New Member from UK 15 week old GSD - vet advised slightly underweight at checkup - Page 2

Kayos and Havoc · 11-20-2012, 04:57 PM

If you are using her food as training treats through out the day I would measure it all out and put it in a bowl, that way you know how much she is eating.

My 7 month old is underweight, honestly. I have GSD's for almost 30 years and yes she is underweight. My vet alos said free feed her and let her eat what she wants. I did not do that, instead I added 2 more little meals so I know what she is eating. My girls is skinny cause she runs it all off. I am not worried, she will pick up some weight.

If you can see the ribs sticking out from her skin she is too thin. If you feel them and barely see the outline, she is just right.

NicandNala · 11-23-2012, 08:40 AM

Hi thanks for the help - im finding it hard to get her to stand still long enough to get a picture from the side - as soon as i go to her side shes like mum what you doing let me see im coming to see lol

heres a few pictures that i managed to snap

juliejujubean · 11-23-2012, 08:50 AM

Looks fine to me. :-)

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

NicandNala · 11-23-2012, 08:59 AM

Wohoooo shes "normal" lol

althou ive had dogs before and we have lots of dogs within our family none of us have ever had a GSD so its a huge learning curve as were still learning our way - no amount of research beats actual experienced owners advice

thanks

**Cassidy's Mom** · 11-23-2012, 12:56 PM

She doesn't look skinny in those pictures. When she's standing does she have a slight "waist" when viewed from above? When viewed from the side, does she have a tuck up at the abdomen? Can you easily feel her ribs when you run your hand down her side, and see the last one or two? If so, that's perfect. If you can see ALL her ribs, or they're overly prominent when you feel them, then I'd up her food a little.

NicandNala · 11-24-2012, 05:27 AM

Hi Cassidys mom , that's exactly what shes like a definite waist and you can feel her going in - she looks slimmer when you look at her from above than she does from the side - i think the vet was overreacting and sent me in to panic mode for no reason. I have added in some eggs during the day along with some chicken but i don't see how i can feed her much more without over feeding her.

I think I am going to stop worrying about her and let her be a puppy - also thinking that on Monday at training classes i might ask the teacher to see if she can reccomend a vet that knows more about GSD - the teacher used to work closely with the GSD rescue here so she might be better to point me in the direction of a local vet that knows them better - the teacher at puppy classes that worked close with the GSD rescue never showed any concern about her weight

thanks for the advice

**MaggieRoseLee** · 11-24-2012, 09:47 AM

That's the only picture that's any good at all and she looks fine. What we would really need is one from the top looking down on her. And from the side with her standing normally.

Vets are sometimes not as helpful as you'd think. Lean is better than fat for a GSD pup (though you don't want skinny). And all our pups seem to grow at different rates and/or end up different sizes as adults so there is no way you can say your puppy MUST weigh 'x' pounds at 'x' age. GENERALLY you can use guides with information but most important how they are behaving, energy levels, diet and feeding habits.

Gilly1331 · 11-24-2012, 11:14 AM

From the few pictures you have posted she looks at a good weight. Like others have said a clear picture of her from the top...(stand with her head between your legs and take a pic of her standing. This is to check for a waist. ANd the side pic you posted while isn't clear looks like she is at a healthy weight. I wouldn't be feeding her 6 meals a day at this point. Like another suggested use her dog food as treats during the day. Measure out a whole days feeding amount and just use that as treats as well as her meals.

If you see her ribs, spine and hips extremely clearly while she is just standing (if she looks like a skeleton with skin on) then I would be concerned but from the pics posted she looks full and healthy.

Kaity · 11-24-2012, 12:50 PM

looks perfectly normal to me. Hype was around 40 pounds at 15 weeks.

NicandNala · 11-27-2012, 05:41 AM

Hi , Thanks guys - Nalas put on 1kg but shes also took a stretch up as well lol

ive put her down to 3 meals a day along with some treats for training and shes coming along nicely

Think i should stop worrying as she seems healthy enough

11-20-2012, 04:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
Kayos and Havoc Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: McAlester, OK Posts: 17,377	If you are using her food as training treats through out the day I would measure it all out and put it in a bowl, that way you know how much she is eating. My 7 month old is underweight, honestly. I have GSD's for almost 30 years and yes she is underweight. My vet alos said free feed her and let her eat what she wants. I did not do that, instead I added 2 more little meals so I know what she is eating. My girls is skinny cause she runs it all off. I am not worried, she will pick up some weight. If you can see the ribs sticking out from her skin she is too thin. If you feel them and barely see the outline, she is just right. __________________ Kathy URO3, UCD Aleshanee Windridge "Kayos" CD,TDX,RE,CGC,HIC,TC (1/20/03) UAG1,URO2, UCD Xtra!Xtra! V. TeMar "Havoc" CDX,GN,RE,CGC,HIC,TC,BH (6/4/07) Tidmore's Rising Star Lydia "Mayhem" CGC, (4/4/12) At the bridge Lucky, Wolf, Max

