✦ The Holistic Pet — Free Tool ✦
Pet Healthy Weight Guide ⚖️
Is your dog or cat at a healthy weight? Find out in seconds.
Step 1 — Select Your Pet
Step 2 — Tell Us About Your Pet
Step 3 — Current Weight
Step 4 — Ideal Weight (if known)
If you are unsure, set this to the same as current weight — the tool will still assess based on Body Condition Score below
Body Condition Score (BCS)
The Body Condition Score is a hands-on assessment of your pet’s fat coverage. Feel your pet’s ribs, look at their waist from above and from the side — then select the score that best matches.
The Rib Check — Quick Assessment
Gently run your fingers along your pet’s ribcage. Which best describes what you feel?
Ribs very prominent — can see them clearly
Ribs are easily visible without touching. Hip bones, spine and shoulder blades are very prominent. Little or no fat covering. Likely underweight.
Ribs easily felt with slight fat covering
Ribs can be felt easily with gentle pressure — like feeling your knuckles through a thin sheet. Waist visible when viewed from above. Ideal weight range.
Ribs felt only with firm pressure — hard to find
You need to press fairly firmly to feel the ribs. Waist difficult to see from above. Noticeable fat deposits over lower back. Overweight range.
Cannot feel ribs at all — very thick fat layer
Ribs cannot be felt even with firm pressure. No waist definition. Heavy fat deposits on neck, limbs and belly. Obese range — health intervention needed.
Weight Management Tips
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Want a Full Nutrition Assessment for Your Pet?
Weight management is deeply connected to diet quality. A personalised nutrition assessment looks at what your pet is actually eating and creates a tailored feeding plan for their ideal health and weight.
⚠️ This tool provides general weight guidance only. It is not a substitute for a veterinary examination. If you have serious concerns about your pet’s weight or health, please consult a registered veterinarian. © 2026 The Holistic Pet · theholistic-petnamibia.com