Heavy boned vs. low boned puppy: What does it mean for health?

Head and bone structure is determined by his genetics and cannot be adjusted. Be very careful not to allow him to become overweight or obese whilst growing as this increases the risk of bone and joint growth problems such as hip dysplasia and puppies, especially large and giant breeds should be kept lean until at least 15months of age

First you want to make sure that Teddy is parasite free as parasites will rob his body of nutrients. Secondly, some breeds are naturally thin at his age. When he goes in for his next veterinary visit, make sure to ask the doctor about his weight. Lastly, don’t be in a hurry to put weight on Teddy. Rapid changes in body condition are not good. Instead feed a high-quality, small breed puppy food. Brands like Royal Canin and Science Diet have additional calories in their small breed formula which is different than a normal puppy food. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Supplementing calcium will not change her bones and could even be harmful for joint development - if she has a slight build it is likely genetic. If she is underweight then weight gain might help with her appearance but it may not change the shape of her head or legs much.

Thank you for more information on your pet! Your dog should be getting a high quality dog food such as Royal Canin or Hills Science diet. I would also have him seen by a vet, as there could be a medical illness behind him being so thin such as intestinal worms or an inability to digest nutrients properly. The vet can diagnose if there is a medical illness causing him to be so thin, and can prescribe treatment for him.

Hello. It could actually be a combination of all those things. It would be better to feed a large breed puppy food, but on the other hand, keeping a dog like a Golden a little underweight is better for overall growth & long term health. Slim dogs live quite a bit longer than heavy or obese dogs. If Lucy has plenty of energy, normal bowel movements & is steadily gaining weight, then I would not be too concerned. She will probably fill out as she matures, so just continue to feed her what she seems to like & do not worry that it is not a puppy labeled food. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

No, you should not be able to see every bone. A normal healthy weight dog should not appear boney. You should be able to feel the ribs with your hands, but not see them. I'm not sure the age of this puppy, but reasons for poor weight gain can be improper amount of food, poor quality food or parasite problems.

It's not likely for a puppy this age to get overweight, nevermind how much he weighs, some dogs are physically bigger than others and thus will be more heavy, it does not always mean they are overweight.