Spotting Muscle Loss in Dogs: A Guide to Muscle Condition Scoring

by Katherine Khoo February 13, 2025 5 min read

Muscle condition scoring (MCS) is often overlooked compared to the Body Condition Score (BCS) but it’s an essential tool in monitoring your dog’s health. While BCS evaluates fat stores and overall body weight, MCS focuses on your dog’s muscle mass, offering insights into their nutritional status and physical well-being. Recognising muscle loss early can prevent serious health issues and improve your dog's quality of life. This article will guide you through the basics of MCS, how to assess your dog’s muscle condition, and what dietary changes can help combat muscle loss.

What is Muscle Condition Scoring (MCS)?

MCS is a method to evaluate the muscle mass of a dog by visually inspecting and palpating specific areas of the body. Unlike BCS, which focuses on fat, MCS helps identify muscle wasting (muscle atrophy) that may not always be linked to body weight. Muscle atrophy can occur due to age, illness, or nutritional deficiencies. A dog can have an ideal BCS but still suffer from muscle loss, making MCS an essential complementary tool for assessing overall health.

Why is Muscle Condition Important?

Maintaining muscle mass is crucial for your dog's mobility, strength, and metabolic health. Muscles play a significant role in supporting joints, protecting bones, and aiding recovery from injuries. Loss of muscle can lead to:

Reduced Mobility: Weak muscles make walking, running, or even standing up challenging.
Chronic Pain: Muscle atrophy often accompanies joint issues, worsening conditions like arthritis.
Slower Recovery: Dogs with less muscle mass may recover more slowly from injuries or surgeries.

How to Assess Muscle Condition in Dogs

MCS is scored on a scale of four:

Normal: No muscle loss.
Mild Muscle Loss: Slight loss of muscle mass, noticeable upon palpation.
Moderate Muscle Loss: Significant muscle loss visible and palpable.
Severe Muscle Loss: Extreme loss of muscle mass with visually prominent bones.

Here’s how to evaluate your dog’s MCS. Please refer to this Muscle Condition Score chart by WSAVA.

1. Key Areas to Assess

Focus on the key areas where muscle loss is most noticeable:

Skull: Gently run your hands over your dog’s head. A healthy dog will have a smooth contour, while muscle loss may reveal a bony structure.
Shoulders: Check for fullness around the shoulders.
Back (along the spine): Palpate along the backbone. Excessively prominent vertebrae can indicate muscle loss.
Hips: Examine the area around the pelvis. Muscle atrophy here makes the hip bones more pronounced.

2. Visual Inspection

Look at your dog from above and from the side. A dog with normal muscle mass will appear well-rounded and proportional. Any hollowed-out areas or sharp angles could suggest muscle loss.

3. Palpation

Use your hands to gently feel the key areas. Muscle loss can sometimes be felt before it becomes visible.

4. Take Notes and Monitor Progress

Regularly assess your dog’s muscle condition and keep a record. Changes over time can help you identify patterns or underlying issues.

Common Causes of Muscle Loss in Dogs

Muscle atrophy can occur for several reasons: Ageing: Older dogs naturally lose muscle mass as their metabolism slows down. Illness: Chronic conditions such as arthritis, kidney disease, or cancer can contribute to muscle wasting. Inactivity: Reduced physical activity due to injury or lifestyle changes can lead to muscle loss. Nutritional Deficiencies: Poor-quality diets lacking in protein or essential amino acids can accelerate muscle loss.

Preventing and Addressing Muscle Loss

Early intervention is key to maintaining muscle mass in dogs. Below are strategies to prevent or address muscle loss.

1. Nutrition: The Foundation of Muscle Health

Diet plays a critical role in maintaining muscle mass. Here’s what to consider:

High-Quality Protein: Ensure your dog’s diet contains adequate, high-quality protein to support muscle repair and growth. Look for animal-based proteins like chicken, beef, or fish.
Healthy Fats: Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, mussel oil, or krill oil, can help reduce inflammation and support muscle health.
Antioxidants: These nutrients help combat oxidative stress, which can damage muscle tissue. If your dog is experiencing muscle loss, consult your veterinarian to determine the cause and whether a diet change is necessary.

2. Exercise: Use it or Lose it

Physical activity is vital for maintaining and rebuilding muscle mass. Tailor your dog’s exercise routine to their age and health status.

Strength Training: Incorporate activities like climbing stairs or walking on inclines to build muscle.
Low-Impact Exercises: Swimming or walking on a treadmill can help dogs with joint issues or injuries maintain muscle without added strain.
Consistency: Aim for daily exercise, even if it’s just a short walk or play session.

3. Address Underlying Health Issues

Muscle loss is often a symptom of an underlying health condition. Regular veterinary check-ups can help diagnose and treat these issues early.

4. Supplements for Muscle Health

Certain supplements may support muscle maintenance.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin: These can improve joint health and mobility, indirectly supporting muscle health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin has a synergistic effect and works best when taken together. So, get a supplement that contains both nutrients like this Annamaet Endure Joint Integrity and Healthy Gut Function Supplement for Dogs.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs): BCAA are able to stimulate the synthesis of proteins and slow protein degradation in muscles. These are particularly effective in promoting muscle repair and maintenance of a healthy and strong muscle mass in the older cat and dog.
Fish Oil: Rich in Omega-3s, fish oil reduces inflammation and supports overall muscle function.
Antioxidants: Free radicals can damage muscle cells, reducing their ability to function properly and regenerate. This accelerates muscle protein breakdown and muscle loss. Antioxidants can help combat oxidative stress, preventing damage to muscle tissue. For an antioxidant boost, add some antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries, spinach, and carrots into your dog’s diet. Supplements containing SAM-e like this Maxxipaws MaxxiSAMe (Liver, Joint & Cognitive Health) Supplements for Dogs increases the glutathione level in the body. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that plays a key role in protecting the dog’s body cells, including muscle cells, from oxidative damage and inflammation, both of which contribute to muscle loss.

The Connection Between Diet and Muscle Condition

A dog’s diet is arguably the most influential factor in muscle maintenance. Transitioning to a balanced, high-protein diet can reverse early muscle loss and improve overall vitality. Here are dietary tips:

Consider Fresh Diets: Fresh diets, both gently cooked or raw, often contain higher levels of quality protein compared to dry kibble. Alternatively, consider freeze-dried dog food. A freeze-dried dog food like Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Dinner Patties Dog Food would typically contain higher digestible protein content than a kibble dog food.
Supplement with Protein-Rich Treats: Add lean meats or cooked eggs as a topper, or give freeze-dried and air-dried lean protein treats like this Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Chicken Breasts Cat & Dog Treats.
Avoid Overfeeding Carbohydrates: Too many carbs can lead to weight gain without improving muscle mass. Check the Guaranteed Analysis information of your dog’s food to determine the amount of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
Hydration Matters: Proper hydration supports muscle metabolism and recovery. Ensure your dog always has access to clean, fresh water.

Use MSC to regularly evaluate your dog’s muscle mass. MCS is an invaluable tool for every dog owner. It helps you to address any signs of muscle loss early, allowing you to address the situation and take appropriate actions to prevent deterioration of your dog’s health. Use this tool in combination with proper nutrition, exercise, and veterinary care to keep your dog strong and thriving at every stage of life.