Is my dog underweight?

[Vesper]

When I got him earlier this year, he was 55 lbs and noticeably fat. I guessed he should weigh closer to 45, which is about where he's at now. I couldn't easily feel his ribs until this month, so I figured he was good... until today, when I sprayed him down to get mud off. He looks so skinny to me, but I'm also used to fat American dogs so I thought you guys would know best.

 

Age: 9

Gender: neutered male

Height: 23 inches

 

Also, according to his medical records he weighed 40 lbs at age 2. Do dogs typically gain weight after 2?

 

[Debbie Meier]

He doesn't look underweight to me. I was expecting to see a more defined back bone and hip bones more prominent based on your post.

[CMP]

If that were a dog I was working, I would probably want to see him lose 3-4-5 pounds.

 

He is definitely not underweight, based on the pictoral evidence.

 

If he's a dog of average activity, I would say he is about exactly right.

[Vesper]

Haha yeah, I definitely have been brainwashed by all the fat labs I see walking around. Good to know he's not underweight (and I feel silly for thinking so).

 

I'm building him up to running condition - should I go ahead and take another couple pounds off? He's not very muscular.

[juliepoudrier]

Wow, lose 5 lbs, really? I think he looks good. My dogs are on the thin side (except the extremely easy keeper retiree), but I certainly don't look at that dog and think "overweight." If you can feel his ribs easily, then he's probably fine.

 

J.

[GentleLake]

Here (again) is the body condition chart that vets use. IMO, border collies, especially young ones, should be on the thin side of moderate.

 

http://vet.osu.edu/v...n-scoring-chart

 

If you can easily feel ribs (that is, without having to push in at all do find them) and the spinal protuberances, your dog is fine.

 

Agreed that from the pictures, he doesn't look overweight. When my boy was younger, you could see ribs when he was soaking wet. Now that he's older ~9, like yours), not so much, but still a faint outline through the wet fur.

[Oko]

He looks plenty thin to me, right around perfect. Would not want him to lose more weight. He does look like he could really stand to gain some muscle though.

[Maralynn]

Looks about right to me, too. You can see the edge of his ribs in the pictures and he is a rough coated dog. Add a little muscle and he should be good.

[Vesper]

Thanks for all the awesome feedback guys. Any tips for gaining muscle? He's pushing 10 and has arthritis (that gets worse in winter) but I'm open to anything. He currently eats a 32% protein kibble with the occasional raw egg. He runs, jumps, and gets walked daily.

[Maralynn]

Is swimming an option? It would be great exercise for him.

[FireFly]

For what the pictures provide, he doesn't look underweight. He looks a-ok to me, weight wise. Losing more weight, might be pushing it.

 

I agree with the others, gaining some muscle, would be beneficial. Swimming is great for older dogs,especially dogs with arthritis. Swimming puts less stress on the joints, it can help built up some muscle, & just great exercise.

[Vesper]

He loves swimming but it's not an option more than a couple times a year. It's already in the 50s here. His arthritis is currently asymptomatic now that he's lost weight and gotten fitter. Should I increase protein? Increase food intake? Will he slowly gain muscle from daily walks and jogs and leaping for frisbees? Thanks again for all input.

[Sekah]

I don't think he'll build any muscle from walks or jogs. Off leash running/hiking will help, as will strength building tricks like beg -> stand up -> beg, and work on a balance ball or peanut.

 

He looks good to me, but with dogs with any coat I find looking at them wetted down isn't terribly helpful. It's all in how they feel, especially along the shoulders and ribs. My girl was ping-ponging between too thin and kind of chunky last winter -- she was too ribby or too soft in the blink of an eye, but developed some really nice muscle over her ribs once I was able to emerge from hibernation. I increased food as well, since muscles won't develop in a calorie deficit.

[juliepoudrier]

If he's arthritic, I'd limit frisbee. That's very hard on joints that are already achey and damaged. You'll just continue to contribute to the changes that are already making him uncomfortable. I agree with Sekah that tricks like sit up, bow, balancing, etc., could help him to gain muscle. I wouldn't increase protein at this point, but rather just try to find some low-impact activities that will help him to become fitter without stressing his joints too much.

 

Long walks where he is trotting steadily could help. For strength and stamina, trotting over distances is the best exercise.

 

J.

[Alchemist]

Second the off-leash hikes - a great activity for dogs (assuming his recall is good, especially if you're likely to encounter deer). My dogs like to swim but it's too cold in the winter. I do, however, have an indoor, heated pool (designed specifically for dogs) that's only half a mile from my house. Great exercise when the weather just doesn't allow for hiking.

 

Also second the limiting frisbee and fetch (except in the water, and be careful of water intoxication).

 

If he's arthritic, have you considered Adequan? It doesn't cost an arm and a leg if you learn to give the injections yourself.