Ideal Body Condition: Part of the PURINA® Life Plan™   What is a dog's body condition? Body condition refers to the evaluation of a dog's physique as one indicator of his overall health and well-being. How can owners tell what body condition category their dog falls into (underfed, ideal or overfed)? A graphic of the three general body condition categories appears on the back of all PURINA® dog food packages under the PURINA® Life Plan™ , making it easy for owners to compare their dog’s body condition to the illustrations of an underfed, ideal and overfed dog: • Underfed: Ribs are highly visible. • Ideal Body Condition: Can feel and see outline of ribs. Dog has a waist when viewed from above. Belly is tucked up when viewed from the side. • Overfed: Dog has no waist when viewed from above. Belly is rounded when viewed from the side. Why is it important to know your dog’s body condition? Obesity is a serious concern for dogs that can lead to or exacerbate certain health conditions. Maintaining an ideal body condition reduces the likelihood that your dog will develop weight-related conditions that can be painful and even life threatening. A lean or ideal body condition also supports healthy joints and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, blood pressure and heart rate. Overall, it helps improve your dog’s overall health and well-being throughout his life. How do you determine a dog's body condition? Veterinarians utilize the PURINA® Body Condition System™, a scientifically validated standard developed by PURINA® scientists that evaluates a pet's body physique on a nine-point scale. Owners should consult their veterinarian first to determine their dog's body condition on this scale, and to learn how to assess it at home. Generally, there are two methods owners can use to determine a dog's body condition at home: • Conduct a visual evaluation using the PURINA® Life Plan™ version of the PURINA® Body Condition System™ that groups a dog's body condition into three general categories: underfed, ideal and overfed • Perform a Purina® Rib Check What is the PURINA® Rib Check? The PURINA® Rib Check is a quick and easy tool developed by PURINA® to help owners and veterinarians assess whether or not a dog is carrying extra weight. There are three elements to conducting a Rib Check: 1. Rib Check Can you feel your dog's ribs? It's a quick and easy way to tell if your dog is carrying a few extra pounds. Simply place both of your thumbs on your dog's backbone and spread both hands across his rib cage. If you can't feel the ribs easily, your dog may need to lose weight. 2. Profile Check Examine your dog's profile. The abdomen should appear slightly “tucked up” behind the rib cage. 3. Overhead Check While your dog is standing, stand directly over him and look down. You should see a clearly-defined waist behind the ribs. Most dogs at a healthy weight should have an hourglass figure. > Click here for an instructional video on How to Do a Rib Check (3.30MB) When should owners start evaluating their dog’s body condition? Owners should evaluate their puppy’s body condition right from the start to positively affect their dog’s health long-term. Because puppies are growing at an extraordinary rate, they require a higher caloric intake than the average adult dog. But if a puppy’s portions aren’t controlled, such a high-calorie diet can lead to excess weight early in life that can put him on the path to the obesity. Regularly check your dog’s body condition with your veterinarian or by doing the PURINA® Rib Check and comparing your dog to the PURINA® Life Plan™ graphic on packaging. How can you help your dog achieve and/or maintain an ideal body condition? Consult your veterinarian to determine whether your dog is maintaining the ideal weight and body condition for his size, age and breed. Then commit yourself to providing your dog with the proper diet and regular exercise, which are the best ways to maintain ideal body condition. To make it easier for owners to feed to ideal body condition from puppyhood through the senior years, PURINA® has developed the PURINA® Life Plan™ – a comprehensive approach applying specific breed size and lifestage guidelines, the PURINA® Body Condition System™ and feeding instructions to its packaging.