An easy way to determine whether or not a puppy’s growth rate is optimal is its Body Condition Score (BCS).
You should evaluate your puppy’s BCS at least every 2 weeks.
Your goal is to keep your puppy’s BCS at either 4 or 5 on a 9-point scale.
If your puppy has a BCS below 4 then you have to make adjustments to the diet. Likewise, if your puppy’s BCS is 6 or higher, then you need to make adjustments.
| Score | Location Feature | Estimated body fat (%) | % BW below or above BCS 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Emaciated | Ribs & other bony prominences: Visible from a distance & easily palpable with no overlaying fat. Abdomen: Severe abdominal tuck when viewed from the side, exaggerated hourglass shape when viewed from above. Tail base: Prominent, raised bone structures with no tissue between the skin and bone. Obvious loss of muscle mass and no discernible body fat. | <4% | – ≥40% |
| 2. Very Thin | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Visible & easily palpable with no fat layer under the skin. Abdomen:Â Strong abdominal tuck when viewed from the side, accentuated hourglass shape when viewed from above. Tail base:Â Prominent, raised bone structures with no tissue between the skin and bone. Minimal loss of muscle mass. | 4-10% | -30-40% |
| 3. Thin | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Discernible & easily palpable with minimal fat cover. Abdomen:Â Pronounced abdominal tuck when viewed from the side, marked hourglass shape when viewed from above. Tail base:Â Raised bony structures with little tissue between skin and bone. | 5-15% | -20-30% |
| 4. Slightly underweight | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Easily palpable with minimal fat cover. Abdomen:Â Abdominal tuck when viewed from the side, slightly marked hourglass shape when viewed from above. Tail base:Â Raised bony structures with little subcutaneous tissue. | 10-20% | -10-15% |
| 5. Ideal | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Ribs not visible, but easily palpable, with thin layer of fat. Other bony prominences are palpable with slight amount of overlaying fat. Abdomen:Â Abdominal tuck when viewed from the side and well proportioned lumbar waist (hourglass shape) when viewed from above. Tail base:Â Smooth contour or some thickening, bony structures palpable under a thin layer of subcutaneous fat. | 15-25% | 0% |
| 6. Slightly overweight | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Palpable with moderate fat cover. Abdomen:Â Less obvious abdominal tuck when viewed from the side, hourglass shape less pronounced when viewed from above. Tail base:Â Smooth contour or some thickening, bony structures remain palpable under moderate layer of subcutaneous fat. | 20-30% | +10-15% |
| 7. Overweight | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Difficult to palpate, thick fat cover. Abdomen:Â Little abdominal tuck when viewed from the side or waist, and back slightly broadened when viewed from above. Tail base:Â Smooth contour or some thickening, bony structures remain palpable under subcutaneous fat. | 25-35% | +20-30% |
| 8. Obese | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Ribs are very difficult to palpate, with thick layer of fat. Other bony prominences are distended with extensive fat deposit. Tail base:Â Appears thickened, difficult to palpate bony structures. General:Â Ventral bulge under abdomen, no waist, and back markedly broadened when viewed from above. Fat deposits over lumbar area and neck. | 30-40% | +30-45% |
| 9. Grossly Obese | Ribs & other bony prominences:Â Ribs are very difficult to palpate, with massive layer of fat; other bony prominences are distended with extensive fat deposit between bone and skin. Tail base:Â Appears thickened, bony structures almost impossible to palpate. General:Â Pendulous ventral bulge under abdomen, no waist, back markedly broadened when viewed from above. Fat deposits over lumbar area, neck, face, limbs and in the groin. A dip may form on the back when lumbar and thoracic fat bulges dorsally. | >40% | >45% |