Why is my active German Shepherd so lean? Should he gain weight?

Dogs can vary quite a bit in size, even if they are the same breed - so it's more important to look at your dog's body condition to determine if he is under (or over) his ideal weight rather than comparing to averages for the breed. Ideally, you should be able to feel his ribs easily with your hands when you run them down his sides, and he should have a visible "waistline" or abdominal tuck just behind the ribcage. The ribs and hipbones should not be visibly jutting out of his fur, as this would be a sign that he is too thin. If his body condition is normal, I would not recommend increasing his food or trying to make him gain weight, as it's not good for growing dogs to be overweight at this age - it's very hard on their joints and can predispose them to orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia later in life. If you're unsure if he is the correct weight for his size, you're welcome to request a consultation with one of us and share some photos of him - we would be glad to try and help :)

German Shepherds are naturally thin, so it could be she is the correct weight and isn't too skinny. It could also be the diet you are feeding Harley isn't giving her enough calories. If she's very active, she may need a dog food designed for very active dogs to get her additional calories. Finally, she could have a medical problem causing her to be so skinny such as intestinal worms or a malabsorption difficulty. I recommend making a visit with her vet to discuss her weight and what, if anything, needs to be done about it. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

German Shepherds are lanky dogs, especially when they are puppies. Make sure you are feeding him enough and that he is dewormed regularly. If Boe is still abnormaly thin as an adult, then I would worry about something else going on. I would recommend to feed the Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Formula. This is a nice diet with the right calories for a growing puppy. Please post again if you have any further questions!

He does appear a bit light for the breed. Some German Shepherds stay small. However, I suggest you have him examined by your veterinarian who can then tell you whether he is too thin, or normal for his size (he is not fully grown yet), needs more muscling or needs better food for development. THis is only possible with a hands-on exam.

Yes, some dogs are just thin! It is good you noted her stool is normal and that she is eating well. Before I chalk it up to being naturally thin, there are a few things I would want to make sure of including parasites, disease and nutrition. It is always a good idea to rule out parasites with a stool sample to the lab since they can be microscopic. GSD are also prone to a disease that can make it very hard for them to gain weight but typically these dogs have 'greasy' looking stools. There are tests to rule this out. I would also make sure she is on a high protein food- your vet may recommend a prescription working dog food if she is thin to the point of concern. But if all this checks out and she is naturally thin- then I would be glad to have a dog that watches her weight:) I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Keep in mind that you may perceive him as being eating a lot but his caloric intake may not be sufficient for his body weight. This is easily calculated with the following formula: Trooper's body weight (in kilograms [which is his weight in pounds divided by 2.2]) multiplied by 30 plus 70. This total you multiply it by 1.8 and the result would be the amount of calories that he should be eating per day to gain and maintain a healthy body weight. You can always find the caloric intake of the food you are feeding Trooper online. If you have any questions regarding how to calculate his needed caloric intake per day, contact your veterinarian. Good luck and have a great day!

As a breed, German Shepherd‘s tend to be thin dogs and some lines are more thin than others. Continue feeding him a high-quality, high protein diet. I recommend the brand Royal Canin. Be careful with exercise and make sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. Lastly, Colt is not done growing yet. The first year of life is devoted to upward growth and the second year of life is when pets fill out so he is still developing. I hope this helps. You may speak with your veterinarian about sending off a blood sample for analysis to find out if the platelet count is truly abnormal or if any blood parasites or seen. Best of luck.