My senior dog feels bony. Is muscle loss normal for her age?

I recommend googling Purina body condition scoring chart and determining if the the degree to which you can see and feel her ribs is consistent with the lower body condition scores. If so, increasing her daily food ration slightly and re-assessing her body condition score in 2-4 weeks is advised. Good luck!

Adorable! Aging muscle wasting can cause the back bone to be more prominent. If she is not losing weight then keeping her exercising will help maintain her muscle mass. Is she is losing weight I recommend increasing her food and bring her in for a senior exam and blood panel. They will check her teeth too to make sure everything is normal for her age. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Muffy.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. If you are noticing a loss of weight, especially at this age, I would recommend having his blood tested to make sure that there are no changes on his bloodwork that might indicate a systemic disease or infection. If blood work is normal then an abdominal ultrasound would be my next recommendation to find out why he is losing weight. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thank you for your question. From the photo of Joshie it does not appear that she is overweight. It can definitely be difficult to evaluate based on a photo though, especially in a furry dog like Joshie. Putting your hands onto her body can help you determine her body condition. You should feel a waist/area where he trunk slenders around her abdomen. You should be able to feel her ribs when you run your hands over her chest but they should have a small/thin layer of fat over them. When you run your hands under her, her belly should narrow/have a tuck. You can read this article for more information on proper body condition scoring: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-is-overweight/ If you are still concerned, a vet can examine Joshie and let you know for certain!

Yes, that is all normal. His weight appears fine in this photo. The biggest problem in pet dogs is obesity so it is preferable for them to be their ideal weight or just a bit underweight. I would not be worried. Great question!

I agree with your vet. Only someone who doesn't know the meaning of emaciated would call this dog emaciated. Yes, she is very lean, but she is well muscled (including the back area you mentioned), which indicates that she is getting adequate nutrition and is not suffering from an illness. Body condition scoring is not an exact science, because if you look at the guide you may call her a 3/9. This is because you can see her ribs. However, knowing how lean this dog is, I would put her more around a 4/9. No matter the score, she is in perfect condition - really, she's a great looking dog. I'll also note that studies have shown that dogs with these lower body condition scores tend to be healthier and live longer. The truth is that most people are used to seeing fat dogs (obesity is just as big of a problem with pet dogs in the U.S. as it is people) and will usually balk at the site of a 4/9, or even a 5/9 dog. I know you are and will continue to get comments from people who think that she is too skinny, but hopefully you are now armed with enough veterinary advice and knowledge that can help let the concerned person know that all is OK. I hope that helps and all is well with Dejah.

If her ribs are really sticking out and there is no fat or muscle, then see your vet. There could be a medical cause for her condition. If your vet clears her, increase the amount of food offered until she is at an appropriate weight. Ask your vet how to perform a Body Condition Score (BCS) on your dog using the 9 point scale. Ideally, she should have a waist when looked at from above. Her ribs should be seen and easily felt under a layer of fat/muscle. From the side, her chest should tuck up into her abdomen.