Feel Their Spine
The same test can be performed on your pet’s spine. You should be able to feel bones with light pressure; however, if the dorsal spinus processes (the bumps along the spine) are protruding, this may suggest that your pet is underweight. If you are unable to feel the spine when pressing more firmly there is a risk they’re overweight.
What Does My Pets BCS Mean?
The body condition scale ranges from 1-5 or 1-9; individual veterinarians will choose different scales based on their preferences. The 1-9 scale has more latitude and can represent minor weight gains. However, the basic premise is that the body conditioning scale ranges from 1 (malnourished) to 5 (obese). If your pet’s weight falls in the middle (3), they are at an ideal weight.
For dogs to lead an active, healthy life it is important for them to maintain a healthy body weight, and as a dog owner it is your responsibility to ensure that they do so. The most important factors to consider when it comes to your pets weight are the intensity with which it exercises, how often it gets to do so, and, of course, its daily food intake.
If you are concerned your dog is underweight or overweight, you can get an accurate answer to this question by visiting a vet or pet nutritionist, but there are a few simple ways of finding out for yourself if your dog requires a lifestyle change.
The results of in-depth study carried out by Purina Pet Food and professional animal nutritionists in 2002 showed that by eating a properly regulated diet, dogs can live almost two years longer; which is quite a difference considering that the average lifespan of a dog is between ten and thirteen years. There are clear benefits to maintaining your dogs weight at a healthy level, but how do you know if your dog is at the correct weight?
How to know if your dog is a healthy weight?
So, how can you determine whether your pet is underweight or overweight? Feeling your pet’s body, weighing them, observing their behaviour habits, and, in some situations, seeing the vet can all help you determine whether your pet is under or overweight. You can also use the Body Conditioning Scoring (BCS)system to gather numerical information on your pet’s weight and wellness.
Continue reading to learn how to determine whether your pet is overweight and to learn about the BCS scoring system.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]