Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
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This leads me to a question. Should seeing a rib or two have to do with the age of the dog or pup? I can see having the ribs show in an adult fully developed dog, but how about a still developing pup/dog?
I ask cause my concern is that at Lear's age of 17 mos it seems that if I let his ribs show, even one or two, he may not be getting all the nutrition necessary for a still growing and developing structure and bones, etc. Bottom line, I do like to feel his ribs but I'm concerned that if I feed him less in order to see the last rib in his back, that he may not be getting the nutrition he needs, like enough calcium, etc, to allow his bones to continue to develop and get strong.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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At that same nutrition seminar, the vet (specialty: nutrition) said that his own personal opinion was that a tiny bit of leniency might be OK with growing puppies. But "roly-poly" was a horrible term to him.
His opinion was that if you could easly FEEL all a puppy's ribs, the puppy was probably OK. There were people there who were not raw feeders, and he was accounting for the growth spurts and then temporary stopping that can be so frequent with kibble pups, and therefore maybe difficult to keep the BMI at optimal level.
But he said "All dogs are better off slender and trim."
This is strictly reporting what I heard, because I do not have puppy experience, and virtually all my reading, research, seminars attended, etc., have been adult-dog oriented.
Maybe Cindy or another puppy-savvy person will see this and comment.
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
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Sandy, personally, my pups have all been raised thin, meaning they show a rib when not working and you can see ribs when they are running. working and playing.
I have never had any issues with bringing them up this way. As pups I go by the raw guidelines recommended for feeding puppies, if I think they are too fat I back off a bit or vice versa.
As long as Lear is healthy and happy and is not having issues with anything, I think you are good.
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Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Quote: Carol Boche
Sandy, personally, my pups have all been raised thin, meaning they show a rib when not working and you can see ribs when they are running. working and playing.
That is a very good visual.
I see lots of pickle-shaped dogs that the owners don't realize are overweight.... the more that leanness can be described with simple visual cues, the better.
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
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Thanks Connie and Carol. I won't worry so much about it then. I keep vigil on his weight and have had to either up his amount of food or (more often) lower it, depending. He has a wonderful tummy tuck when viewed from the side, and from the top view there's a clear and good indention where his loins go in, but since his chest is deep but somewhat narrow, I was never sure if the top view of the loins was indented enough. His loins do feel like they're all muscle, no fat. He is healthy and energetic and athletic and happy (albeit bored sometimes) so he's probably fine. I can feel his ribs and also a bit of his spine toward the hindquarters.
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Re: I want my dog to be fat....
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