How to Tell If Your Pet Is at a Healthy Weight (Body Condition Score)
A number on a scale means little without context — a healthy weight for one dog might be overweight for another of the same breed. Body Condition Score (BCS) is the method vets actually use, and you can do a rough version of it at home.
The rib check
With your pet standing, run your hands gently along their sides. At a healthy weight, you should be able to feel the ribs with light pressure, without them being visibly sharp or sticking out. If you have to press firmly to find ribs at all, that's a sign of extra weight.
The waist and tummy check
Looking from above, a healthy pet usually has a visible waist behind the ribs — a slight narrowing, not a straight line from chest to hips. From the side, the belly should tuck upward behind the ribcage rather than hanging level with or below the chest.
Why tracking trend matters more than one weigh-in
A single weight number is a snapshot; a trend over months tells you whether a diet or activity level change is actually working, or whether a slow gain is starting before it's visually obvious. This is especially true for cats and small breeds, where a gain of just a few hundred grams is proportionally significant.
When to loop in your vet
A body condition score alone doesn't rule out medical causes of weight change — sudden weight loss or gain, even with normal-looking body condition, is worth mentioning at your next visit rather than attributed only to diet.
Furvey's weight tracking shows the trend line over time, not just the last number — Pro plans keep the full history, so a slow drift up or down is visible well before it becomes a body condition problem.
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Not veterinary advice. This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your pet is unwell, contact your veterinarian.