Practice Scenario

Meet Molly, an obese, but otherwise healthy, adult, large-breed dog.

Get to know MOLLY

A 6-year-old, spayed female Labrador Retriever

  • Molly presents for routine physical examination and vaccinations.
  • Molly eats “a scoop” of dry adult dog food twice daily. The owners give Molly “a handful” of treats every day and, occasionally, table scraps.
  • Molly has a body condition score of 8/9, weighs 35 kg (77 pounds), and has normal muscle mass.
  • She appears otherwise healthy and is bright and alert on exam.

Nutritional & Clinical Assessments

How to Perform a Body Condition Assessment - Dog

Assess a dog's Body Condition Score in just 3 simple steps.​

Related Tools and Content:

The Purina Body Condition System

The Purina Body Condition System is an easy and practical tool for assessing a pet's body composition.​

View Brief 1 min to 5 min

How to Perform a Body Condition Assessment - Cat

Assess a cat's Body Condition Score in just 3 simple steps.​

View Video 1 min to 5 min

To Share With Pet Owner:

Evaluating Your Dog’s Body Condition

Assess your dog's Body Condition in just 3 simple steps.​

View Video 1 min to 5 min

Canine Body Condition System Sheet

A visual aid to the Purina Body Condition Score System for dogs.​

View Tool 1 min to 5 min