Kylos86 Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 Hi, Django is coming up to 11 months old now and recently had a bad case of the squirts, after waiting 48 hours and it still persisting my girlfriend took him to the vet (I work nights so was sleeping) and £68 down and he has been on some medication for 3 days and is back to normal. Though the vet didn't mention his weight or that there may be any other issues with him Whilst at the vets he was weighed and came in at 51lbs at 11 months old! He is 24 inches at the shoulder so is quite a big puppy already. My question to you is do you think he is too skinny as he can feel a little 'boney' sometimes, I know BC's are supposed to be lean and he gets 2 x 1-2 hour walks each day and is fed morning and evening half dry food and half meat supplemented with fish oils. I have attached some photo's thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon's girl Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 I don't think he looks too skinny, but it's hard to tell from that angle and with all the hair. His head/face doesn't look too thin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 This question comes up regularly and is a good example of when it's not a bad idea to do a search in the archives before posting. It's almost impossible to tell from a photo unless the dog's emaciated. One reason is because a rough coat can hide the ribs and other bones. But the best way to tell is by feeling your dog anyway. You should be able to easily feel ribs (that is, without having to push in at all do find them) and the spinal protuberances. If you have to push at all to feel ribs, then the dog's probably at least a bit overweight. If the bones are really projecting, then the dog's probably too thin. Here (again) is the body condition chart that vets use. IMO, border collies, especially young ones, should be on the thin side of moderate. You'll have to use your hands to show you what your eyes can't see beneath the fur. http://vet.osu.edu/v...n-scoring-chart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylos86 Posted February 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 Hi Thanks, I can feel his ribs and spine and looking at the chart he comes within the moderate zone and like I said the vet didn't comment on his weight when examining him so he should be OK. He is always full of life and energy and is super quick, I just can't beleive how heavy he is being so lean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 Our collie is 23in and just right at around 42lbs. He's of average build and 9yo. I'd be very surprised if a 24in youngster of 11 months was too skinny at 51lbs. At that age our was around 34lbs, on the lean side but not emaciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttiffany20191 Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 I don't think he looks emancipated..but he has a lot of fur like my girl does. Vet said she doesn't go by weight but feels their ribs. You should be able to feel a bit of rib without pressure. Has he had issues eating before this illness..or were you worried before this last illness? My female bc is built bigger too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttiffany20191 Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 *Emaciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etlai Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 The two measurements I've used (I'm no vet, mind you), feeling at the widest points on the sides: 1. Can I feel the main pack of ribs? Yes ~> not overweight 2. From the last rib to abdomen, is there a smooth transition? Yes ~> not underweight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylos86 Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Hi He has never had issues with eating and had no issues whilst he had the illness either, I only began to worry after the illness occured. I think he went a little too lean due to only having chicken and rice for 3 days but still excercising as usual. All the recommended checks indicated he is OK, he has tons of energy all the time. I would have thought the vet would have made some kind of comment if he was concerned about his weight. I just wish I was there at the time (my girlfriend didn't ask) as he does also have a 'boney bum' which you can feel when petting him. I'm happy to say he is all better now and we have started giving him an extra meal during the day and will monitor and adjust this if necessary. Thanks again for your responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Tweed is 11 months old, 47 lbs and I can feel his ribs, backbone and pelvis. I assure you he is quite healthy and normal for an adolescent male Border Collie. If he weighed more and had padding, I would be concerned. His dam in working weight. She was a bit out of shape after her litter but is back to being fit for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylos86 Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Thanks Liz P this definatley reassures me alot, your Dogs are looking great I wish I could work Django as he is really responsive to commands, I have trained him to "herd" his favourate toys which he finds great fun but it just isn't the same with inanimate objects, I am going to take him to agility classes instead once he is old enough, flyball is a no no as he is already ball obsessed!! Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdevil Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Do a blood test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 Why do you say that? He had a digestive upset a couple of weeks ago and got over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdevil Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Read my thread http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=37851 ,my girl was exactly how your dog is and I always said "it's fine, it's just her she's skinny". You know what? I was completely wrong! I wish that someone suggested me to do a liver test on her as I could have anticipated some issues . To begin with I might suggest you to talk with your vet and do a blood test. Prevention is better than cure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 There is nothing in your description of your dog that compares with this case though. This one is seems a healthy weight and other than a bout of the squits which is very common he sounds in good shape. No alarm bells are ringing from what the OP said but your own story made me think of a possible liver shunt too before your vet mentioned it. Most cases I've heard of were in younger dogs though. We all need to be aware of changes in our dogs that warrant investigation but also to accept that, like us, dogs get minor illnesses that clear up fine on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdevil Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 @Mum24dog what is the chance of living a normal life? and most importantly surviving? I am devastated even by thinking about her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wolf Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 If the dog is thin but has good muscle, then the dog is fit, if there is no muscling then the dog may be too thin. However at 11 mos., many males just do not gain weight. I've been fighting this in a young male I have. He got way to thin even though he was eating about twice what his littermate ate. Finally (with extra feedings and additionally fat-Red Paw energy pack) he is gaining a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Joey was too skinny. He runs all the time. I started feeding him a cup more food than the older dogs and I think he has picked up a little weight. He is perfectly healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 @Mum24dog what is the chance of living a normal life? and most importantly surviving? I am devastated even by thinking about her. I'm sorry but no one can tell you that except your vet. No one who has a dog they love could fail to understand what you are going through but it's a time for taking advice from professionals who know your dog's case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 If the dog is thin but has good muscle, then the dog is fit, if there is no muscling then the dog may be too thin. However at 11 mos., many males just do not gain weight. I've been fighting this in a young male I have. He got way to thin even though he was eating about twice what his littermate ate. Finally (with extra feedings and additionally fat-Red Paw energy pack) he is gaining a bit Kiefer is still pretty skinny and I would like to put more weight on him. Right now, if I feed him more, more comes out the other end. I am interested in the Red Paw energy pack. I checked out their website, but didn't see the energy pack product. Can you give me more information for ordering? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Jovi, this is the supplement she is talking about. I am already seeing an improvement in all the dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Thanks Liz. I ordered a small pail. Shipping was expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Jovi - have you tried the Redpaw 32k food? It got Kenzi to a healthy weight last year when she was super skinny in the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wolf Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I feed the 32K and really have been happy with it. One of mine, Jabba, is a young male and difficult to keep weight on as he runs ALOT. I started using the fat and so far really happy. The new rescue is gaining weight on it also. I found a relatively closeby vet who also sells/uses the Red Paw. We order together and shipping is then split. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I was quite impressed when I fed it. Would feed it regularly if it wasn't so expensive to mail order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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