I am wondering if my 5 month old male GSD is too thin. at 4 months he weighed 35 lbs. He looks thin and you can feel his ribs when petting him. I feed him Canidae Dog food, twice daily, 1 1/2 cups per feeding. Should I be feeding him more?

Thanks!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Yes.

My almost 6 month old male pup gets 1 cup of Canidae twice a day, and is lean but I wouldn't call him thin. You should be able to feel the ribs but not necessary see them unless the dog is moving. Pounds probably depends a great deal on size (height and length) rather than just age.

I was told to monitor the pups weight on a daily/weekly basis and adjust the food accordingly. The same age pups can have completely different metabolisms and need more food to maintain the same weight. My last male adult shepherd required about 3.5 to 4 cups a day of Canidae to not look too thin, whereas my female (easy keeper) only has about 1 cup a day and could still stand to lose a few pounds.

I wouldn't worry too much about quantity of food at this point. Feed what you need to get him to an ideal weight, he could be going through a growth spurt and you may need to cut back later on.

I would up his food, monitor his activity (to see if perhaps he is burning everything he is eating), get a stool sample to rule out worms and see if he gains any weight. If not, then bloodwork may be in order to see if their is an underlying cause.

Take care.
Linda

I have that same ? for my puppy. He is also 5 months old on the 1st. He gets 2 cups twice a day plus one raw egg with his evening meal. My wife says he is to thin but I think he is perfect. Can see his ribs and feel his back bone and hips, he is a sable which I think also makes him look thin.

what is the raw egg for? I'm always looking for healthy things to add to my Mikko's diet.

my 5 month old pup is only about 45-50 lbs and kinda on the smaller side, but he is a little tank. he eats about 1.5 cups in the am and 1.5 to 2 cups in the pm.

i know if some dogs that only eat this much at maturity, just depends on the kind of food and metabolism of the dog/puppy

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my 5 month old pup is only about 45-50 lbs and kinda on the smaller side, but he is a little tank. he eats about 1.5 cups in the am and 1.5 to 2 cups in the pm.

i know if some dogs that only eat this much at maturity, just depends on the kind of food and metabolism of the dog/puppy

That would be my boy, he was 65.5lbs at a year old, he may have gained weight since then, he's almost 14 months now. He won't eat more than he has to.

Mike,
You say your male is 14 months and 65 lbs.? Would you happen to have a pic?
My male Golden is 90 lbs. at 2 years old. I guess I didnt realize how big her was. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Thanks,
Vicki

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Mike,
You say your male is 14 months and 65 lbs.? Would you happen to have a pic?
My male Golden is 90 lbs. at 2 years old. I guess I didnt realize how big her was. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Thanks,
Vicki

You've got mail - tried to select some pics that showed his physique the best, he's lean, but he's healthy, so I assume he's just not the biggest example of a GSD out there, he'll most likely fill out a bit as he matures.

My male is 15 months old and weighs 105 pounds...i think i bought a shetland pony...better get a DNA test done to find out...my female is 4 years old and weighs 83 pounds....and i have told that she is to thin by alot of people but the vet saying she is in perfect shape.....you can barely see some ribs and i guess that is why people think she in under weight....