My dog has a low appetite. Is he too skinny for his active lifestyle?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Being lean is not always a concern. A good body condition is based on muscle mass and palpation of the body, not a number on a scale. You should be able to feel her ribs while standing without pushing hard and she should have an hour glass waist from the sides and top of her body. She should also have good muscle definition in her chest and limbs. Make sure you are feeding what the bag of food says for her daily amount based on her weight. Make sure your vet tests for intestinal parasites so they are not consuming her calories. I hope this helps! Kisses to Soska!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Axel. He does not appear to be under weight based on the picture that you have attached. A dog should have a very thin covering over the ribs where you can see the last couple. He should have a defined waist from both the top and side views. However, if he is very active you can considering transitioning him to a performance diet such as Purina ProPlan Sport. It will contain more calories per cup. I hope this information helps!

No he's perfect. We are getting used to many dogs and cats being fat. His coat is shiny, he has a good waist and there is plenty of muscle over his spine. It does sound like he poops more than normal. I would try a higher calorie food. There may be excessive fiber in the food you are feeding causing that much poop. Gradually mix the new food with the old one over a week or so to prevent stomach upset. I'm pleased to see such a fit, active dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Blue.

Based on the photos e does not appear under weight. Most dogs are over weight so in comparison the fit dogs actually look thin For him to stay the same weight as he is you an feed 1.5 cups of food twice a day and still mix in the canned food he likes, about 1/4-1/3 a can at a time. If he does not finish the meal the. You may have to divide it into 3-4 feedings a day to get him to eat enough. If he is very active and he is using all these calories the. You can increase it. If he gets too. Big then decrease the canned food portion

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your questions. It does not matter how many walks and how many runs Timber is getting per day and there is no set order that is recommended. As long as he is getting more than 2 hours of exercise per day, he should be ok with that amount of exercise. In regards to the food and how much he should be eating, I would recommend that you follow the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Good question. This is fine. The amount on the bag is just a guideline. What she is doing is perfect. I like them to be hungry at the meal and just leave a little. Then you know they are getting all they want and are not over or under feeding. As she grows she may not eat the mid day meal so that's when I cut back to twice a day feeding. As long as she's healthy and a normal weight this is nothing to be overly concerned about. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Piper.

There is a great calculator in the PetCoach library. Find it here: https://www.petcoach.co/healthy-weight-calculator/ It can be used to estimate Parker's ideal weight. You can also ask your veterinarian to show you how to assess Parker's body condition score (BCS). A BCS and body weight paint a more accurate picture than one or the other. In the meantime, continue to feed as you have been. Dogs thrive on routine, so try to keep a consistent schedule for feeding. Prepare his meal then leave it down for 15-20 minutes before picking it up whether he has eaten or not. Repeat this at the next mealtime. Do not offer any food or large treats between meals. Tiny rewards for training or good behavior are allowed. These treats should take no more than 1-2 seconds to eat. Do not despair, he will not starve. Parker will eat when he is hungry. Try to avoid switching diets as this may cause gastrointestinal upset or create a finicky eater.