Helping Toffee gain weight.

[Toffee]

When I adopted Toffee from my local humane society 7 weeks ago she was incredibly malnourished. You could clearly see her hip bones, spine, and ribs. The vet weighed her in at barely 45 pounds. I've had her on a local dog food brand with no grain and high protein. I give her 4 cups of food a day, two in the morning and two in the evening. So far she's gained about 5-8 pounds and you can just see the faint outline of her ribs and the end of her spine. The vet said she should weigh 55 pounds to be healthy since she's on the small side. I don't want her to be overweight, but I do want her to be well-fed. As Toffee is my first boxer, I'm not sure what a healthy boxer looks like in the body. Help?

Toffee when I first brought her home:
http://i44.tinypic.com/5a8wl.jpg

Toffee as of today:
http://i42.tinypic.com/2hy9zyu.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/35ce5j5.jpg

 

[Gatorblu]

Thank you for rescuing that sweet looking girl! You should see the last rib or two on a boxer. From the picture you posted I can see four, so a few more pounds would do her some good. She is a cutie, and congrats on your fur baby!

 

[Roge]

First of all well done Toffee has really improved from coming into your care and looks quite healthy, did your vet give you any idea of her age as i think that Boxers dont really fill out until they are about 2 yrs they seem to be all legs and paws until then, Roge will be 4 in january and he has stayed at 80lbs for the past year you cant see his ribs but if you run your hand over him you can feel them and his vet says ,in her words "A fine big fella" he has huge paws and quite a wide chest. If I were you id go on the advise of your vet .

 

[SherylM]

Toffee looks like my Lucy, all ribs and hip. Every once in a while I mix up a batch of satin balls for her. She loves them and they are full of calories. Just google satin balls for the recipe.

 

[Toffee]

Thank you all for your input. Her age is definitely shaky. First, I was told by the humane society that she was 8 months old. Then the vet under the humane society told me that she was 2 years old. My vet told me that she's closer to 14-16 months old. I go with my vet and say she's 16 months old.