Sometimes they can go thin from not having the right gut flora. They may be eating fine, but their bodies may have a problem digesting the food. Adding a Probiotic to their diet can help, and certainly won't hurt.
And the rules are: You should be able to feel the spine but not so much the sides or each individual vertebra. You should be able to feel the ribs,and a soft cushion between them and the skin. If you can see the ribs, the dog is underweight. Muscle, tendons and some fat should be covering the hips and shoulders. Bones should not be excessively evident. Age and activity will influence how an animal appears. If your dog is on the thin side, do not overfeed to put weight on. Read the feeding guidelines on the food packaging and follow them. Don't add fats or gravies to your dogs food, as they can cause pancreatitis. You can feed treats between meals, but be aware of the nutritional content. Nothing too fatty. Gradually the weight will come on. Also, weighing your dog weekly will help. So would a diary so you can see exactly what you pup has eaten and how he does with it. If you still think your pup has a weight problem, you'll have documented info for your vet which can help in a diagnosis. |