My 1-year-old German Shepherd is skinny and won't gain weight.

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!

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!

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 :)

Puppies do go through some growth phases and can go through lanky periods. This is not unusual or anything to be concerned with. Being thin while they are developing is beneficial. It is however important to increase the amount of food you are feeding as Kasper gets bigger. If he is looking thin, it's likely time to increase the amount of food you are feeding. I hope this helps.

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!

Hi. I'm not sure how old she is, but yes, I recommend getting her seen for basic exam and lab work. She could still have worms even if you don't see them with the naked eye. So a fecal test to the lab would be the first step. Basic lab work to make sure liver and kidneys and electrolytes are all normal will need to be to be checkee as well. A common condition in German shepherds is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This is a condition in which the body isn't able to digest or absorb nutrients properly. The pets eat well and act hungry, but don't gain weight. There is a test for this condition as well. Your veterinarian will help guide the diagnostics once the exam and symptoms are reviewed. Good luck.

There are many different reasons a dog can lose weight and many digestion issues can cause poor coat quality and colour due to reduced absorption of many nutrients. Try feeding a high quality skin diet balanced for optimal supplement for healthy skin and monitor improvement over 4-6 weeks. Royal canin skin care or German shepherd diet would be preferred options. A blood test and assessment for pancreatic function may also need to be considered