weight to the typical range for the breed. The result is a score, and a judgement: underweight, ideal, overweight, or obese. The calculator is an estimate, not a diagnosis, and the vet's judgement is better still.
The calculator works because body condition score is what vets use: it judges the dog, not a number. A dog's healthy weight depends on its breed, its frame, its sex, and its muscle — and a single number cannot capture that. A muscular dog can weigh a lot and be lean, while a fat dog of a different breed can weigh the same and be overweight. Feeling the ribs and looking at the waist captures what the scales cannot. The dog BMI calculator guide explains why a BMI number is not reliable for dogs.
The 9-point body condition score
Body condition score, or BCS, is a 9-point scale, where 1 is very thin, 4 or 5 is ideal, and 9 is very fat. At a score of 4 or 5, you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, you can see a waist from above and from the side, and there is a small pad of fat on the belly. At a score of 6 or more, you cannot feel the ribs, there is no waist, and the belly hangs. At a score of 3 or less, you can see the ribs, the spine, and the hip bones, and there is no fat to feel.
| Score | Label | What you see and feel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emaciated | Ribs, spine and hip bones are easy to see, even from a distance. No fat cover at all, and the waist is very obvious from above and from the side. |
| 2 | Very thin | Ribs are easy to see, and the waist and tummy tuck are very obvious. There is almost no fat to feel over the ribs. |
| 3 | Thin | Ribs are easy to feel and may be visible. The waist is obvious from above, and the tummy tuck is obvious from the side. |
| 4 | Ideal — lean end | Ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat. The waist is easy to see from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. |
| 5 | Ideal | Ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, with no fat to pinch. The waist is visible from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. |
| 6 | Above ideal | Ribs are harder to feel — you have to press to find them. The waist is hard to see from above, and the tummy tuck is less obvious. |
| 7 | Overweight | Ribs are hard to feel under a clear layer of fat. The waist is hard to see from above, and the tummy tuck is gone from the side. |
| 8 | Very overweight | Ribs are very hard to feel. The waist is gone from above, and the belly is rounded or sagging from the side. |
| 9 | Obese | Ribs cannot be felt at all under a thick layer of fat. There is no waist from above, the belly is very rounded, and fat deposits are visible on the neck, limbs and chest. |
Use the table above to score your dog: look at it from above and from the side, feel its ribs and waist, and give it a score out of 9. A dog at a score of 4 or 5 is at a healthy weight, whatever the scales say. A dog at a score of 6 or 7 is overweight; a dog at a score of 8 or 9 is obese. The dog body condition score chart gives the 9-point scale in full.
How to score your dog at home
Feel the ribs: run your hands along your dog's sides, with light pressure. You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard — like feeling the bones in the back of your hand. If you cannot feel the ribs at all, your dog is probably overweight. If you can see the ribs without touching, your dog is probably underweight. Look at the waist: from above, your dog should have a waist — a narrowing behind the ribs. From the side, the belly should tuck up behind the ribs, not hang down.
Do the check every month, and write the score down: a single score matters less than the line over months. A dog that is gaining condition steadily needs less food, a dog that is losing condition steadily needs more food — or a vet check, if the loss is unexplained. A dog that is at a score of 4 or 5, eating a measured amount, and exercised every day, is a dog that will live longer and feel better. The how to weigh your dog at home guide gives the weighing method, and the dog calorie calculator guide works out how much to feed.
What to do if your dog is overweight
If your dog is at a score of 6 or more, reduce the food by a tenth, increase the exercise, and re-check in a month. Feed for the target weight, not the current weight: work out RER at the target weight — 70 times body weight in kilograms to the power 0.75 — multiply by about 1.0, and aim to lose about 1 percent of body weight per month for a dog and about 0.5 to 1 percent per month for a cat. Cut treats to no more than a tenth of the daily calories, and do not feed table scraps.
Increase the exercise, too: a dog that moves more will lose weight faster and keep its muscle. For a dog, that means longer walks and more play; for a cat, that means play sessions with a toy, and climbing places. Be patient: a dog that loses weight slowly is a dog that will keep it off, and a dog that loses weight too fast can become ill. The dog weight loss diet plan guide covers a dog that needs to lose weight, and the dog food calculator guide works out the daily calories.
When to ask a vet about weight
Ask a vet if your dog is at a body condition score of 7 or more, if it is gaining weight on a measured amount of food, if it is losing weight and you do not know why, or if it has stopped eating. A dog that stops eating is an emergency: a cat that does not eat for more than a day or two can develop a serious liver problem, and a dog that stops eating needs checking too. A vet can work out whether the weight is a problem, and what to do about it.
Ask a vet, too, if your dog is a senior and is losing weight: weight loss in a senior dog can be a sign of kidney disease, thyroid disease, or cancer, and the earlier it is found, the better the chance of treating it. A vet who knows your dog will notice changes sooner, and will know what is normal for your individual dog. The senior dog diet guide covers feeding in the senior years.
For related reading, see the is my dog overweight calculator, the dog body condition score chart, the dog ideal weight chart by size guide, the dog BMI calculator guide, the dog weight loss diet plan guide, the dog calorie calculator guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is my dog overweight?
Feel the ribs and look at the waist: at a body condition score of 4 or 5 out of 9, you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, you can see a waist from above and from the side, and there is a small pad of fat on the belly. At a score of 6 or more, you cannot feel the ribs, there is no waist, and the belly hangs. A dog at a score of 6 or more is overweight.
How does the overweight calculator work?
It asks you to feel your dog's ribs, to look at its waist from above and from the side, and to look at its belly — and it gives you a body condition score out of 9. It may also ask for your dog's weight and breed, and compare the weight to the typical range for the breed. It is an estimate, not a diagnosis.
What is body condition score?
Body condition score, or BCS, is a 9-point scale, where 1 is very thin, 4 or 5 is ideal, and 9 is very fat. At a score of 4 or 5, you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, you can see a waist from above and from the side, and there is a small pad of fat on the belly. The table above gives the full scale.
How do I check my dog's condition at home?
Feel the ribs — you should be able to feel them under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard. Look at the waist from above — there should be a narrowing behind the ribs. Look from the side — the belly should tuck up behind the ribs, not hang down. Do the check every month, and write the score down.
What should I do if my dog is overweight?
Reduce the food by a tenth, increase the exercise, and re-check in a month. Feed for the target weight, not the current weight, and aim to lose about 1 percent of body weight per month for a dog and about 0.5 to 1 percent per month for a cat. Cut treats to no more than a tenth of the daily calories.
When should I ask a vet about my dog's weight?
Ask a vet if your dog is at a body condition score of 7 or more, if it is gaining weight on a measured amount of food, if it is losing weight and you do not know why, or if it has stopped eating. A vet can work out whether the weight is a problem, and what to do about it.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.