Last Updated: 16/12/2025
Body Condition Score: Is Your Dog or Cat Overweight or Underweight?
Worried your dog or cat is carrying too much weight? Use our vet-developed, simple at-home guide to Body Condition Scoring (BCS) to assess if your pet is overweight, underweight, or just right. Knowing the BCS is the first step in protecting your pet's long-term health.
Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read
As a pet parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your dog or cat healthy and happy, and their weight is a huge part of that. But how do you know what a healthy size looks like for your unique furry friend?
You can't just rely on the number on the scale, as healthy weights vary so much between breeds and even within the same breed. That’s where the easy, hands-on system vets use comes in: Body Condition Scoring (BCS). BCS is a simple way for you to assess your pet’s fat coverage and muscle mass at home. Learning to assess your pet's BCS is the first and best step you can take toward maintaining their long-term health.
In this article
Why checking your pet's body condition is so important
It’s estimated that a large percentage of dogs and cats are not at their ideal weight—with many being overweight, but some also being underweight. Knowing how to tell if your pet is carrying too much, too little, or just the right amount of weight is one of the most important things you can do for their long-term health.
A pet that is not at an ideal weight is at a higher risk of health problems. For example, being overweight is linked to conditions like diabetes and arthritis, while being underweight could signal an underlying health issue or a nutritional deficiency. Ultimately, maintaining an ideal body condition significantly improves your pet's quality of life and helps them live longer.
What is body condition scoring (BCS)?
Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is a system where a pet is typically given a score out of 5 or 9, depending on the scale used. This system assesses your pet’s fat coverage and muscle mass to determine if they are underweight, ideal, or overweight.
Refer to the charts below for a diagrammatic demonstration of how to grade a pet's body condition score from 1-9.
Too Thin
1: Ribs, spine, and hips visible from a distance. Muscle wasting evident; severe tummy tuck.
2: Ribs and backbone easily visible. Waist very narrow with deep abdominal tuck.
Thin
3: Ribs visible and waist obvious. Minimal belly fat; pronounced tummy tuck.
Ideal
4: Ribs not visible but easily felt with no excess fat. Waist visible; minimal belly fat.
5: Well-proportioned. Ribs felt with light touch. Obvious waist and slight tummy tuck.
Overweight
6: Ribs palpable with slight excess fat. Waist undefined; barely noticeable tummy tuck.
7: Ribs difficult to feel. Waist barely visible with no tummy tuck; rounded belly with moderate fat pad.
Obese
8: Ribs not palpable. Waist absent. Tummy appears bulging or swollen.
9: Ribs hidden under thick fat. Belly obviously swollen; heavy fat deposits extend to chest and legs.
How to check your pet's ribs
You'll need to use your hands for this part. Gently feel along either side of your pet's ribcage.
- Ideal: Ribs should be easily felt with only a slight covering of fat. It should feel similar to the knuckles on your hand when your palm is flat.
- Overweight: If you have to press firmly to feel the ribs, or can barely feel them, this means there is too much fat covering, and your pet is likely overweight.
- Underweight: If the ribs feel sharply defined with virtually no fat covering, and they are easily visible, your pet may be underweight.
A note on fur: Thick fur can hide the ribs and make an underweight pet look healthy, or make a slightly overweight pet seem much larger. Make sure your fingers get down to the skin to feel the actual ribs and the amount of fat cover.
How to assess your pet's waist from above
Take a moment to look down at your pet from a bird's-eye view while they are standing.
- Ideal: Your pet should have a nice, distinct waist contour that slopes inwards (like an hourglass figure) between their ribs and hips.
- Overweight: If your pet appears to be the same width along their body, or is bulging outward, they might be overweight. Very overweight pets will have a 'barrel' shape.
- Underweight: If the waist contour is extremely exaggerated and looks severely sunken in, they may be too lean.
How to assess your pet's 'tuck' from the side
Now, look at your pet from a side-on view.
- Ideal: The abdomen should tuck upwards under the flank, making it narrower than the chest. This creates another hourglass-type figure from the side.
- Overweight: If the abdomen hangs lower than the chest, or is the same width and doesn't appear to 'tuck' up at all, it's likely your pet is carrying excess weight.
- Underweight: The tuck might be too severe, giving a very gaunt look.
A note on cats: Cats tend to gain weight first in their tummy area. While a small, mild 'fat pouch' (called the primordial pouch) is normal, if the abdomen is hanging low or is wide, your cat may need to lose weight
Checking the fat at your pet's tail base
Feel the top of the tail base, where the tail joins the body.
- Ideal: You should feel a smooth contour with a small amount of fat cover, but the bones underneath should still be easily palpable.
- Overweight: Overweight animals will have a significant thickening of the fat here. In obese animals, the thickening can be so severe that it's difficult to feel the bones at all.
- Underweight: There will be little to no fat cover, and the bones will feel prominent.
Taking the next step for your pet's ideal weight
If your pet's BCS seems too high or too low, the best next step is to chat with your regular vet. They can help rule out any underlying health issues such as Cushings disease and hypothyroidism in overweight pets, and conditions such as dental disease, kidney disease, pancreatic disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease in underweight pets. They can create a safe, tailored plan to help your pet reach and maintain a healthy weight.
For more information on helping overweight pets achieve their ideal weight, take a read through our articles:
FAQs
Body Condition Scoring is a simple, effective tool you can use at home to keep an eye on your pet's ideal weight. Maintaining a healthy BCS is one of the best things you can do to support your furry friend's quality of life and longevity. If your pet's BCS is too high or too low, the best next step is to chat with your regular vet. They can help rule out any underlying health issues and create a safe, tailored plan to help your pet reach a healthy weight and truly 'pet better'!
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 17 Dec 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
