How to get a Yorkie to "fill out"?

[Deuce]

Title says it all, Rizzo is balancing between 4.5 and 5 lbs and eat's RC but not a lot of it. I don't mind him being a lightweight, but he is just so dainty and I'm constantly worried that he'll jump off of something and break his leg. Luckily he is pretty cautious about jumping off of anything, I have a futon that is 6 inches off the ground and he refuses to jump down from there, I'll walk into the next room and hear him whining because I "forgot" to take him off the futon.
Nonetheless, I want him to "fill out" so to speak, I hate feeling his bones (once again he does eat, just not a lot) and the vet says he is perfectly healthy and he just happens to be a bony yorkie, "just take care to keep a close eye on him cause the slightest injury can really hurt him"
I know he is only 8 months old, so maybe he'll fill in over the next few months??? He is supposed to be neutered in October, should I put it off until he is a year old? He still isn't marking or humping and still squats when he pees so we're having luck on that end...I don't know, I just don't want to ruin his chances of getting just a bit bigger, is there anything that I can be doing to help him get some muscle or something?
Steroids for doggies? LOL, j/k!

[lillymae]

Being slightly underweight is much better then being at all overweight for all toy breeds. You don't want any extra weight on him as it will only contribute to bone & joint problems. Also you should not let him jump on and off furniture. Tell him to stay & wait, then you pick him up and put him on & off the furniture. If you can't keep him from jumping then I would suggest getting some doggie stairs or a ramp for him.

[kjc]

Have you run a Bile Acid Test on him? Wouldn't hurt to do it before his surgery. Many dogs with liver issues have a problem keeping weight on... they always appear bony and thin, and tend to be smaller.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by lillymae

Being slightly underweight is much better then being at all overweight for all toy breeds. You don't want any extra weight on him as it will only contribute to bone & joint problems. Also you should not let him jump on and off furniture. Tell him to stay & wait, then you pick him up and put him on & off the furniture. If you can't keep him from jumping then I would suggest getting some doggie stairs or a ramp for him.

I'm not trying to get him fat or anything, just add some muscle on him. And he doesn't jump off furniture, and seldem jumps on it, the only thing he can jump on (or chooses to anyway) is my futon which is really close to the floor which he doesn't even jump off of.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by kjc

Have you run a Bile Acid Test on him? Wouldn't hurt to do it before his surgery. Many dogs with liver issues have a problem keeping weight on... they always appear bony and thin, and tend to be smaller.

Oh my didn't even think about something like this. I figured he was a healthy boy since the doc didn't say anything about this. I'll make sure he runs one before the neuter then. All together he seems kind of larger, he is tall, just lanky...he seems to have the potential to fill in and look a little stronger, he just prefers to run and run and run and run off his food...I hope there isnt anything wrong with him.

[bchgirl]

Some are just more fine boned than others. So his bones will never be "thicker". My Frazier weighed 3.7 pounds but after his first birthday he did "fill out" and now weighs 4.3. Since yours is 8 months...he just has some growing to do.

Neutering him at this size is fine.

[luvfla]

Sweet Sophie was a Boney Maronie at that age. She's 2 now I has gotten more dense...does that make sense?

[Deuce]

Yeah, I guess I'm just being overly concerned. Not used to such small dogs is all.

[katy-yorkie]

Buster is almost three and he's still boney. The vet says he will be a small dog. On a good day he weighs four pounds. He eats but not a lot, I wish he weighed a little more. He has long legs and could probably be a pound heavier but the vet says no, he needs to stay where he is. On the other hand, Maggie looks like a little sausage on four legs.

[yorkie_mama22]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

Buster is almost three and he's still boney. The vet says he will be a small dog. On a good day he weighs four pounds. He eats but not a lot, I wish he weighed a little more. He has long legs and could probably be a pound heavier but the vet says no, he needs to stay where he is. On the other hand, Maggie looks like a little sausage on four legs.

Zachs my little sausage!!! And Lola is tall and skinny

[RemydeHaviland]

Since Remy has been eating a raw diet (premade / frozen) he has become more "solid". He is not overweight - is 6lbs - and his vet is very pleased with his weight. But he is clearly stronger, maybe what you mean by more "filled out".

[Rhetts_mama]

I think with some dogs, it's just their build to be more "delicate" versus muscular. Rhett is definitely more muscular than Oliver. There isn't any fat on him, but he's definitely "built". I think that comes from him being on a really good quality food and being very active physically (just like people). Oliver on the other hand, is just light- even though he's doubled his weight since going to my mom. He's a light eater and wouldn't chase a ball if his life depended on it

[KJLive]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Some are just more fine boned than others. So his bones will never be "thicker". My Frazier weighed 3.7 pounds but after his first birthday he did "fill out" and now weighs 4.3. Since yours is 8 months...he just has some growing to do.

Neutering him at this size is fine.

Yeah....what she said. My Yorkie filled out after a year old and still continues to fill out some over the summer. She'll be 2 in September.

[Sweet Apple]

I'm one of those spay/neuter late people, and I know not very popular...If your little guy is fine boned, I'd wait until all bones have completely nitted together, and that is about 18 months...My little guy is just over 12 months old, hikes outside and squats on the pad, inside, and doesn't hump the girls (I have two spayed females) or anything else for that matter...If I do get him nuetered, he will be at least 18 months old...I waited to get Apple spayed @12 months, and I'm so happy w/my decision...My little rescue female is somewhere between a year and a year and a half old, and I just had her spayed...

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

I'm one of those spay/neuter late people, and I know not very popular...If your little guy is fine boned, I'd wait until all bones have completely nitted together, and that is about 18 months...My little guy is just over 12 months old, hikes outside and squats on the pad, inside, and doesn't hump the girls (I have two spayed females) or anything else for that matter...If I do get him nuetered, he will be at least 18 months old...I waited to get Apple spayed @12 months, and I'm so happy w/my decision...My little rescue female is somewhere between a year and a year and a half old, and I just had her spayed...

I read somewhere that small dogs growth plates close by 12-14 months for small breeds, 18-20 months for medium breeds and 24 months or up for large breeds like labs, retrievers and giant breeds. Either way, I don't know anything about that as I haven't researched enough but I think you have to do what you feel is right for your dogs!