He's so skinny

lkcheertex · 02-05-2012, 09:49 PM

Harley is actually two today. He is so thin. You can see the outline of his ribs even. He is in perfect health and is very active. We were feeding Natural balance but his stools weren't good so we switched to Nutrisource and that has cleared up. We fed the max recommended for his weight with each but he just can't seem to put on any weight. Should I be concerned? Should I feed more than the recommended amount?

Emoore · 02-05-2012, 09:51 PM

What's the protein/fat percentage of the food you're feeding?

marinehoney · 02-05-2012, 09:51 PM

To help our dog gain some weight, we were mixing canned and dry food to add some calories. However, we werent using the best kind. Were going to get some better food. But in the meantime, she is bulking up from getting that extra food.

lkcheertex · 02-05-2012, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoore

What's the protein/fat percentage of the food you're feeding?

Protein is 23% and fat is 14%

BlackthornGSD · 02-05-2012, 09:59 PM

How much muscle does he have in his shoulders and thighs? What about along his spine and pelvis and neck and the top of his skull?

Have you calculated how many calories he is actually getting each day? How many do you think he needs? Check out this metabolic calculator: Metabolic Energy Requirements For Dogs

If he were a young human, very active and athletic, and you could see his ribs--would you be worried? Ribbiness isn't always a good measure of "too thin" -- you have to see how the rest of his body is doing--how much muscle does he have?

My Jubilee was too thin, in my opinion, and I could see too many ribs, even though she had huge muscles in her thighs and shoulders, so I upped her food and actually started crating her for part of the day. Four weeks later, she had put on 3 more pounds of muscle and I could still see every rib! So, she needed those additional calories, no doubt, but the ribs weren't really where she put on the weight.

Emoore · 02-05-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkcheertex

Protein is 23% and fat is 14%

That would be the large breed adult? Stay with the Nutrisource food, but try switching to something that's higher in fat and protein. Maybe the NutriSource Performance, it's 30/20 and has 491 kcal/cup instead of the 429 you're feeding now. More protein + more fat + more calories. 23/14 is kind of low in both fat and protein for a young, active dog.

doggiedad · 02-05-2012, 10:55 PM

maybe you have a naturally thin dog.

TaZoR · 02-06-2012, 12:07 AM

i add canned also and he bulks up , except during a growth spurt

robinhuerta · 02-06-2012, 12:48 AM

A 30/20 ration is good for this breed...especially for an active, young dog.
Another food that has helped IMMENSELY for us with "active dogs" is the Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete 32/25.
I don't know if your dog has food allergies or sensitivities...so check out the label first......but it has been pretty good for a couple of my active dogs.

MustLoveGSDs · 02-06-2012, 01:08 AM

Can you get Acana? It is grain free and all 3 of my dogs do amazing on it. Mine mainly eat the Wild Prarie formula. It is for all life stages, protein 33%, fat 17%

Champion Petfoods | ACANA

02-05-2012, 09:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
lkcheertex Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 131	He's so skinny Harley is actually two today. He is so thin. You can see the outline of his ribs even. He is in perfect health and is very active. We were feeding Natural balance but his stools weren't good so we switched to Nutrisource and that has cleared up. We fed the max recommended for his weight with each but he just can't seem to put on any weight. Should I be concerned? Should I feed more than the recommended amount? __________________ Bella - GSD mix (3/21/10) Harley - GSD (2/10)

02-05-2012, 09:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	What's the protein/fat percentage of the food you're feeding? __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

02-05-2012, 09:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
BlackthornGSD Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 1,094	How much muscle does he have in his shoulders and thighs? What about along his spine and pelvis and neck and the top of his skull? Have you calculated how many calories he is actually getting each day? How many do you think he needs? Check out this metabolic calculator: Metabolic Energy Requirements For Dogs If he were a young human, very active and athletic, and you could see his ribs--would you be worried? Ribbiness isn't always a good measure of "too thin" -- you have to see how the rest of his body is doing--how much muscle does he have? My Jubilee was too thin, in my opinion, and I could see too many ribs, even though she had huge muscles in her thighs and shoulders, so I upped her food and actually started crating her for part of the day. Four weeks later, she had put on 3 more pounds of muscle and I could still see every rib! So, she needed those additional calories, no doubt, but the ribs weren't really where she put on the weight. __________________ Christine Blackthorn Working German Shepherds

02-05-2012, 10:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	maybe you have a naturally thin dog. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

02-06-2012, 12:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
robinhuerta Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,224	A 30/20 ration is good for this breed...especially for an active, young dog. Another food that has helped IMMENSELY for us with "active dogs" is the Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete 32/25. I don't know if your dog has food allergies or sensitivities...so check out the label first......but it has been pretty good for a couple of my active dogs. __________________ Huerta Hof German Shepherds www.teamhuertahof.com ....where breeding is still considered an art....

02-05-2012, 09:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
marinehoney Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 446	To help our dog gain some weight, we were mixing canned and dry food to add some calories. However, we werent using the best kind. Were going to get some better food. But in the meantime, she is bulking up from getting that extra food.

02-06-2012, 12:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
TaZoR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: collegeville, pa Posts: 276	i add canned also and he bulks up , except during a growth spurt

02-06-2012, 01:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
MustLoveGSDs Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 1,381	Can you get Acana? It is grain free and all 3 of my dogs do amazing on it. Mine mainly eat the Wild Prarie formula. It is for all life stages, protein 33%, fat 17% Champion Petfoods \| ACANA __________________ http://www.secondchanceshepherds.org/index.html "If you don't train them, don't blame them" Zelda(husky), Optimus Prime(doberman),Rogue(BGSD)

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