A count and a change rate, nothing more
Select the things you can see and feel at home, such as thinner hind leg thighs, a spine or hip bones that are easy to feel, or avoiding stairs and jumping, and the tool counts how many apply. Add an earlier and a current weight and it also returns the change rate and the amount gained or lost. Enter only one of the two weights and it tells you so.
Why there is no score
Muscle in older animals is assessed with the muscle condition scoring that WSAVA uses alongside body condition scoring, with a veterinarian feeling along the spine, hips and skull. No validated at-home cut-off exists, and alert bands for weight change differ between sources, so this tool invents no numbers and reports only what it counted. Information here is current as of October 2026.
Muscle can shrink while fat increases, which keeps the weight looking steady, so weight alone will not show it. This tool is for reference only and does not replace veterinary care. Contact your veterinarian right away if you notice symptoms or suspect a problem.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. If muscle drops while fat rises, the scale barely moves. That is why the checklist pairs hands-on observations with the weights.
A count cannot diagnose it. With no validated cut-off, the tool only counts what applies and leaves the assessment to your veterinarian.
The interval depends on age and existing conditions, so set it with your veterinarian. Keeping the same checklist makes the trend easier to see.