How do you determine if your dog is too thin ?

AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
edited July 2009 in Food, Nutrition, & Health
I am stating to wonder if Akira has not become too thin ? He looks Ok but I think it's because of his coat that camouflages his body.

I think he's too thin because:
-When I comb him, I really feel the bones on the comb
-He has lost the small fat layer he had
-There's no padding on his hip bone
-His belly is curved inside
-In the sun I can see his ribcage

We'll go to the vet this week-end but I'm wondering if he's just fit or too skinny.

Here's a picture
Photobucket

Comments

  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    Here is a chart
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited July 2009
    ^^good chart!

    How old is he?
    What are his meals like?
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the chart, but I'm still not sure whether Akira is ideal, underweight or thin, I'll show it to my BF tonight and ask him if he sees what kind of dog Akira is.

    He's about 1 year 10 months, he eats Orijen 6 fish in self-service about 2 cups and a half a day. He also gets extra stuff like bread, rice, fish and meat. He gets at least 3 30 minutes walk a day plus gets to run free most week-ends for hours.

    Maybe because we free feed him he does not eat enough ?
  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    Two and a half cups a day? Does he eat every bit of that amount each day? If so, that's a lot of food and I'm shocked he isn't overweight.

    A dog being somewhat skinny is always better than overweight. You should be able to feel ribs easily under the layer of fat and fur, but you don't really want to be able to easily feel or see the spine. If you are truly concerned, go to your vet and talk to them.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    It seems that it's not that he doesn't eat enough, but he self regulates what he eats - he chooses when he is hungry. I think thats ideal if the dog is getting everything he needs from the foods he eats. Perhaps a blood panel to see how his levels are would help determine if his weight is a problem or not.

    He sounds like a young, active shiba inu.. they stay on the thin side, or at least my two do, - which I think is ultimately more healthy than any amount of being over weight.
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    I know it's a lot, he does not eat it completely every day but he eats it on most days and even sometimes a bit more if he was very active like when we go cross-country skiing ! The vet told us in January that he was especially muscular during his annual exam, but then he had a bit more fat than now like 1,5 millimetre on the ribcage. Then again we just entered summer so maybe that's why he lost a bit of weight?

    I wanted to see our country vet this weekends anyways to get a rabies titters so we can bring Akira to run in Scotland's higlands, so I'll guess I'll ask her just to make sure he's not too thin.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    He sounds very active, active dogs need a higher calorie intake, so that amount of food is probably appropriate for your individual dog.

    Our shibas tend to appear thinner in the summer, too.
  • obukobuk
    edited November -1
    Mochi, our shiba looks thin too but he's totally haelthy and happy ;o) Have you noticed any (other) signs that he may be sick? He looks fine to me on the picture...
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    Just a little message to keep you updated.

    Akira was having some sort of liver reaction to his Orijen and the vet said that it would be better for him to gain a bit of weight although it was not worrying.

    So we switched him to RAW, which he has been eating for the last week, his reaction to Orijen has disappeared (he had to be fed with only rice for 4 days!) and he has gained a tiny coat of fat that reassures me :)
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    What did the vet mean by liver reaction?
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    I would like to explain it but I was so nervous that I did not understand fully the vet's explanation. From what I understood, he had on his belly dried blood which we thought were mosquito bites but the vet said it was some kind of allergic reaction rarely seen on dogs this young (1.10 months). She said it was most probably his liver that was causing this because it was kind of clogged with too much stuff. So we had to drain his liver and kidneys with medication and put him on a four day diet of rice and butter. After a few days, everything was cleared off.

    Personally, I'm thinking about vitaminosis that's why we've stopped kibble altogether since the vet told us that we should split his kibble with rice.

    I hope I'm not too confusing, but it's kind of confused in my mind.
  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    Is Orijent the only food Akira had ever been on?

    Very interesting situation, I've never heard of such a thing. Seems like you have a great vet if they were able to so quickly diagnose the issue and have it taken care of.
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    We tried other kibbles when he got home at 8 weeks, but Orijen 6 fish was the only one on which is was OK so he's be eating that since he's 3 or 4 months old. He always had extras but he was fed mainly orijen 6 fish.

    Yes she's a great vet, she's 400 km from home but we always go and see her, she's a rural vet and will handle Akira without a muzzle although he is vocal. I also love that she usually has natural solutions and she does not try to sell us all kind of stuff ... she's truly a gem :)
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Not to grill you, I am very glad he is doing better, but I am really curious if any blood work was suggested to assess for liver and renal health? So many of us feed Orijen so I am especially interested to know of any troubles people have when feeding it. It sounds like you have a great Vet.
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    No blood work unfortunately, it's not really her style ! I'm thinking it might have been because Akira was eating too much of it? I think as long as you don't have the dried blood on the belly it's ok ... I think it has been going on for a while be we always thought that he scratched himself or had mosquito bites ... but he never did too well on kibble :s
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Are you saying he was scratching a lot while on it and therefore gave himself some self inflicted wounds on his belly? It just sounds quite bizarre, otherwise.
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    Nope, that's why we never suspected allergies, he never scratched himself, licked is paw or any normal allergy symptom. She said it was like pustules if I remember well ...

    It was kind of like this but at least 200 times better and the red part was darker ... like dried blood
    http://www.rvc.ac.uk/review/Dermatology/Images/photos/Zoom/Ventral_pyoderma.jpg
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    How interesting!

    Either way, RAW is ultimately the way to go if you suspect an issue with a top of the line kibble like Orijen. Have fun with it, I love feeding raw!
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Wow, that looks like a drug reaction almost. Glad Akira is better.
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