Pyaar Se Check Karo! (Check with Love!): How to Give Your Dog a Body Score Report Card 📋

 

As pet parents in India, we show our love through food and cuddles. But sometimes, too much love means too many treats, leading to health issues! The simplest, most effective way to keep your dog healthy is by checking their Body Condition Score (BCS).

Think of the BCS as your dog’s fitness report card. It’s a quick, easy way to tell if your dog is too thin, just right, or carrying too much wazan (weight), which is crucial for preventing diseases like diabetes and arthritis.

 

What is the Body Condition Score (BCS)?

 

The BCS is a simple scoring system, usually from 1 to 5 (or 1 to 9), that helps you and your vet assess the amount of fat on your dog’s body.

• Score 3 (Ideal): Perfect body weight. Your dog is healthy and fit.
• Score 1–2 (Underweight): Too thin. Not enough energy or muscle.
• Score 4–5 (Overweight): Too much wazan. High risk of serious illness.

Veterinarians use this score to create a personalised diet and exercise plan—it’s much more reliable than just looking at the number on a weighing machine.

 

How to Check Your Dog at Home (The Simple 3-Step Test)

 

You don’t need fancy equipment to check your dog’s BCS. Just use your hands and eyes!

 

Step 1: The Rib Test (Feel) 🖐️

 

The most important check is feeling the ribs.

• Perfect Score (3): You should be able to easily feel your dog’s ribs when you run your hands along their sides, like feeling the knuckles of your closed fist. You should feel the bone right under a thin layer of skin and muscle, but you should not see the ribs poking out.
• Too Much Weight (4-5): You have to press hard to feel the ribs because of a thick layer of fat.
• Too Little Weight (1-2): The ribs are clearly visible and sharp to the touch, like running your hand over the back of your knuckles.

 

Step 2: Look from Above (Waistline) 👀

 

Look down at your dog while they are standing.

• Perfect Score (3): You should see a clear, defined “waistline” (a slight inward curve) just behind the ribcage.
• Too Much Weight (4-5): The waistline is missing, or the body looks oval or round like a barrel.

 

Step 3: Look from the Side (Tummy Tuck) 📐

 

Look at your dog’s profile from the side.

• Perfect Score (3): The tummy should tuck slightly upwards towards the back legs (like an hourglass shape).
• Too Much Weight (4-5): The belly hangs low or is flat and protruding.

 

Why Maintaining the Ideal Score (3) Matters

 

Keeping your dog in that perfect Score 3 range is the best gift you can give them:

• Longer Life: Dogs at an ideal weight live significantly longer and healthier lives.
• Less Pain: They avoid the crippling joint pain and arthritis that excess weight causes.
• Active and Happy: They stay energetic, agile, and enthusiastic for their daily walks and playtime.

 

How to Achieve and Maintain the Ideal Weight

 

1. Strict Diet: Feed a high-quality, balanced diet appropriate for their age and breed. Adjust portions based on their activity—less food if they are lazy, more if they are active.
2. Limit Treats: Treats are like samosas—delicious, but full of empty calories. Use healthy, low-calorie alternatives like small pieces of carrot or cucumber, and count treats as part of their daily food intake.
3. Regular Exercise: Stick to a daily exercise routine that keeps them active and helps them burn calories and maintain muscle.
4. Vet Check-Ups: Consult your veterinarian regularly. They will monitor the BCS score and guide you on exactly how much to feed and how fast to increase or decrease their weight safely.

By being proactive and checking that BCS, you are ensuring your furry friend gets the chance to live the longest, happiest, and healthiest life possible!