Page 490 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

506 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

VetBooks.ir Table 27-3. Relationships between body condition score (BCS; 5-point system) and actual body weight, ideal body weight, resting

energy requirement (RER; kcal metabolizable energy [ME]/day) and estimated percent body fat (%BF). Actual body weight and
BCS can be used to estimate a patient’s ideal weight* and associated RER, which can be further used for determining the amount
of food to feed for weight loss.
BCS Body weight (kg)
5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5
4 1.7 2.1 2.6 3 3.4 3.9 4.3 4.7 5.1 5.6 6 6.4
3 1.5 1.9 2.3 2.6 3 3.4 3.8 4.1 4.5 4.9 5.3 5.6
RER 95 112 129 144 160 174 189 203 216 230 243 256
BCS Body weight (kg)
5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 11 11.5 12 12.5 13 13.5
4 6.9 7.3 7.7 8.1 8.6 9 9.4 9.9 10.3 10.7 11.1 11.6
3 6 6.4 6.8 7.1 7.5 7.9 8.3 8.6 9 9.4 9.8 10.1
RER 268 281 293 305 317 329 341 352 364 375 386 397
BCS Body weight (kg)
5 14 14.5 15 15.5 16 16.5 17 17.5 18 18.5 19 19.5
4 12 12.4 12.9 13.3 13.7 14.1 14.6 15 15.4 15.9 16.3 16.7
3 10.5 10.9 11.3 11.6 12 12.4 12.8 13.1 13.5 13.9 14.3 14.6
RER 408 419 430 441 451 462 472 483 493 503 513 524
BCS Body weight (kg)
5 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
4 17.1 18 18.9 19.7 20.6 21.4 22.3 23.1 24 24.9 25.7 26.6
3 15 15.8 16.5 17.3 18 18.8 19.5 20.3 21 21.8 22.5 23.3
RER 534 553 573 593 612 631 650 668 687 705 723 741
BCS Body weight (kg)
5 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
4 27.4 28.3 29.1 30 30.9 31.7 32.6 33.4 34.3 35.1 36 36.9
3 24 24.8 25.5 26.3 27 27.8 28.5 29.3 30 30.8 31.5 32.3
RER 759 777 794 812 829 846 863 880 897 914 931 947
BCS Body weight (kg)
5 45 47 49 51 53 55 58 61 64 67 70 73
4 38.6 40.3 42 43.7 45.4 47.1 49.7 52.3 54.9 57.4 60 62.6
3 33.8 35.3 36.8 38.3 39.8 41.3 43.5 45.8 48 50.3 52.5 54.8
RER 980 1,013 1,045 1,077 1,108 1,139 1,186 1,231 1,277 1,321 1,365 1,409
BCS %BF BCS %BF BCS %BF
5 ≥40 4 30 3 20
*The formula used to derive the relationship between body weight and BCS is described in Box 27-3.
Example: A 32-kg dog has a BCS of 4/5. What is its ideal weight and associated RER and approximate %BF?
1. Find the closest value for its current body weight (31.7 kg) in the row for BCS 4/5.
2. Locate the corresponding body weight for BCS 3/5 (ideal weight) in the same number column. In this case it is 27.8 kg.
3. Below the ideal body weight of 27.8 kg, find the RER value for that weight; in this case it is 846 kcal/day (to convert to kJ, multiply kcal
by 4.184).
4. At its current BCS (4/5), the dog’s approximate %BF is 30.

contain from three to nine categories for body condition and in a 5-point system are between the scores of 2.0 vs. 2.5 and 3.5
have been assessed to different extents for precision, accuracy vs. 4.0, because assignment of a BCS less than 2.5 or greater
and repeatability (Armstrong and Lund, 1996; Mason, 1970; than 3.5 suggests action should be taken to return the patient’s
Edney and Smith, 1986; Scarlett et al, 1994; Joshua, 1970; BCS to the optimal range. These same criteria (i.e., what con-
Laflamme et al, 1994, 1995; Burkholder, 1994; Laflamme, tours are absent that otherwise should be present and what
1993). Chapter 1 presents a 5-point body condition scoring bony prominences should be easily felt but are not readily pal-
system in detail. Systems with either five or nine categories pable) can be demonstrated to the patient’s owner as part of the
are used most commonly. A 5-point system scored to the educational process to obtain agreement that the patient needs
nearest half score and a 9-point system scored to the nearest to lose weight.
whole score each have nine total scores for body condition. A BCS and body weights should always be recorded in the hos-
5-point system scored to the nearest half score subdivides into pital record whenever a veterinarian or another health-care
three categories each for insufficient, ideal and excess body team member examines a patient. An accurate estimate of the
conditions, with a score of 3.0 falling in the middle of the patient’s ideal weight is important for a successful weight-loss
optimal range. program. Deciding on an optimal weight can be problematic
In general, dogs and cats in ideal body condition have: 1) for the veterinarian and the pet owner, especially if the two dis-
normal body contours and silhouettes, 2) bony prominences agree. However, after a patient’s BCS has been determined, its
that can be readily palpated but not seen or felt above skin sur- ideal body weight can be estimated using Table 27-3. This is
faces and 3) intraabdominal fat insufficient to obscure or inter- done by locating the patient’s body weight for the BCS deter-
fere with abdominal palpation.The most critical division points mined during the physical examination and finding the