How should an owner determine if their Westie is at an ideal weight by physically checking the ribs?
Answer
Ribs should be easily felt without pressing hard
Monitoring the Body Condition Score (BCS) is crucial for managing the weight of active but small Westies to prevent joint strain associated with obesity. The specific indicator for an ideal weight via palpation is that the ribs must be readily perceptible under a slight layer of fat—meaning you should be able to feel them easily without having to press firmly through a substantial layer of tissue. If the ribs are difficult to locate or require hard pressure, the dog is likely overweight. Conversely, if the ribs are sharply visible without any fat cover, the dog may be underweight.
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