Question: Our dog wont gain weight?

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Answer #1:

before you start trying to add weight to her, she should go to the vet and see if he thinks she is underweight. you may not be feeding her a high enough protein dog food or she may have a medical problem which is preventing her from gaining weight. a full blood work up should also be done to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong with her.

How to tell if your dog is underweight or overweight:

First, look at them from above - you should be able to see a "waist" between the ribcage and the hips. Now look from the side. Dogs should have a "tuck up" in their lower abdomen. In the pictures the top dog appears to be in good condition, the bottom dog is too heavy.

Protruding ribs or hip bones indicate a dog who is too thin.

Now lightly rest your hands, fingertips together, over your dog's ribcage on either side of his body and move your hands back and forth (head to tail and back) a couple times - you should be able to feel his rib cage under a thin layer of padding, without probing for it. Do the same test on his back at the base of his tail - the pelvis shouldn't protrude sharply but you should be able to feel it.

Overweight and underweight dogs are both at greater risk for health problems - if you think your dog may be too fat or too thin, consult with your veterinarian.

Answer #2:

My first guess would be worms. You should have her checked out for those. I'd also suggest checking the food. Is it full of fillers like corn and soy? Consider getting a higher quality dog food where some kind of identified meat is the main ingredient, contains no corn, and contains a minimal amount of grain.





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