A Discussion with Mud Bay Consulting Veterinarian Dr. Katy Miller
Healthy Dogs | January 30, 2024
Perhaps you’ve been at your vet’s office and noticed a poster with various images of a dog or cat as seen from above, ranging from very skinny to very round and stages in between. Those are illustrations of body condition score (BCS), which is a measurement of body fat and muscle (or lack thereof) expressed numerically. (Or, maybe, you’ve seen a BCS sheet at your local Mud Bay, where we keep ones for both cats and dogs next to the scales in every store.)
BCS is similar to Body Mass Index (BMI) in humans, part of a way to help determine overall health. The veterinarian community and Mud Bay believe BCS to be critically important to helping dogs and cats live longer, happier and heathier lives.
Our Consulting Veterinarian, Dr. Katy Miller, sat down to answer a few questions to help explain the importance of BCS and how it relates to animal health:
Mud Bay: What is the body condition score and why is it important?
Dr. Katy: A pet Body Condition Score (BCS) is a numerical scale used by veterinarians and pet owners to assess the body condition or weight of a pet, typically dogs and cats. It helps determine whether a pet is underweight, overweight, or at an ideal weight. The scale usually ranges from 1 to 5 or 1-9, with 1 being emaciated and 5/9 being obese. At Mud Bay, Muddies are trained using the 1-5 scale, so for the rest of this discussion, we will use the 1-5 scale.
Here’s a general breakdown of the Body Condition Score:
1:Underweight
2: Thin
2.5-3: Ideal
4: Overweight
5: Obese
Maintaining an appropriate body condition is crucial for a pet’s overall health and well-being. Here are some reasons why it’s important:
Health Monitoring: BCS provides a simple and effective way to monitor a pet’s weight and overall health. Changes in body condition can be early indicators of health issues.
Prevention of Health Problems: Maintaining an ideal weight helps prevent various health problems such as diabetes, joint issues, and cardiovascular diseases.
Quality of Life: Pets with a healthy body condition generally have a better quality of life. They are more active, have better mobility, and are less prone to lethargy.
Longevity: Proper weight management contributes to a longer and healthier life for pets. Obesity, in particular, is associated with a shorter lifespan.
Nutritional Management: BCS can guide nutritional decisions, helping pet owners choose an appropriate diet and feeding regimen for their pets.
It’s important for pet owners to regularly assess their pet’s body condition score and consult with a veterinarian for guidance on maintaining or achieving an ideal weight. This may involve adjustments to diet, exercise routines, or medical interventions when necessary.
MB: As humans, we often use weighing ourselves on a scale to evaluate whether we need to gain or lose weight. Why do we use the body condition score at Mud Bay?
Dr. Katy: While the scale weight is a nice, straightforward measurement for people, dogs and cats have too much variation in body shapes for the scale to be a good representation of a pet’s health in relation to weight. If you think about someone saying “I have a 60 lbs. mixed breed dog,” if that dog is the size and shape of a Golden Retriever, they may be at a healthy weight, but if that same dog is shaped like a Corgi with short legs and a long back, they may be grossly overweight. The same example can be made with cats. What might be a healthy 12 lbs. on an average framed cat might be significantly overweight on a cat with a very small frame. By using an evaluation of BCS, we can level out the playing field and evaluate weight compared to body structure.
MB: Let’s say I have a dog or cat and want to evaluate the BCS. How do I figure out how to determine the correct number?
Dr. Katy: First, you will need to “look and feel” your pet. You start by looking at the pet from above. Do they have an hourglass shape to them with a waistline that curves in behind the bibs, or do they have more of a round, egg-shaped body? Then you will observe the animal from the side. Does the belly slope up from the ribcage to the hind legs, or is there a pouch of fat hanging down? Next, you will feel the animal. Run your hand down their back. Can you feel the top of the vertebrae, or do you have to push down to find the bones? Finally, run your hand over the ribs does this feel like running your hand over the knuckles of a closed fist (too thin) does it feel like running your fingers over the back of your hand (perfect weight), or does it feel more like running your fingers over the palm of your hand (too much fat)?
Now assign a numerical value to that evaluation:
1- Ribs (feel like your knuckles in a closed fist), backbone, and pelvic bones stick out. There is minimal muscle mass. Severe and dramatic waistline.
