OK I am sure there is a post on this subject but I can't find it.
So my question. I just changed my dogs diets to raw. I love it . my dogs love it but I have one dog that seems to be losing way to much weight
She is a 10 month old mal who does run around a lot. We just switched about three weeks ago. They get chicken feet, breast, backs, necks. As there constant food. ( plus salmon oil vit e and some joint suplements I also add fish and some veggies. My girl food quantities would be based on the sample diet posted here for the 90 Lbs.male and she is soooo skinny. Her muscles are huge incredibly well defined but her hip bones are sticking out more than they used to any ideas???

Forgot to say that for diversity they get lamb now also. I get the whole animal so I cut it up so it is in manageable pieces. And the poo is good. Maybe a bit more than I was expecting. They still might be adjusting ?

puppies & young dogs as well are VERY active dogs need more to eat than what you would feed an adult dog. So if you are figuring the food ration based on a 90 lb adult dog you would need to add additional food for a 10 month old pup.

So as not to feed too much at one or 2 meals...add an additional meal. I feed pups until 6 months or so 3 meals a day & then go to 2. But will add a bed time or mid day meal to a dog that needs to put on some more wight....more then just adding a bit more food at the existing meals. Especially during the cold winter months...when my dogs are still outside a lot & burn more calories or when in heavy training.

Each dog processes food differently....some need a bit more food or less then that average. You need to take each dog as an individual & use the basic ratios as a general guide & adjust accordingly for each dog.

If a few weeks of adding more food doesn't increase the dogs wight upwards..I would considering consulting your vet for an exam & some blood work. GSDs are prone to EPI & their are other medical conditions that can cause wight loss...so I would assume that it might also be true for mals.

Forgot to add....if you are feeding raw...remember that you need to keep the bone to muscle ratio in mind when adding more than just a very small bit more of muscle meat to the meal. Also increase meal size slowly or it can trigger a bout of the 'runs'. Especially in younger dogs.

I've always determined if my dogs/pups need more or less food based on looks and hands on rather then following a set menu.

A Mal pup can be wilder then a March hare so looking at How much it should be fed based on a menu should be more of a starting point.

The stool can also be a big help. To loose and possibly to much food, the wrong food or the dog just hasn't adjusted to the menu.


One of my GSDs has EPI. Almost 80% of dogs with EPI are GSDs but it''s not impossible for other breeds.

Loose, runny ,light colored, smelly stools and stool eating are possible signs.

Thanks.
I would highly doubt that it is epi because she was good on dry food. She is nowhere near 90 lbs but she is on the thin side so I wanted to approx the food so I could give you guys an idea of how much I am feeding her. Her adult weight would be closer to 65 lbs. I read somewhere that it takes about two weeks to start to see a difference . and that first they loose weight could this be that case ???

At 10 months old she probably hasn't got her adult height much less her adult weight.

Was she this thin when she was on kibble?

Another issue would be how often she is fed.

As mentioned by others above, to much food can create issues.

My other GSD has to be fed small meals or he gets the runs.

That works out though because I feed the EPI dog three times a day so that makes it easier feeding the other dog.

When she was on kibble she was fat. So I increased the exercise and she got down to a good weight. Then I decided to do the raw diet. I am feeding her twice a day seems to be better. Hopefully I will see a difference soon. She is has built up her muscles though I am beginning to see that so maybe she will put on some more weight soon with the feeding twice dayly. Her coat is beautiful nice and shiny and her color is getting richer.

Sounds like it's just a matter of more food and/or a better balanced raw diet.

I am working on it. She seems to do better on two meals