Q: How do I know if my dog is overweight?
A: To determine if a pet is over- or underweight, we do body condition scoring. If you feel your dog’s ribcage, you should be able to feel the ribs with gentle palpation. There should be minimal fat covering the ribs. If you look at your dog from the side, he should have a tucked-in appearance at his waist behind the ribs, and if you view him from the top, he should have a waist indentation just behind his ribs. Most veterinary practices should have charts up showing how to do body condition scoring in pets. You can also visit the WSAVA website for an example.
Dr Vanessa Mcclure, veterinarian
