How to use this tool
- Choose the body condition score already assessed by you or your vet. Record muscle condition separately, or leave it as not assessed.
- Enter the current weight. If you have a target agreed with your vet, enter it in the optional target field.
- Update the record and review the observations and any weight difference. Download or copy it for your own records or a veterinary conversation.
Look beyond the number on the scale
Body condition and muscle condition answer different questions. Body condition describes fat stores. Muscle condition describes muscle loss, which can be present even when a dog carries excess body fat.
This tool records an observation you or your vet have already made. It does not estimate a score from a photograph, diagnose disease or infer kilograms of muscle from a breed name.
Use the two scales separately
The WSAVA nine-point body condition chart identifies scores 4–5 as the ideal range. Its muscle condition chart uses normal, mild loss, moderate loss and severe loss. Assessment involves looking and feeling; your vet can demonstrate how to do it.
Select “not assessed yet” if you do not have a muscle observation. An unknown score stays unknown in the result and in the export.
A useful weight record
Can this calculate my dog’s ideal weight?
It records a target agreed with your vet and shows the difference from the current weight. Breed, frame size and body weight alone do not give this tool enough information to set an individual target.
What does the weight difference mean?
It is current weight minus the target you entered. A positive value means current weight is above that target; a negative value means it is below. The tool does not turn the difference into a weight-loss rate, a deadline or a calorie restriction.
Can a dog have excess fat and low muscle?
Yes. This is why the two observations stay separate. A reassuring body condition number does not replace a muscle assessment.
How can I track changes?
Save the CSV with the date of your observation. Compare measurements taken under similar conditions and discuss unexpected changes with your vet. The care notes sheet gives you space to record appetite, behaviour and questions alongside the numbers.