Body Condition | Ribs | Overhead View | Side View | Tail Base |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very thin | Ribs easily felt with no fat cover; prominent visibility of individual ribs in dogs with short hair coats | Accentuated hourglass shape | Severe abdominal tuck | Bones are raised with no tissue between the skin and bone |
Ideal | Ribs easily felt with slight fat cover; individual ribs not visible | Lumbar waist well-proportioned | Abdominal tuck present | Smooth contour but bones can be felt under a thin layer of fat |
Obese | Ribs difficult to feel under thick fat cover | Lumbar waist not visible | No abdominal tuck; fat hangs from abdomen | Thickened and difficult to feel under prominent layer of fat; dimple may be visible at tail base |