Body Condition Score (BCS) Charts
Body Condition Score (BCS) is a standardized clinical assessment used to estimate body fat in pets by evaluating visual appearance and palpation of key anatomical landmarks rather than relying on body weight alone.
What is Body Condition Score?
BCS is used by veterinary healthcare professionals worldwide to assess nutritional status, monitor change over time, and support clinical decision-making.
BCS reflects body composition, not just scale weight.
Pets with the same body weight can have markedly different fat distribution. BCS helps identify underweight, ideal, and excess body fat more reliably than weight alone.
BCS combines what is seen and what is felt.
- Visual evaluation of body shape from above and the side
- Palpation of ribs and other anatomical landmarks using light pressure
- Comparison of findings to a validated species-specific chart
BCS Charts by Species
Select the appropriate chart below. Body Condition Score systems are species-specific and not interchangeable.
Ribs, waist, and abdominal tuck.
Standardized canine landmarks used in routine clinical assessment.
Palpation-based assessment of ribs and body shape.
Feline-specific assessment emphasizing palpation and fat distribution.
Palpation is essential.
Hands-on assessment due to fur density and body conformation.
Multiple fat deposition sites.
Validated equine system assessing regional fat accumulation.
Who should use Body Condition Score?
Body Condition Score is useful for both pet owners and veterinary healthcare professionals when applied appropriately.
BCS helps identify gradual changes over time.
Pet owners can use BCS to monitor trends between veterinary visits and support informed discussions with their veterinary team.
BCS supports diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Veterinary healthcare professionals use BCS to guide nutrition, monitor response to treatment, and document body condition consistently across visits.