2- Ribs, backbone, and pelvic bones are easily visible, but there is some muscle mass present.
2.5-3 – Ribs feel like the back of your hand and are slightly visible, easily palpable Backbone and pelvic bones palpable but not as visible. There is an obvious waistline, and with cats, there may be a minimal abdominal fat pad in front of the hindlegs.
4- Ribs, backbone, and pelvic bones have a fat layer covering them but are still palpable. The tummy tuck is present but minimal, and the waistline is visible but not prominent. Cats have a fat pad in front of their back legs.
5- Ribs feel like the palm of your hand, backbone, and pelvic bones are covered with a layer of fat and are hard to palpate; there is no tummy tuck or waistline.
The ideal is 2.5-3 BCS for both cats and dogs.
MB: What if I don’t feel comfortable assessing body condition score on my own?
Dr. Katy: Bring your pet to a Mud Bay or your veterinarian, where they are trained in determining BCS for you and can teach you how to evaluate at home.
MB: Is a healthy weight really that important?
Dr. Katy: In the only study of its kind to date, the Purina Life Span Study, conducted from 1987 to 2001 with Labrador Retrievers, proved that maintaining dogs in lean body condition (BCS 3) extended their media life span by nearly 2 years. It also demonstrated that the need for treatment of health conditions was delayed by almost 2 years as well.
Dogs and cats with excess fat are at a greater risk of developing diabetes, feline lower urinary tract disease, arthritis, kidney disease, and many forms of cancer.
The BCS is a tool to help with the combination of nutrition, diet and exercise that assist pet owners in helping their animals thrive. For more information, please stop by any Mud Bay location and speak with a Muddy.
Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear.
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Whether she’s out on a trail or enjoying a long walk or run, this harness is built for warm-weather adventures, offering cooling comfort and secure control in one breathable design.
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Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #adventures #pnw #dog #summeriscoming
Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰
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Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm.
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Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚
#mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets
🐾🌷The Ruffwear Front Range Flex Collection
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Meet Harley, out in the tulip fields and ready for her next outing in the Front Range Flex Harness, Collar, and Leash.
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Whether it’s a walk through the neighborhood or your next PNW adventure, this collection is designed for everyday use and changing conditions:
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Lightweight and built to handle wet conditions
Easy to clean, just hand-wash and air-dry
Made with durable materials for every outing
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Harley picked her look… now it’s your turn.
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The Ruffwear Front Range Flex Collection is now available at Mud Bay. Shop in-store or online today!
#mudbay #ruffwear #adventure #dogwalk #pnwdogs
This cheese-flavored 🧀 💊 pill wrap helps make giving medicine easier for both dogs and cats. 🐕 🐈 Simply tear, wrap, and serve. It’s quick and mess-free.
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The soft texture can be torn to fit any pill, and the cheese flavor makes each dose easier to give. Now with pumpkin, and always free from grain, gluten, and soy.
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Stashio’s is a woman-owned company from Minnesota that creates simple solutions for daily pet care.
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You can find Stashio’s wrap-ups at Mud Bay, both in-store and online.
#mudbay #stashios #wrapup #healthypets #pnwpets
Let your dog relax 💆 and unwind with a Puptail.
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After a walk, run, hike, or just because, this brunch-inspired Puptail is a fun way to help your pup slow down and take it easy. It’s easy to make and flexible, so you can mix and match to make it your own.
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Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Green Juju Golden Blend
- 1 tbsp blueberries
- 1 tbsp banana slices
- 1/2 cup Primal Raw Goat’s Milk Cranberry Blast
- Swell Dog Gelato Banana and Peanut Butter (for topping)
- Wagster Banana and Toasted Coconut Biscuits
- Green Juju Freeze Dried Vitality Blend
- Furvor Concentrated Beef Bone Broth (for ice cubes)
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Optional Extras 🐕 🐶
Blueberry and bone broth ice cubes
Wag and Bright Supply Co. Spirulina and Beef Collagen dog chew
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Directions
1. Add Green Juju Golden Blend as your base
2. Layer in blueberries and banana slices
3. Pour in goat’s milk between layers
4. Repeat layers as desired, then freeze or serve as is
5. Top with gelato, biscuits, and freeze-dried blend
6. Add ice cubes and extras for a cool finish
#mudbay #treatyoself #pup #summeriscoming #puptail
Furvor bone broth is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is up to 30 times more concentrated than regular broths. It provides protein, collagen, amino acids, and important nutrients to help your dog’s gut, joints, skin, coat, and overall health.
