My dog seems skinny, but is her lean body condition actually healthy?

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!

Chronic diseases and cancer can cause a condition known as cachexia where they get very skinny; but they would also have other signs of disease. The hallmark of cachexia is muscle wasting; so if Val seems to have a lack of muscle on the upper legs and spine, then I would be worried that there is some chronic condition. If the legs look like they have good muscle and the spine is not obviously jutting out, then this is not cachexia and would not be a concern. I'm assuming the veterinarian had already ruled this out, so that's why they would not be too worried. If it's not cachexia, then it is probably a good thing that she is thin, because skinny dogs, on average, are healthier and live longer. If it is cachcexia, then I would have the bloodwork checked for any signs of disease or organ failure. I would also check for parasites, as this can cause weight loss over time. I hope that helps and all is well with Val.

If her ribs are really sticking out and there is no fat or muscle, then see your vet. There could be a medical cause for her condition. If your vet clears her, increase the amount of food offered until she is at an appropriate weight. Ask your vet how to perform a Body Condition Score (BCS) on your dog using the 9 point scale. Ideally, she should have a waist when looked at from above. Her ribs should be seen and easily felt under a layer of fat/muscle. From the side, her chest should tuck up into her abdomen.

He actually doesn't appear to be underweight based on the pictures shown. I'd have to examine him to be sure, but the biggest indication that he is not underweight is the fact that he appears to have well-developed muscles. Dogs of this breed tend to be naturally lean and put more weight on their muscles rather than their ribs, or belly. If I was concerned that he was underweight, then I would first want to rule-out a disease, or parasite causing him to lose or not gain weight. It's best to have a veterinarian evaluate him, so you can ensure he's healthy and ensure that you are not going to feed him unnecessarily. Dog obesity is a big problem in the U.S., which means that the average person thinks a fat dog is at ideal weight; and a dog with an ideal body condition, or a lean body condition is thought to be starving. The truth is that the lean dogs are statistically healthier and live longer than overweight dogs. Some dogs (much like people) are able to naturally maintain a lean body condition. Leo is one of those dogs, but would urge you to have a veterinarian examine him to make that call. Below is a link to a body condition scoring guide. This is what veterinarians use when assessing whether a dog is overweight or underweight. We prefer them to be at a BCS of 4 or 5, but some are naturally at a 3. https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20dogs.pdf At this time, I recommend feeding him normally and would not recommend a diet change until he can be evaluated by a veterinarian. I hope that helps and all is well with Leo.

I recommend googling Purina body condition scoring chart and determining if the the degree to which you can see and feel her ribs is consistent with the lower body condition scores. If so, increasing her daily food ration slightly and re-assessing her body condition score in 2-4 weeks is advised. Good luck!

You should be able to feel the bones with gentle pressure over the ribs and spine. Without a photo, I can't say by looking what kind of body condition she has, but from the description above twelve pounds is a good-size Chihuahua. This chart may help you visualize if she is underweight or not. https://www.aaha.org/public_documents/professional/guidelines/weightmgmt_bodyconditionscoring.pdf

Hello, and thanks for your question! From the photos, I do not think Ivan looks underweight. It is difficult for me to say for sure though without putting my hands on him. What you can do is run your hands along his rib cage. If you can feel his ribs with a bit of fat around them, then he is in good shape. This should feel similar to running your fingers along the back of your hand. If you cannot feel that bit of fat around his ribs, or if his ribs are clearly visible from a distance, then he may be underweight. I hope this helps, and that Ivan is otherwise happy and healthy!