How do I check body condition on a deep chested breed like a greyhound?

Sighthound type breeds are built for speed and typically carry very little body fat even when perfectly healthy, so a visible rib outline, a sharply tucked waist, and visible hip bones are often completely normal rather than signs of being underweight.

The key difference from a genuinely underweight sighthound is muscle covering. A healthy lean sighthound has a smooth, muscled covering over the visible bone structure, while an underweight one looks angular and lacks that muscle definition.

Feel along the ribs and back for muscle tone and a thin, even covering, rather than judging solely by how much bone structure is visible, since visible structure alone is expected in this build.

Compare your dog against breed specific body condition guides where available, since general body condition scoring systems are sometimes adapted specifically for very lean breeds.

If you are new to a sighthound type breed, ask your vet or a breed specific rescue or club for guidance on what healthy looks like, since visual expectations from other breeds can be misleading here.

Track weight over time rather than relying solely on visual judgment, since a consistent, stable weight alongside good muscle tone is a reliable sign of health for this build. A sudden drop below a dog's own established stable weight is more meaningful than comparing against a generic chart figure for the breed.