Hi all,

I hear about BMI or 'Body Mass Index' for people all the time, which allows us to know what under/overweight weight ranges are dangerous for us humans.

Out of curiosity was wondering if there is such an equivalent for maintaining a healthy weight for dogs, taking different breeds, ages etc in account?

I realise there is an optimum weight for each breed and guidelines to help assess this visually, but does the equivalent to a BMI system exist for dogs?

Many thanks!

Can't imagine so. BMI itself was invented by a Belgian insurance adjuster at the turn of the 19th century and isn't massively scientific (a lot of the obesity researchers I know aren't greatly enamoured of it as a system of measuring health). For a species as diverse in body weights and types as the domestic dog it would be useless.

I don't particularly like the concept of BMI for humans - there's far too many variables and I don't believe it's accurate in lots of cases.

I don't really think something like BMI is really necessary for dogs - I think it's fairly easy to tell if dogs are at the correct weight

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Weight only is pointless, go by hand and eye.

dog weight chart - The Purina Body Condition System

There isnt a dog BMI aa such, if you have a pedigree breed then there would be approx. weights as a guideline for your breed. It is just that however a guideline. Body condition is always more important then weight. Looking at a dog from above he/she should have a visible waist. If you feel the rib area, you should be able to comforatably feel the ribds but not seen them. If you look from the side the dog should curve upwards from the bottom of the rib cage to where the tummy is. The tum should never be level with the rib cage.

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