Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:27 am Post subject: Doesn't finish meals (side picture added)
Koli was told just over a week ago that he needs to eat more as he was a bit underweight so the vet told us to do the recommended weight of food then add some on top.
Took him for weigh-in yesterday and he had put on weight but they said they can still feel his ribs (he looks fine to me) and to carry on with the over-amount until after Christmas and they will weigh him again.
Problem is, he isn't finishing his meals, very unlike a lab. He eats and then walks off and plays. It is now 11:25am and his next meal is due at 11:30 and he still has some of his first meal left in his bowl.
He doesn't look thin, is very playful and active and bright eyed so should I be worried we can feel his ribs (not massively, just a bit) or is the vet being over cautious?
Thanks
Karen x
Last edited by razamakaz on Sun Dec 18, 2011 1:37 pm; edited 1 time in total
____________ Nala, Yellow Lab 2000-2008 (RIP)
Nero, Black Lab 2002 - 2011 (RIP)
Koli, Black Lab 2011
When Toby was Koli's age he went through a similar phase of totally un-lablike eating. I decided he was bored with JWB and mixed a tiny bit of Winalot tuna food in with each meal (really mixed it round well so it coated all the food) which he then ate with gusto!
That worked brilliantly for about a month and then he got a bug (probably from drinking puddles) which necessitated a trip to the vets - injection and antibiotics as well as that £2 a tin food that's easy on their tums. he lost a lot of weight while he had the trots/was vominiting.
Since he recovered he just been on the JWB junior without any extra ingredients and he wolfs it down.
Someone else will be along in a minute but IIRC it doesn't matter if pups are on the thin side as long as they are normal every other way. Toby is filling out nicely now.
HTH
Liz n Toby
____________ Liz and Toby the black lab pup.
Honey - the best dog in the world! 2001-2011
Run free baby dog.
Luna was always rather than a thin pup when Koli's age. She too would leave food unfinished. I was feeding her the recommended amount but she was deciding what was the right amount IMO now - with hindsight. She gained weight rapidly after about 6/7months old - too much weight.
There is nothing wrong with being able to feel a pup's ribs - I think there is something wrong if you can easily see their ribs or if you can not even figure out where their ribs are with deep pokes.
I would lift up the food he doesn't eat - pour it into a container to use as training treats or if an awful lot of food accumulates use it to help figure out what he needs to eat as he grows.
Unusual for a vet to say put weight ON a fit, well, healthy lab puppy! Is he gaining about up to a kg a week-ish?
You SHOULD be able to feel a dogs ribs!, thats what indicates its not overweight, if you can SEE the ribs thats a different matter, that would of course indicate the dog is underweight (depending on breed, dogs like greyhounds/whippets, will usually have visible ribs).
It sounds as though Koli knows how much he wants and is eating that and no more, can you post a pic of him standing, preferably so we can see him from the side to get an idea of whether he looks thin or just right?
I know that won`t be easy with a 12 week old pup, they don`t stay still long enough usually
Also, is Koli working or show bred?, that will make a difference to whether he`s a slimline or chunky pup
If he's fit and active then I'd simply cut down on the amount you give. A thin dog is far healthier than a fat one. If you are feeding the recommended amount then the chances are that you are feeding far too much.
OK thanks. He comes from working/show dogs - I'm not that au fait with all that sort of thing but our breeder has lots of dogs for working and showing. His mum was very small/slim and his dad was quite chunky and tall.
Going to try and get a side pic for you but I have put up a video of him which may show what you want to see. (See my other posts)
Oh, and weight wise, last week he was 4.25 and this week he was 6.36.
____________ Nala, Yellow Lab 2000-2008 (RIP)
Nero, Black Lab 2002 - 2011 (RIP)
Koli, Black Lab 2011
Koli looks just fine to me in that pic, no sign of any ribs and as he has working lines in him he should be on the slimmer side anyway, show bred pups tend to be more chunky looking.
Personally I wouldn`t be worrying about what the vet says, next thing is they`ll be telling you he`s overweight and saying you need what they sell to get his weight down!.
I have to say his weight does seem a little low for his age but looking at him he`s a small pup anyway so that would account for that.
You should be able to feel a dogs ribs, if you can't then they are overweight!! It is also ok to be able to see a dogs ribs when they are twisting and turning or stretched out so I shouldn't worry!!
Your chap is obviously going to take after his mother and the working lines that are running through! His weight is very similar to my friends working pup at the same age.
He's not finishing the food because he is full up, Murphy my boy used to do this when he was very young (I realise now it was because I was guessing how much food he needed rather than weighing it and I was giving him far too much!!)
As it goes, it doesn't hurt a pup to be slim - I'd rather them be so, much better for the developing joints!!
Hogan was exactly the same, he was fed on skinners puppy food. He was never really bothered about his food in general at the start and would happily walk away from his food half finished. Both breeder and vet said not to worry, as long as he's eating and happy he will take what he needs. We dropped the 4th feed early and fed him 3 times a day. He started eating more and more gradually.
Xx
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