 | |
Low Weight in Dogs
My three-year-old German shepherd doesn't seem to be able to gain much weight. He's very active, runs around for hours and he always eats all of his food. We even give him double portions, but he stays so thin. Could there be something wrong?
—Ray
Pets, like people, come in different shapes and sizes, Ray. It’s possible that your dog is simply slight in build, especially if you’re feeding him a high-quality nutritionally complete diet and your veterinarian believes he's in good health. A recent study indicated that lean dogs may live longer lives than dogs at heavier weights, so being lean in itself may be a good thing as long as medical problems are ruled out. Overweight and obese pets are prone to diseases such as diabetes, and additional weight adds stress to the musculoskeletal system.
However, if you’re concerned that a health problem may be the cause of your pet's low weight, you may consider a trip to the veterinarian to determine his health status. It's possible that your dog is thin because of a medical condition such as parasites or systemic disease. If your veterinarian believes there is no health problem, but does feel that weight gain is needed, we would recommend that you and your vet discuss your pet's appetite to determine how to best increase his caloric intake.
You can learn more from our article Top 10 Tips for Feeding Your Adult Dog.
Donate Today