My 5-month-old Golden Retriever puppy is lean. Why are ribs showing?

Most puppies should be proper weight if they are getting fed puppy food, and in his case large breed puppy food. If you are concerned about his weight, then I would recommend getting him checked to ensure he isn't losing nutrition due to intestinal parasites, which is the #`1 cause for weight loss in puppies. Otherwise, he may just be naturally lean. I can see his ribs there but he is laying down, if he stands and his ribs are still readily pronounced, then he may be a tad bit underweight. Also if he has any loose stool, this can indicate other internal organ issues that should be checked by your vet. If he has an underlying issue that is not treated, then no matter what you feed him, he will continue to be undersized. I hope that things work out well for your pet Thunder and that his weight normalizes soon! Best wishes and take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would have his stool checked for intestinal parasites and be sure he has been dewormed a few times. You can increase the volume of food at each meal by 25%. And see if that improves his weight in 2 weeks. Be sure he is seeing a vet for vaccines. Good luck!

Labradors are large breed dogs and thus they should eat a large breed puppy food to help correct growth and development. The large breed puppy formula will make sure growth is slow and consistent which is best for development. Large breed dogs are prone to a variety of growth abnormalities and the appropriate diet helps to prevent them. Additionally, most veterinarians do not recommend grain free diets. The research is not fully complete but there appears to be a link between grain free diets and heart disease. Not every pet who eats a grain free diet will develop heart disease but more dogs do on these diets than dogs who eat grains. There is likely a genetic predisposition that the diet affects. I recommend to change your food to a commercial diet that is formulated for large breed puppies. I recommend the brand Royal Canin. They even have a formula for Labrador puppies. This diet is easy to digest and is formulated for appropriate growth. This diet is complete and balanced and you do not supplement protein or vitamins/minerals. It is also important to make sure that Pom is dewormed appropriately as parasites will cause dogs to be thin. He will gain the weight once he is on an appropriate diet and eating the correct amounts. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I can’t tell from the photos of the pups are too thin. In general you should be able to see the last rib when the dog is turning his body. If you are seeing more than that, he may be too thin. You should make sure parasites are not a problem as they will cause pets to be thin. It could also be related to diet. Some food have better quality proteins that are easier to digest. I recommend a brand called Royal Canin. Your pup’s are also still growing so they do tend to stay lanky longer. Most giant breed dogs are not physically mature until 18 months old. A visit to your veterinarian can accurately access the dog’s body condition (as well as check the stool for parasites). I recommend to have them examined so that you can get the most accurate information. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If she has not been recently dewormed I would start there as worms can cause improper weight gain. How much to feed depends on what food you are feeding her. Be sure she is eating a high quality PUPPY food and follow the instructions/recommendations on how much to feed by what the packaging tells you.

Finn is a very cute boy! At this point I would recommend to feed a high-quality and easy to digest dog food brand such as Royal Canin, Science Diet or Purina Pro Plan. Since he is not yet one year old, make sure to buy the large breed puppy formula. I would also recommend to increase his food intake to 4 cups a day and monitor him closely that he does not get too much weight gain. Once he is an adult dog, you can change him to an adult large breed formula. Make sure he’s up-to-date on his deworming as well. I think at this point, give him time to gain weight with a high-quality food and an increase food content. Then go from there if needed. I hope this helps and please post again with any further questions.

Shadow is a cutie!!! to answer your questions: 1) Boiled chicken has lots of protein but lacks many other important nutrients. It is not complete or balanced. He needs 90% of his total daily food intake to be a complete and balance dog food. You may have difficulty getting him use to eating a dog food. Start by gradually decreasing the amount of chicken you add and resist all temptation to give him anything else. During this time, avoid treats or anything else that may fill his belly, this will help him take to the food. Ideally you find a food that he likes. Royal Canin and Purina Pro Plan both tend to be foods that most dogs like. Technically he should eat a large breed puppy formula until he is at least a year old. He may pick up weight by just eating a better diet. Also make sure he is up to date on his deworming. Being thin at his age is not unusual as most dogs fill out after 1 year old. 2) I would not be worried that the flooring will lead to arthritis but it can certainly lead to soft tissue pulls. Make sure to lay down plenty of carpets and rugs with the non-skid padding so he has safe spaces to sit, walk and rest. Feeding him a large breed dog food will help to protect his joints as they contain additives to promote joint help. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any further questions!