Need to fatten him up!
- Thread starter Odla
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How many sets of ribs are you seeing? You should be able to clearly see the last couple of sets, and on many pups you can see more. This is NOT unhealthy. Overweight is unhealthy, and far FAR more likely to do damage to a pup than being a little underweight.
If you can clearly see all ribs, then he's a little underweight (but certainly not problematically so). If you've got hipbones and vertebrae prominant as well, then it's a bit more of a concern. I'd be cautious about trying too hard to fatten him up though. In many cases, this is just how some pups grow - they put all their energy into growing upward as quickly as possible and simply will not fill out until all that upward growth is done. Feeding more just accelerates the upward growth, and that can be damaging.
If you really are at the point of prominant hip bones and vertabra though, then adding healthy protein into his diet in the form of fresh lean meat, fish, the occassional egg or canned fish (actually, these are all good healthy things for her to have in her diet anyway
). I'd just be wary of increasing the overall amount of food by a great margin over guidelines. Overfeeding won't do her any favours, whilst being lean will.
If you can clearly see all ribs, then he's a little underweight (but certainly not problematically so). If you've got hipbones and vertebrae prominant as well, then it's a bit more of a concern. I'd be cautious about trying too hard to fatten him up though. In many cases, this is just how some pups grow - they put all their energy into growing upward as quickly as possible and simply will not fill out until all that upward growth is done. Feeding more just accelerates the upward growth, and that can be damaging.
If you really are at the point of prominant hip bones and vertabra though, then adding healthy protein into his diet in the form of fresh lean meat, fish, the occassional egg or canned fish (actually, these are all good healthy things for her to have in her diet anyway
). I'd just be wary of increasing the overall amount of food by a great margin over guidelines. Overfeeding won't do her any favours, whilst being lean will.
Odla
Boxer Pal
well i can see his spine in certain positions. if he is just standing there i can see his hips. i will try and post a picture for you to get an idea as soon as i get home from work.
he eats at 7am 1pm and 7pm again. im feeding him nutro
but incase he needs some extra meat then buy some chicken and boil it?
or would tuna work?
he eats at 7am 1pm and 7pm again. im feeding him nutro
but incase he needs some extra meat then buy some chicken and boil it?
or would tuna work?
Yes, boiled chicken would be very good. Turkey or lean beef also. Well, any meat really, as long as it's not too fatty.
With canned fish, small oily ones such as sardines or mackeral are better than tuna. The problem with tuna is that it's a big fish and has a lot of mercury build up - even people are advised not to eat large quantities, and our body mass is much larger than a dog's (especially a puppy). Little bits won't hurt, but generally it's better to use the smaller fish if you can.
With canned fish, small oily ones such as sardines or mackeral are better than tuna. The problem with tuna is that it's a big fish and has a lot of mercury build up - even people are advised not to eat large quantities, and our body mass is much larger than a dog's (especially a puppy). Little bits won't hurt, but generally it's better to use the smaller fish if you can.
Ah.. there's nothing so cute as a boxer puppy
He's on the thin side, indeed - but it's not drastic. There are hundreds (actually more like thousands) of threads on these forums from worried boxer 'parents' about their skinny puppies. And the fact just is that this is how a great many pups of this breed grow. OK, we don't really want to see hip bones and vertebrae, but we do certainly want to see ribs (and lots of people panic over seeing ribs - no matter how much they'd like to rediscover their own! LOL).
Your guy could stand to have a little bit more meat on his ribs (or on his hips), but again - it's not drastic. I'd suggest increasing his food a little bit above what he's getting now, including the meat and eggs sorts of extras. If he was thin due to needing a little more food - that will fix it. But don't be too disappointed if it makes no appreciable difference. As mentioned, a LOT of boxer puppies are ribby like this. And those who are usually remain ribby until around 2 years old. It's not that they're underfed at all - just that they have fairly high metabolisms and put all their energy into growing upward. Once that's finished, then they start to fill outward to match. And there's not a lot that can be done to influence that.
He's on the thin side, indeed - but it's not drastic. There are hundreds (actually more like thousands) of threads on these forums from worried boxer 'parents' about their skinny puppies. And the fact just is that this is how a great many pups of this breed grow. OK, we don't really want to see hip bones and vertebrae, but we do certainly want to see ribs (and lots of people panic over seeing ribs - no matter how much they'd like to rediscover their own! LOL).
Your guy could stand to have a little bit more meat on his ribs (or on his hips), but again - it's not drastic. I'd suggest increasing his food a little bit above what he's getting now, including the meat and eggs sorts of extras. If he was thin due to needing a little more food - that will fix it. But don't be too disappointed if it makes no appreciable difference. As mentioned, a LOT of boxer puppies are ribby like this. And those who are usually remain ribby until around 2 years old. It's not that they're underfed at all - just that they have fairly high metabolisms and put all their energy into growing upward. Once that's finished, then they start to fill outward to match. And there's not a lot that can be done to influence that.
He is a bit thin, but it's not something to be really concerned about. Unless it is Nutro Ultra that you are feeding, you might want to try feeding a little better food. You might want to try Canidae or Innova. They are both good foods and you probably won't find them much more expensive as you will need to feed less of them. You might want to check out www.dogfoodanalysis.com for some reviews on food.
Your pup is very cute!
Good luck!
Your pup is very cute!
Good luck!
Blankenship
Boxer Buddy
Hi there,
I too was worried with my boxer pup that he was too skinny...cause i could see the ribs. He was about the same age...when i was worrying about it too. As my pup got a bit older..he is now 15 weeks...,he is starting too fill out more..and is not too ribby. He looked almost exactly like your pup pictures. I think your pup will be fine...and grow into his little body..just give him a little time.
good luck...
I too was worried with my boxer pup that he was too skinny...cause i could see the ribs. He was about the same age...when i was worrying about it too. As my pup got a bit older..he is now 15 weeks...,he is starting too fill out more..and is not too ribby. He looked almost exactly like your pup pictures. I think your pup will be fine...and grow into his little body..just give him a little time.
good luck...
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