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The 20 oz bottle provides more than 20 servings, making it an easy way to add beneficial nutrition to your dog’s daily routine at home.
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If you’re out and about, Furvor’s single-serve pouches will help keep your dog hydrated, with a pep in their step wherever you go. They’re great for summer, hikes, walks, or days by the water.
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Just tear open, squeeze, and serve. You can mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or give it on its own. You can buy them one at a time or in a pack of six.
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Shop Furvor Bone Broth in-store or online today! 🛍️ 🐾
#mudbay #furvor #healthypets #pnwpets #bonebroth
Capstar Oral Flea & Tick Treatment
🐾When fleas show up, it helps to act quickly. Capstar is an easy-to-use oral treatment that starts working in about 30 minutes and can kill most fleas within the first few hours. It’s a simple way to bring fast relief and can be used alongside your dog’s regular flea and tick routine.
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Vetality Flea & Tick Monthly Topical Treatment
🐾 For ongoing protection, Vetality Avantect offers vet-quality coverage at a great value.
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These broad-spectrum topicals kill and repel fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes, while also targeting all stages of the flea life cycle. It also helps repel biting flies and kill lice. Available in four weight ranges and a four-month supply for continued protection.
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🛍️ Shop in-store or online today.
#mudbay #fleaandtickseason #healthypets #dogs #fleafree
We have all the treats, toys, and zoomie-inducing catnip options for your cat, both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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So whether you have a cat who likes to bite, rabbit-kick, or lie back and relax with a nice treat and some catnip, we have what your feline friend needs to keep them happy, healthy, and engaged.🐈
#mudbay #cats #cattreats #catnip #cattoys
Oven-fresh meals straight to your dog’s bowl.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest is a high-protein, oven-baked dog food, basted in bone broth to support your dog’s digestion and joint health.
Nulo only uses high-quality proteins like turkey, herring, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef, then bakes each formula slowly at low temperatures to retain nutrients and make meals easier to digest.
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Choose from Adult recipes such as Chicken & Whitefish, Turkey & Herring, or Pork & Lamb, available in 4-lb or 25-lb bags. For small breeds, Beef & Lamb comes in 4-lb and 10-lb bags.
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Shop Nulo Culinary Harvest Oven-Baked Dog Food in stores or order online today!
#mudbay #nulo #healthypets #ovenbaked #dogfood
Did you know that Mud Bay now has sushi 🍣 for cats?
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Thanks to our friends at Fabcat, your cat can now enjoy a 5-piece sushi combo platter at Mud Bay. Each piece is not only fun to play with, but also filled with North American-grown catnip that will get your cat excited to bite, swat, and zoom around.
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Check out the Fabcat Sushi Combo Platter and treat your cat to something special. Available in-store or online.
#mudbay #sushitime #orderup #cats #catnip
Looking for a simple way to slow things down at mealtime or keep your dog busy?🤔
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The Walkabout from Woof is a multi-purpose enrichment toy that can hold up to 2 cups of food or treats. Just twist it open, fill it up, and rotate the inner dial to adjust how quickly food is released.
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It’s designed for quieter play, gentle on teeth, and safe for your floors—no marks, no noise, just steady engagement.
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A great option for busy days, working from home, or dogs that need a little extra enrichment. 🛒 🛍️ Shop the Walkabout in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #puzzletoy #woof #dogs #healthypets
You heard us, now we want to hear from you! 📣 👂
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We want to know your dog’s favorite woof Pupsicle recipe. Let us know what your pup loves most in their Pupsicle. We’d love to share your recipes with our followers, too.
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Send us a DM, leave a comment, share photos, or tag us in your favorite woof recipe. We might even make your recipe in-store and give you a shout-out! We can’t wait to hear from you.
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Stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing some of your recipes 🧑🍳 in the coming weeks!
#mudbay #woof #letusknow #healthypets #pupsicle
