A 2012 survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity
Prevention found 52.5 percent of dogs and 58.3 percent of cats
to be overweight or obese by their veterinarian. This translates
to nearly 80 million dogs and cats in America with a weight
problem. Dr. George Banta, chair of the Veterinary Technology
department at Brown Mackie College - Akron and Dr. Mary Jo
Wagner, attending veterinarian at Argosy University, Twin
Cities, offer useful information for pet owners. How can you
tell if your pet is overweight? “It’s not the number of pounds,
it’s how the animal carries the weight,” says Banta. “The number
on the Body Condition Score is more important than pounds.” The
Body Condition Score offers a way to assess the condition of an
animal, usually on a scale from one to five, taking into account
height, weight, and relative proportions of muscle and fat. With
a little knowledge, you can use sight and touch to figure your
pet’s general condition. “When looking down on a dog or cat from
above,” says Banta, “t