The phrase
"to feel the ribs" means to touch or press on the bones that are located on the sides of your torso, just below your chest. This action can be done to check or assess someone's body condition or health.
Full definition
If you run your fingers over the sides of your dog's chest and can not
easily feel ribs, there is a weight problem.
The pet should feel neither fat nor thin; you should be able to
feel the ribs with just a small amount of fat over them.
If your cat is overweight, you will not be able to easily
feel the ribs under the layer of fat.
Tip: Some breeds have more visible ribs than others, and it's harder to
feel the ribs of dogs with long or thick hair.
Keep an eye on your pup's body and, if you can't
feel his ribs anymore, he may be getting too many calories daily.
If he is skinny (you can see or
really feel his ribs and there is NO fat between his front legs) feed him a little more.
There should be a slight layer of fat over the ribs, spine and hip bones, but you should be able to
feel the ribs quite easily without pressing hard.
While German Shepherds are generally thinner compared to other dogs of their size, you still shouldn't be able to see or
easily feel their ribs.
You should also be able to
feel its ribs beneath its muscle if stroke your hand over it (if you can see the ribs, your Pitbull might actually be under - weight!).
Once you master this, place your hands around the bottom of your ribcage, and as you inhale,
feel your ribs expand in the front, sides and back of your body.
The rib check You should be able to lightly
feel ribs if you rub on them.
When stroking your cat, if you can't
feel her ribs at all, even with very firm pressure, or you feel fat pads along the backbone, then your cat is not just fat, but obese.
You should be able to
feel the ribs as you lightly run your hands over the chest area (no cheating --- squeezing the chest does not count!).
If, on the other hand, it's hard to
feel his ribs through the fat, if you can grab a handful of tummy fat, if you can't see his waist, and if his back is broad and flat, it may be time to ask your vet for some weight loss recommendations.
When a dog is at his ideal weight, you should be able to
feel the ribs along the side of his chest and see a slight hourglass shape after the ribs when looking down on him from above.
Your veterinarian will examine your pet and access the pet's body - condition score
by feeling its ribs, lumbar area, tail and head.
In this position, take a deep breath in, focusing on distending your stomach and
feeling your ribs expand out to the sides.
You should not be able to see your Golden's ribs, but using your hand and running it down along the sides of his body, you should be able to
feel his ribs with your fingers.
If your canine companion doesn't have a waist, you can't
feel her ribs without pressing, or there's no «tuck» in her tummy, she may be too heavy for good health.
A healthy puppy should have a light covering of fat across the ribs (you can
feel the ribs individually, but not see them clearly), bright clear eyes, a shiny coat, healthy skin and plenty of energy.
If you can't
feel the ribs at all, or only through a very thick layer of fat, this is a sign that the dog is overweight — a more common problem for dogs with plenty of access to food.
If you have to push through too much fat and can
not feel the ribs easily, your cat is likely overweight.
If you can
easily feel the ribs and there is a degree of tapering near the dogs mid section (just in front of the hind legs) your pet is probably not overweight.
With your inhale,
feel the ribs in the back of your body expand.
Take a breath in and as you exhale, slowly curl the ribs forward until
you feel your ribs knit together and your abdominals contract.
I'd love to see her now and be like, «Can
I feel your ribs?»»
You can see their waist, you can
feel their ribs.
When running your hands along your dog's body, you should be able to
feel the ribs and hips without pressing hard.