Advice on getting yorkie to gain weight?

[Bellaandhelen]

Just wanted to update y'all: Last Monday, the previous owner took him to the vet and he weighed 3.2 lbs (on their scale). I took him to my vet this morning and he is now 4.4lbs Still needs to gain some more but he's gaining and the vet said not to worry- he either wasn't being given enough food before or had some sort of failure to thrive because he was left alone too much. They did a complete blood panel and all looks normal I'm so relieved. He already feels less boney.
Thanks again for all your input and advice! I ended up using the natural balance rolls and some cottage cheese mixed in with his other food and he's loving it

[Sweet Apple]

To be honest, if he seems healthy, and doesn't have any health issues, I wouldn't worry about him being on the thin side...It's absolutely proven that very thin humans live much longer than heavier ones...If he, gradually, starts gaining weigh, because he's on a new diet, then that's cool, as long as he's still healthy...I, totally, wouldn't worry about him being thin...Just let nature take it's course, with the diet you feed him, and see how he does...

[Bellaandhelen]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

To be honest, if he seems healthy, and doesn't have any health issues, I wouldn't worry about him being on the thin side...It's absolutely proven that very thin humans live much longer than heavier ones...If he, gradually, starts gaining weigh, because he's on a new diet, then that's cool, as long as he's still healthy...I, totally, wouldn't worry about him being thin...Just let nature take it's course, with the diet you feed him, and see how he does...

I see where you are coming from and I've read similar that for humans and rats, being slightly on the underweight side can corrolate with longer lifespan. I'm planning to tone down on the extras and phase them out now that I know he's gaining and is healthy. I am just so relieved to find that he is in fact healthy and to know that he will put on a healthy amount of weight in time- it's hard to describe in words to others without seeing and touching him, but it was really upsetting to even pet him he was so boney before and a good amount of his hair was coming out- probably from poor nutrition.

[Sweet Apple]

awwwwwwww, poor little guy...how wonderful, for him, that you found him and are giving him a second chance in his life...it's a happy story that you did find him, but it really "torques my wagon" that people can neglect little helpless dogs...and to go a step further, even children....argh