Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:30 pm Post subject: Skinny pup -help!
Alfie is 12 weeks old, and putting on about half a kilo a week. He weighs just over 6kg and seems very weenie and skinny. Our previous lab, Simba, piled on the weight at this age, but then he developed hip displasia.
We've been feeding Alfie Burns minibites. I phoned their helpline and asked if I should increase the amount of food, but was told to stick to 20g per kilo daily. We actually give him 150g, not their suggested 120g. I asked about giving Alfie canine extra, but they didn't recommend this as they do not consider labs to be large breed dogs.
I've seen mention here of pups struggling to put on weight with minibites, and really need advice....should we stick with the minibites, give more, or supplement with canine extra or high energy lamb?
Are you able to post a picture of Alfie, I know Vicky had problems getting Ruby to put weight on, she`s predominantly working bred, this could be the same thing with Alfie.
Hopefully Vicky will see this post, or you could PM her and ask how she overcame it.
What breeding has Alfie got, is he show or work or a mix?
Ignore his weight for a minute. Does he come from field lines or show lines, a field lab will be smaller. when you look at him does he look under nourished, is his tummy tucked up, do his ribs show through?
You should be able to feel his ribs but not see them sticking out. If he is drinking, eating, weeing and pooing, and has plenty of energy he's mre than likely fine, they come in all shapes and sizes.
My boy Jet was, and still is a little boy, but he's in excellent health and has an almost entirely field line backgground. He used to worry me half to death as a pup because he weighed so little but he's fine.
I believe Vickys' Ruby is also a little lab who has always been on the light side too.
If you find he's not doing well on his present food try one of the others, I know a lot on here feed James wellbeloved, just remember to change him over to the new food over at least a week.
I'm here Well tbh the only thing that worked with Ruby was time and spaying her - she was 18kg when she was spayed at 18 months in march and is now about 21-22kg - you can see in my album how skinny she was as a pup. OK I love burns but tbh I can kind of see that it may not be the right kind of puppy food for lean labs. I stuck with Burns and Ruby hasnt suffered at all and tbh as she is from non health checked parents (never again btw) I was happier that she was lean. I used to back her food up with treats of a high fat value - cheese etc etc
But I must say 12 weeks - 6 kilos? Ruby was 7kg at 12weeks. Will he eat more? I personally would up it and see what happens - add a little more and see what he gains - you will find that if you are putting too much in he will get loose poos so you will know when you are feeding too much.
I personally would be rather worried if one of my pups weighed so little at 12 weeks old, even if it was field bred.
I can only say what "I" would do here .....I wouldn't feed Burns at all in this instance ( I'm not saying I wouldn't ever feed Burns, just that I wouldn't in this instance ).
I would swap him over to a higher fat, higher protein complete food, at least until he was a more normal weight.
I can't really understand why if you feed more Burns it makes their bowels loose, as I have never found this with any other types of food, but then I've only just started feeding purely dried food (I was a meat and biscuit girl for years and you can feed bucket loads of that without a problem ).
I don't think Burns works for all Labs....just as all foods don't suit all dogs. You just have to experiment a bit to get it right.
I can't really understand why if you feed more Burns it makes their bowels loose, as I have never found this with any other types of food, but then I've only just started feeding purely dried food (I was a meat and biscuit girl for years and you can feed bucket loads of that without a problem ).
I have always been informed that looses motions can indicate too much food? no? yes?
I have always been informed that looses motions can indicate too much food? no? yes?
Too much dried food maybe....but I've fed bucket loads of raw tripe and chicken, eggs, Goats milk, all with mixer biscuits before, with no ill effect at all.
I'm wondering if it is down to digestability... ...Maybe dried food is harder to digest, whereas raw meat is what a dogs digestive system is geared for.
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I'm here 
Well tbh the only thing that worked with Ruby was time and spaying her - she was 18kg when she was spayed at 18 months in march and is now about 21-22kg - you can see in my album how skinny she was as a pup. OK I love burns but tbh I can kind of see that it may not be the right kind of puppy food for lean labs. I stuck with Burns and Ruby hasnt suffered at all and tbh as she is from non health checked parents (never again btw) I was happier that she was lean. I used to back her food up with treats of a high fat value - cheese etc etc
