Diets and Dieting
Body Condition Score or BCS
When your pet visits our clinic, they are given a body condition score. This score helps the vet determine if your pet has a healthy weight status. If your pet has BCS of 4 or 5/9 or 3/5, congratulations! Keep up your good work and monitor for weight gain or loss by checking their BCS once a month. More commonly, pets have a BCS greater than 5/9 or 3/5.
The Association of Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that in 2022, 59% of dogs and 61% of cats in the United States were overweight. If your pet has a score over 5/9 or 3/5, you may be able to manage the problem at home. Start by figuring out how many calories your pet takes in every day, including any treats or other extras.
Manufacturers should provide the caloric content of a food or treat on its label. Try decreasing Yogi Bear’s caloric intake by 25%. If your pet’s BCS isn’t improving, over the next 3 months, your vet might recommend coming back in for a consultation to discuss more options.