11-23-2012, 08:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
NicandNala New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 9	Hi thanks for the help - im finding it hard to get her to stand still long enough to get a picture from the side - as soon as i go to her side shes like mum what you doing let me see im coming to see lol heres a few pictures that i managed to snap Attached Thumbnails

11-23-2012, 08:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
juliejujubean Elite Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,023	Looks fine to me. :-) Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App __________________ Diamond, Mar 19, 2011 Pictures

11-23-2012, 12:56 PM	#15 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 27,387	She doesn't look skinny in those pictures. When she's standing does she have a slight "waist" when viewed from above? When viewed from the side, does she have a tuck up at the abdomen? Can you easily feel her ribs when you run your hand down her side, and see the last one or two? If so, that's perfect. If you can see ALL her ribs, or they're overly prominent when you feel them, then I'd up her food a little. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 FDCh-G TF-III Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

11-24-2012, 09:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 24,173	That's the only picture that's any good at all and she looks fine. What we would really need is one from the top looking down on her. And from the side with her standing normally. Vets are sometimes not as helpful as you'd think. Lean is better than fat for a GSD pup (though you don't want skinny). And all our pups seem to grow at different rates and/or end up different sizes as adults so there is no way you can say your puppy MUST weigh 'x' pounds at 'x' age. GENERALLY you can use guides with information but most important how they are behaving, energy levels, diet and feeding habits. __________________ MACH3 Bretta Lee Wildhaus MXG MJG MXF MFB TQX HIT CGC TC Glory B Wildhaus AX, AXJ, XF "*It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."* - Oscar Wilde

11-23-2012, 08:59 AM	#14 (permalink)
NicandNala New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 9	Wohoooo shes "normal" lol althou ive had dogs before and we have lots of dogs within our family none of us have ever had a GSD so its a huge learning curve as were still learning our way - no amount of research beats actual experienced owners advice thanks

11-24-2012, 05:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
NicandNala New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 9	Hi Cassidys mom , that's exactly what shes like a definite waist and you can feel her going in - she looks slimmer when you look at her from above than she does from the side - i think the vet was overreacting and sent me in to panic mode for no reason. I have added in some eggs during the day along with some chicken but i don't see how i can feed her much more without over feeding her. I think I am going to stop worrying about her and let her be a puppy - also thinking that on Monday at training classes i might ask the teacher to see if she can reccomend a vet that knows more about GSD - the teacher used to work closely with the GSD rescue here so she might be better to point me in the direction of a local vet that knows them better - the teacher at puppy classes that worked close with the GSD rescue never showed any concern about her weight thanks for the advice

11-24-2012, 11:14 AM	#18 (permalink)
Gilly1331 Master Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sandy Hook, Connecticut Posts: 750	From the few pictures you have posted she looks at a good weight. Like others have said a clear picture of her from the top...(stand with her head between your legs and take a pic of her standing. This is to check for a waist. ANd the side pic you posted while isn't clear looks like she is at a healthy weight. I wouldn't be feeding her 6 meals a day at this point. Like another suggested use her dog food as treats during the day. Measure out a whole days feeding amount and just use that as treats as well as her meals. If you see her ribs, spine and hips extremely clearly while she is just standing (if she looks like a skeleton with skin on) then I would be concerned but from the pics posted she looks full and healthy. __________________ Lexi- GSD/Bull Mastiff Zeus-GSD Kimber-GSD Diesel-GSD ___________________ Calvin- poyldactyl cat

11-24-2012, 12:50 PM	#19 (permalink)
Kaity Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 1,168	looks perfectly normal to me. Hype was around 40 pounds at 15 weeks. __________________ Kaity, owned by Vida (3years) & Hype, 7 weeks

11-27-2012, 05:41 AM	#20 (permalink)
NicandNala New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 9	Hi , Thanks guys - Nalas put on 1kg but shes also took a stretch up as well lol ive put her down to 3 meals a day along with some treats for training and shes coming along nicely Think i should stop worrying as she seems healthy enough

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