Skinny Australian Labradoodle

[Joanie]

Hi everyone :)  I'm a little concerned about my Lani girl and I want to know your opinions and experiences.  So my Lani is four years old and completely healthy, outgoing, loving, and very very active.  Recently my husband and I changed up our babies diet so they eat more of an all natural diet.  They eat Honest Kitchen in the morning for breakfast and at night my husband makes them dinner consisting of meat, veggies, coconut oil, brown rice and pumpkin.  Lani has ALWAYS been on the small side.  Everyone always says she's more poodley than she is Labrador.  At her most she weighed 30 pounds, last time I took her to the vet she was 27 and I think that's only because we changed up her diet.  We've since readjusted and she has been on a pound or two.  She eats twice a day and during the day I constantly supplement with fresh veggies or meat as a snack.  Here is a picture of her taken yesterday.  What are your thoughts?  Is she too skinny?  On a side note she did just have a hair cut so her hair is really short.

[Joanie]

Ok here's a top view of Lani. Thoughts?

[Joanie]

And this...

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I think she looks great- nice and trim. Winnie looks a lot like that when her hair is short. Like others have said- more "poodley."

[Stella]

She looks more like a poodle, I wouldn't worry. As a good guide, it should feel like there is pretty much just skin over her last couple of ribs - this would indicate perfect body condition. I am a canine rehabilitation practitioner, and in a recent blog I talked about the fact that most dogs these days are overweight; and that if you are told or are worrying that your dog is too skinny, it probably means they are just right!

This is the guide most vets use, with them accepting a 5 as a healthy body condition. Most rehab professionals prefer to see a 4.

http://research.unc.edu/files/2012/11/CCM3_032387.pdf

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

She looks quite like Roo, who is more poodley than Tigger.  Both dogs are the same height, weight and length, always weigh around 50 pounds, but Roo looks skinny after his grooming, Tigger does not.

[Joanie]

Thank you :) i feel better now lol like my husband says she looks more poodley when her hair is cut and more doodley when her hair is long

[Lynda Kamrath]

She looks fine to me, just poodley.  Do her ribs and hip bones stick out?  That is a better way to tell if she is "skinny".  If she seems hungry feed her more, but twice a day should be plenty.  She is still young, so she may just be using all that energy.