when is skinny too skinny?

Beth · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:07 am Post subject: when is skinny too skinny?

It may because I have an overweight black lab, but some of the pictures of the weims scare me because they are so thin. I guess my questions are
Is it all metabolism that keeps them thin?
Is it the exorbitant amount of energy they use?
Is it the high quality foods?
and
Are there any overweight weims?

Thanks for the info, I am curious by nature and I guess I just want to know what to look for with such an emaciated looking breed.
Beth Smile

weimdawgs · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:47 am Post subject:

There certainly are overweight weims, but they are normally older and not fed properly.

We got all of Jake's vet records with him and at one point he weighed 117 lbs and was described as morbidly obese. But he was being left in the house alone I think and stealing food. Jake is a food savage. He will eat anything left unattended. He has eaten entire loaves of bread and packs of hot dog and hamburger rolls. John took chicken out of the fridge one night; turned his back for a minute and it was gone.

We now leave NOTHING out.

At least his previous owners were able to get the weight off him. He was 93 lbs when we got him. We had him to the vet last week and he was 99 lbs but he has gained some muscle since he's been with us as he has much more room to move around. I should probably tell you that Jake is a larger than normal weim...way outside the standard.

You should slightly feel a weim's ribs when you run your hand along their ribcage. When you look down on them from above you should see a waistline. They should look strong and healthy and never emaciated.

I can very quickly tell when one of my dogs needs to lose a few pounds by the way they move. Mine almost look awkward with just a few extra pounds. And a weim should never look awkward.

kamfam · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:52 am Post subject:

Well, right now Kam is very thin. We were first off assuming it was because he was an APL rescue and he was being fed crappy food. But it's been almost a month since we have him and about 3 weeks on 8 cups of food per day (to fatten him up) and his stools are still kind of soft so he'll be going to the vet again. Maybe I am overreacting and need to give it more time but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Personally, I think most weims look thin because they have such short fur and they tend to be more narrow at the waist than, say, a lab. But from pictures on weim rescue sights I've seen, yes they can be overweight as well!

Also, I don't think it's uncommon for weims to have bowel issues, well any dog for that matter. It took us about 3 years to get Glacier's food intolerance under control and then it changed again as she aged. Right now she's good (knock on wood!).

I wouldn't worry about it unless you have a reason to. There are so many food choices out there and everyone here has soooo much advice to offer...your pup will be fine and will be in very good hands with you!

Amy

kamfam · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:55 am Post subject:

weimdawgs · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:31 am Post subject:

Yeah, well they look awkward and lanky at a certain age anyway. Especially males. But they normally grow out of that.

Hopefully Kam will start to gain weight and not look so lanky.

Indian · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject:

Well my beast has no weight gaining problem....She is fat for a wiem, Take a look at her pics, She runs and runs...But still is chunky. She's solid muscle now, BUT stocky.

Most wiems are long and lean. From what I've run into anyways.

anne · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject:

THere are definitely overweight Weims and I'd say lots of people keep their Weims too fat.
Who's puppy is that? He looks to be a little too pot-bellied to me, but it might be age or the way he's laying down.

Beth · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:57 pm Post subject:

That's my baby girl, coming from the breeder on Friday. She was 6 1/2 wks old in that pic

jamiekuntz11 · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject:

I always think that Jocko is to thin, but every time we go to the vet they say he is more then perfect. Scott says that once he hits about a year he wont look as thin, but he is also very lenglthy like mom, with big chest like dad!!!

Julie-joe · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:09 am Post subject:

My 4 month old looks really skinny. He was taken to the Vet on friday and the vet said he is perfectly healthy. We also asked the vet how much we should be feeding him and were told 1 cup of food per 10lbs. He's just under 20lbs. so we've been feeding him 1 cup twice a day.

jamiekuntz11 · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:49 am Post subject:

oh very small- i would try a cup 1/2 or feed him 3 tims a day a cup that is what we do with jocko he is 18 weeks and he is about 35- but every pup is differnt, where the parents small?

kamfam · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

Can you post some pictures? Not only would we love to see him, but there are many on here that can give you some good advice (of he's not underweight then you probably don't want to increase his food just yet, he may just be a peanut!).

Welcome to the site!

anne · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:49 pm Post subject:

anne · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject:

Jocko is not too thin. You do NOT want extra weight on any dog, but especially a young growing Weim. It can cause too much stress on the joints. Too many people don't have a concept of what proper weight looks like on a dog. You should be able to feel ribs if you LIGHTLY run your hand down the dog's side. You may even see the last rib or 2. There should be no dimple by the tail and there should be a visible waist when looking from the top.

Indian · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject: