Gaining Healthy Weight

[robertlopez]

We've had our 1.5 year old adopted boxer, Samson, for 2 months now. He is healthy, seen a vet, up to date on all shots. However, he did come home slightly under weight and with a case of kennel cough. He has put on a few pounds since we have had him. He no longer looks too thin. But rather slender. His kennel cough has cleared up and he is eating well. We have been feeding him puppy food with high protein. We figured puppy would have more fat. Besides that, I was wondering if there were any tips on bulking him up further, and getting him up to "par" with his name....SAMSON ??

Thanks in advance!

 

[gmacleod]

I think that the best thing you can do for him is just to give him time You've got an adolescent boxer there, and in this breed, that often means a bit lanky (in some cases, outright skinny - though it doesn't sound so in your guy's case). Boxers generally finish growing skeletally (height) by around 12-14 months or so - so at 18 months, your guy should have finished with that and his growth plates should now be hardening (if not fully hardened already). But the filling out stage, development of full adult musculation will take a bit longer - it's rarely complete in this breed before 2 years of age, and very often not until 3 years!

That's a long way round for saying that it's quite normal for your dog to be slender at this age - and, as long as he's not outright skinny, there is nothing you can or should do about that except just let him fill out in his own good time At correct weight, incidentally, you should always be able to see the outline of the last couple of sets of ribs on a boxer. If those ever disappear, the dog is actually on the fat side - so worth keeping an eye on that as he matures

 

[Sansal]

Instead of the puppy food I would feed a high quality adult or all life stages food. At 1.5 years old there is really no need for puppy food anymore. If you are looking for a food that is high in protein there are a few very good ones out there that are grain free and high in protein. Evo, Orijen and Taste of the wild for example. Check out Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble.

 

[robertlopez]

Thanks both of you! Naturally, I've heard of the various methods "general dog owners" use to "bulk up" their dogs...however, it wasnt what I was looking for.

I appreciate THIS boxer-specific, healthy advice & info about doing so. He is slender but oh so healthy. And the comments about him being "young" and "filling out" are right on the money. It all makes sense. Makes us feel a lot better. And yes, ribs WERE protruding when we got him, but now they are only healthily visible. (good tip)

Thanks again!
- Robert's wife, Samson's Mom

 

[robertlopez]

Oh, and will definitely start transfering him into the right ADULT food also.