Skinny Puppy?

[Brewster's Mom]

My new dood is 13 weeks today. Last week when I weighed him, he was 25.6 lbs and 17 in. at the shoulder. When I pet him, he seems kinda bony. I can't see his ribs just looking at him, but I can sure feel them when I rub his sides. Also, his neck feels skinny (I can feel all the "bits and parts" in the front) and his hip bones near his rump are bony as well.

Is this normal for a puppy before they fill out as they get older? Or did I get him a little underfed from the breeder? I'll have had him a full week on Sunday. I feed him 3 cups of puppy food plus a tablespoon or two of wet food mixed in as well as lots of training treats (he's doing great with housetraining).

Please give me any advice or encouragement you may have. I'm also going to ask his vet at our appointment on the 21st. Thanks!

[Debbie and Thomas]

Sounds normal weight to me and 3 cups of food plus wet food is good. I think if I remember correctly-my dood was 28 lbs at this age and he is now close to 80 lbs at 10 1/2 mths old. I can still feel his bones. We had a wheaton terrior before and he was solid muscle-so I was also concerned.

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

My puppy (Finn) was 20lbs at 12 weeks so it sounds like Brewster is in good shape weight wise. Finn looked chubby to me until he went in the pool. He looks so skinny wet. He is all fur.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

When Mickey (foster, PM and shelter puppy) he was 18 weeks, 21 lbs (vet said 6 lbs underweight) and app 17". You could SEE his hip bones through all that curly hair he has. He gained 6 lbs in 2 weeks!
Sounds like your puppy is right on track. I have seen many an adult Doodle that is built like a Poodle - thin. Don't worry but if you are concerned, talk to your vet.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Honey weighed 27 to 28 lbs at 6 months, but she is medium sized and stocky built? Hannah was about 24 to 26 lbs at 12wks. and 55 to 60 at 1 year, she is 2 now and still weighs the same, even after spaying. 3 cups of puppy food, some wet food and training treats sounds like a lot of food for a puppy. Are you spliting these meals up, or is this all at one time? Both Hannah and Honey get 1 3/4 cups of dry kibble morning and night (but they are full grown), very little treats. If training they get their favorites and a light morning meal afterwards. Neither one has a weight problem and both are considered right where they should be with weight, and both are very active. Could it be possible Brewster needs to be wormed and his belly is looking fat and the rest of him is skinny because of the worms? I would take along a stool sample?

[Brewster's Mom]

He was wormed at the breeder before we got him and his tummy looks normal. Also no butt dragging or scratching, so I don't think it's that. And yes, the 3 cups is split three times per day and sometimes he leaves a few bites at the end, so it might be slightly less than 3 cups total. He poops two or three times a day, which seems normal to me, and pees fairly frequently. I'm hopeful he'll get a clean bill of health at the vet.

[Brewster's Mom]

Thanks for all the replies, they make me feel better that he is OK and even if a little thin, most likely very healthy. I have to remember that the poodle in him makes him tall and lanky, rather than thick and stocky like a lab.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We nicknamed our Spud ' Narrow ' Before Spud I was used to Labs who cleaned off my counters, emptied the trash and then ate their dog food and still begged for more food. This is new for me too but seems to be common. We attended a dog festival this past weekend and saw several FAT doodles. They do look better thin so I think we should not be worried yet.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Don't mind the floor--it is an area in the garage................
When I finally shaved him down, this is the dog I found underneath. So he has been renamed Narrow

[Brewster's Mom]

Wow, the nickname serves him well! You can definiately see the poodle physique; not at all stocky like a lab. What a cutie! :)

[Debbie and Thomas]

I was just packing and found some info for you in my spice cupboard of all places! At 14 weeks, our GD Thomas weighed 27 lbs. As I said above or is it below(pardon me-I have been packing all night and just took a break to catch up on Emails and Doodlekisses) he now weighs close to 80 lbs. at 10 1/2 mths old. He is just starting to fill out now. So- in closing I would guess that Brewster is also going to be a big boy!!! I have NEVER had a big dog before-always terriors-this is so much fun with our big goofball. Enjoy his smallness now because "look out" he'll grow sooo fast now you won't even believe it.