Is my puppy to skinny???

[peachesbelk]

I think my boxer puppy "General Lee" is to skinny. He eats fine and doesn't act like he is sick or anything. He runs and plays like a normal pup would. He has just had his second shots and has been wormed. Is it normal for a boxer puppy to be a little "ribby"? I can see his hipbones though not real bad. We have had him for a month and he is getting taller quick but doesn't seem to be getting wider. I have another boxer also but, she was 2 when I adopted her so I don't know what a boxer pup should look like. He is almost 11 weeks and weighs about 14lbs. Should I worry?

 

[mancin]

I wouldn't be worried. Boxer pups are known to be skinny. Tyson was very skinny when I got him. He's been putting on weight, but you can still see his ribs at a certain angle. If you are really worried, ask the vet, but as long as he's eating well and acting fine, you probably have nothing to worry about.

 

[gmacleod]

His weight sounds OK. Boxer puppies tend to come in two "types" - the ones who grow upward very quickly and are very ribby as a result (they're often very energetic pups, but all the food they consume goes into growing taller and in outright energy needs); and the second 'type' are those that grow in a more equitable way (meaning upward and outward at the same rate). Those pups get taller more slowly (of course - they're growing outward as well as upward), are typically heavier, less energetic and sleep a lot. Both are perfectly normal boxer puppies and it sounds as though your boy is in the first category. In that case, he'll probably be ribby until at least 18 months or so, when he's finished growing upward and starts to put his energy into filling out

If you do a search of previous threads here, you'll find literally hundreds of similar queries from people who've been concerned about their puppy's weight and being able to see their ribs. But it's normal

Puppies also tend to grow in spurts, and their nutritional needs vary accordingly. So you might find you go through periods where your pups is constantly hungry, and others where he just isn't interested in food. If you think your boy is on the thin side and he WILL eat more food, then (within reason) it makes sense to give him more when his body needs it. Just don't worry if sometimes he isn't interested.

 

[victore1123]

I wouldn't be worried. I was told by my vet that on boxer's, one should be able to feel and often times see (but obviously not in a grotesque way) the last two or three of their ribs. He also told me not to feed my pup too much because it isn't healthy for them to grow too fast.

 

[Lizzie]

I wouldn't worry too much at this point as your pup will be growing so quickly and the weight when it does go on doesn't always 'disperse evenly' so to speak. My Monty is a case in point - he grew upwards very quickly and at times it looked like he was being starved even though he was eating like a horse. Diva on the other hand seemed to grow up and out in better proportion, but my two dogs are completely different shapes to one another.

 

[Shanz]

well, if youve been to the vet with him and s/he hasnt commented on its weight, hes probably fine. Cinnamon was ribby when we first got her (at 8 weeks) you could count all her ribs but shes growing into herself...still has lots of extra skin to grow into though. Shes now i believe 15 weeks (born july 31) and her ribs are less visible but still visible and shes been to the vets 4 times since we got her and they havent been at all worried.

 

[BeckyNC]

I wouldn't worry at all! My girl is just shy of 2 years, and is basically full-grown. She is very ribby still! The vet says she looks great. I think she's a skinny girl, but let me tell you, she has a great appetite!

I read on BW that only three ribs should be visible in a full-grown Boxer (don't know it that's accurate), but it's possible to see six of Tae's ribs! Again, the vet says she looks good and she eats well, so I don't worry too much.