German Shepherds Forum banner

Oh did you rescue your dog from the street? He's soooo thin...

16K views 60 replies 24 participants last post by  Smithie86  
#1 ·
No I did not! He is a full blood GSD AKC lines...He is just a gangly puppy ,besides GSD's are suppose to be kept lean to avoid joint issues.... I had to educate the Pet store employee!! Rocky just had a check up at the vet and they didn't notice any problems ,in fact after 6 months his second testie decended((whoo hoo!!)).Now however I feel the need for some more educated opinions and critiques. Is he too thin? Should I add some canned meat to his dry? thanks everyone! BTW these photos were taken today( Sept 4 2011) and he is 7 mos on the 22nd. He does seem really leggy and loooooong. His last vet exam was 8-17-2011 and he was 52 lbs. I had him checked for diabetes because he drinks so much water but he was normal.
 

Attachments

#4 ·
He really could use a pound or two. I don't like seeing 3 ribs...one rib is okay.
He looks as though he really has no sub-cutaneous body fat at all.

What is he eating now and how much? How are his stools?
 
#6 · (Edited)
He could use some more weight indeed. One or maybe two ribs are Ok, but no more than that and no hip bones visible. Yet I wouldn't be overly concerned. I'm having the same problem with my adolescent pup right now: just when you think you nailed how much food is ok for them, they have one of those growth spurs and in one week they look emaciated. Akela hides better how thin he is than your pup because his winter coat is more dense than yours but her spine definitely feels too boney and I'm sure that he would look like yours.

I'm adding yoghurt and chicken necks to his usual meals, but again, I'm in winter, so some extra fat is not a bad thing
 
#7 ·
Ditto a few pounds wouldn't hurt, but it is a balancing act at that age. I just upped Medo's food last week and this week he looks SKINNIER! And i swear he grew 2" straight up in the last 2 weeks.

But you'll probably always get that--he kind of looks like one of those dogs who is just going to be lanky his whole life.
 
#10 ·
He is a full blood GSD
Not to be nit-picky, but if you have to educate people, the correct term for dogs is "Purebred", not "full blood". :)

Yes, he is lean, but at 6 months of age he is probably going through a growth spurt and it can be hard to keep weight on them at that age. Since he's not in danger of overweight, you could up his food ration a bit, but I wouldn't worry about his weight too much. People are so used to seeing FAT dogs, they don't know what dogs are actually supposed to look like, but your boy will look good when he puts on a few pounds.
 
#14 ·
Not to be nit-picky, but if you have to educate people, the correct term for dogs is "Purebred", not "full blood". :)

Yes, he is lean, but at 6 months of age he is probably going through a growth spurt and it can be hard to keep weight on them at that age. Since he's not in danger of overweight, you could up his food ration a bit, but I wouldn't worry about his weight too much. People are so used to seeing FAT dogs, they don't know what dogs are actually supposed to look like, but your boy will look good when he puts on a few pounds.
Thank you for the correct term. I knew it was out there but I just wasn't sure what it was and didn't take the time to research. :)
 
#11 ·
I don't see much muscle mass and no body fat. He'd probably score a 1 at the vet (with 3 being "ideal" body weight).
To me that's not just "lean". He ought to have a big of a fat pad somewhere on that frame...our dogs are lean. I like lean dogs. But that dog is too thin.
That's why I'd evaluate what food he's eating and the amount, if you are feeding a low quality food, you could feed 8 cups a day and have a skinny dog.
Also if he's recently had a stomach illness or parasites, he might look this way.
The OP hasn't mentioned food or how the stools are looking.
 
#12 ·
I went back and look at pics from 2 months ago and he most definatly is longer and taller. It sort of slipped up on me! I was focused on his teeth and ears...sheesh! His energy level is just fine (just ask the cat lol) his stool s are firm and once a day. I did buy some caned meat to go with his dry and will add an extra feeding. Thanks everyone!
 

Attachments

#16 ·
uhm the canned dog meat that they sell next to the dry. I know I know there are alot of opinions on feeding raw and if I could afford it I would.
 
#19 ·
Dang! Msvett2u give me time....I feed Purina One Lamb and Rice 2 x a day at about 3/4c at a feeding. That is the recommended amount for his age and the vet weighs him everytime we go in and he has steadily gained and no he hasn't had any illnesses or parisites. In fact we hike and swim and bike together. Anything else you'd like to know?!
 
#22 ·
Dang! Msvett2u give me time....I feed Purina One Lamb and Rice 2 x a day at about 3/4c at a feeding. That is the recommended amount for his age and the vet weighs him everytime we go in and he has steadily gained and no he hasn't had any illnesses or parisites. In fact we hike and swim and bike together. Anything else you'd like to know?
]

1.5 cups is too little of an amount...bump up his food to 2c. AM and 2c. PM.

Or get a higher quality food. Purina One is expensive for no more nutrition than you get. I'd recommend Diamond Naturals or Kirkland from Costco...same amounts, 2c. AM and 2c. PM.
 
#23 ·
Don't have a costco around here and he wasn't finishing when I fed 1 c thus I backed down to 3/4c. The canned meat is more to entice him to eat more....I'm not dumping alot on top of his kibble. It is thouroghly mixed in so he will eat more. He tends to get distracted with wanting to play instead of eat and before you say it he is fed in another room or in his crate. He is a typical young boy....play play play
 
#29 ·
I know how you feel....my fella is not really a foodie either. When i feed him I am like "Nobody go outside....Luther is eating":D
To get him to eat kibble I mixed it with raw eggs. So I whisked them up and poured them on let it soak a bit and he loved it. He still gets them but eats the kibble better now so just an idea. Good Luck.:)
 
#25 ·
Oh, and most dogs are more apt to eat real meat products instead of soy and by-products such as Purina is loaded with...here's an ingredient list for Purina's ONE formula.

Lamb, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, whole grain corn, oat meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soy flakes, soybean meal,
 
#26 ·
You're not going to spend much more on DN and it's better quality ingredients.

Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, white rice, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, dried plain beet pulp, egg product, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, fish meal,

Dog Food Reviews | Dog Food Ratings
 
#27 ·
Thanks for the link...I will look through it. Just a little friendly advice though......you will get your point across and people will actually listen to you if you speak nicer to them.
 
#30 ·
I appreciate the fact that you wanted to help. I was trying to get to all the responses and perhaps I didn't answer your question. Maybe I was trying to avoid being told how bad the food is that I am feeding by not mentioning the brand. I am also feeding 4 kids and 7 dogs and 2 cats( not all mine ,long story) and I try to make everyones food as healthy as possible because I am a firm believer that good health starts from the inside. Anyway the protein is 26% and I thought that was the AAFCO recomendation. I thank you for the list and will look through it.