Check Your Pet’s Body Condition

With your dog standing, look at the tummy (abdomen) behind the ribs. The upward slope toward the hind legs is called an abdominal tuck.

Where to look: Follow the natural underside behind the ribs toward the hind legs. Hover over the middle example on desktop, or tap it on mobile, to see the tummy-tuck direction.

Little or no tummy tuck The tummy looks nearly level with the chest or rounded underneath. Tummy rises behind the ribs Visible tummy tuck The tummy tucks up behind the ribs. Pronounced tummy tuck The tummy tuck is pronounced, and ribs or hip bones may be visible. I’m not sureI can’t tell, or I can’t see the body shape clearly.

A cat’s loose belly flap can be normal. Don’t judge body fat from the flap alone. Check the ribs and waist too.