Body Condition Score (BCS) is a scale that gives a practical evaluation of the fat coverage of your dogs body. By checking how easy or not it is to feel certain bony areas of the body, a score is then produced. There are several scales, from 1 to 5 or 1 to 9. The ideal body condition lies in the middle, so either 3/5 or 5/9.

The body areas normally checked for fat coverage are:

1. ribs and spine

2. hips and shoulders

3. waist

Here are a few tips on how to do it.

With your pet in a standing position:

• Place your hands on the rib cage and gently feel for each rib, without pressing too hard

• Feel the waist and look from the top and the side (if you have a very furry breed, it may be harder to assess)

• Feel the spine, which runs down the middle of the back

• Feel the top of the hips and shoulders