When determining if your dog is a healthy ideal weight, many dog owners will look online for tables and ranges using breeds, sex, or age as indicating factors. However, at Wise Woofs we know every pup is different; even dogs of the same breed, age, or gender, a one size fits all is not our motto.
Contrary to what people think, the scale lies! You and your dog’s weight does not determine your overall health. While weight is factored into how much to feed your dog, it’s not necessarily an indication of poor health.
There are a few ways to gain insight into the health and condition of our dogs. The first is the body condition system, using visual and tactile senses to determine overall body condition. Next is the sight tight, helps determine not only sight, but neurological conditions that can go unnoticed. The sight test has a few “tasks” your dog can perform for overall function.
Body Condition System
Instead of using a table to compare weight to factors such as age, breed and sex, the body condition system uses a series of images. The scale image located below may look familiar as it’s posted in Veterinarian offices across the country.
The scale ranges from one to nine broken up into three categories. One to three is considered underweight or too thin. Images four to five is what people call the “ideal weight” whereas six to nine is heavy or overweight.
| Scale of 1-3: Visible bones from a distance seen in the pelvic region as well as ribs. Dogs underweight also show signs of weight and muscle loss; seen with an obvious waist and abdominal tuck. |  |
| IDEAL WEIGHT Scale of 4-5: Ribs are not visible, but palpable. Ribs have menial fat coverage, with no excess. Waist is noted, and can be seen from above, abdominal tuck evident. |  |
| Scale of 6-7: Ribs palpable with excess fat. Waist is somewhat visible, but not prominent. Abdominal tuck may still be present but is rounding. Scale of 7-8: Ribs not palpable, with heavy fat coverage. No abdominal tuck, and fat forming on limbs and neck. Abdomen is distended. |  |
Sight Test
The sight test is to simply determine that your dog’s visual senses are working. This is done to determine if there are any underlying conditions such as neurological disorders, visual impairments, glaucoma, or reversible conditions such as ulcers due to outside factors.
Menace Response Test
The first test should be the Menace Response Test, in similar terms, the blinking test. Start about 18 inches away from your dog’s face, and slowly move your hand closer and closer till you’re about three inches away. As you move closer the dog should blink; you can do this to each eye or test both as one.
Pupillary Light Reflex Test
Next the Pupillary Light Reflex Test (PLRT), determines the health of the optic nerve, chiasma and the retina oculomotor nerve. Using a flashlight, in a dark room, quickly shine the light past each eye and look for pupil shrinkage in the light, and dilation when the light is moved away. This can easily be done at home if you can’t make it to your Veterinarian.
Obstacle Course Test
Obstacle Course Test is a quick and fun way to test your dog’s sight. Outside, or within your home, make a small obstacle course using chairs, bins and boxes. You want to make a clear course path that has some twists and turns. Your dog should follow the path quickly and smooth, without having to get too close to the borders to determine direction.
After completing these tests, if you see your dog’s not blinking during the menace response, no pupil dilation during the PLRT or unable to complete the obstacle course; it’s time to consult the vet. While it’s natural to lose some vision as a dog becomes an elder, there are some sight conditions that can be reversed if caught early enough.
Overall, as a dog owner, our four-legged friends’ health is important to us as it impacts their quality of life. Maintaining an ideal weight, body composition and catching neurological disorders or visual impairments will help our pets live a long happy life.
