Too thin? Just right?

[alschwahn]

Last weigh-in Aspen was between 64-67 lbs (don't remember exactly what it was) and that was at his one year check up around April. The vet said he was a great weight and looked healthy and to try and keep him at that size. Well the last two months we have been getting a lot of comments that he looks skinny. I know you should be able to slightly see a labs ribs or at least be able to feel them, but because I have been having so many folks tell me he looks too skinny that now I am concerned because I can see his spine now! Is that even normal? He exercises but nothing crazy. He gets walks, plays in the yard, fetches, and swims. He eats 3.5 cups of Fromm's Large Breed adult food. 1.5 at breakfast and then 2 at dinner. Maybe people just used to stockier or obese labs? I don't know. I don't know if anyone will be able to tell from pics, just posting as feelers so you can all see what I see!

 

[DuggansDad]

Looks great to me.

 

[Oberon]

Beautiful dog.

Personally I don’t want to see spine as that can indicate a bit of underdevelopment of the muscles along the back. Are you only seeing it when his head is down and his back is up?

If there’s a need for a bit more muscle development then I’d look at the protein quality that he’s getting. Good quality protein (amino acids etc) is what the body needs to make muscle.

 

[alschwahn]

@Oberon Yes, typically we only see it when he is sniffing the ground or laying down and chewing on a toy between his paws. Should he just be eating a kibble high in protein? His Fromm food is 23% crude protein. I am going to be honest, not sure if that is ideal or not...the spine worries me. I wasn't sure if it meant bad bone development. Would you recommend upping protein and exercise? I will ask the vet when we go in, just nice to get opinions from other lab owners.

 

[Oberon]

I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with his bone development

If it’s only when his head is down and his back is up I wouldn’t be actively worried. Especially if his energy levels are normal for him. Just chat to the Vet about it.

For muscle development exercise is important but it sounds like he gets plenty of that so I wouldn’t see the need to do any more. With diet, protein quantity is important but so is protein quality - so that means getting all the right protein types to build cells. He might need a bit more quantity or he might need more on the ‘quality’ side. If the kibble you’re feeding is already good quality you can try giving him a bit more or adding some different protein sources to his diet...things like tinned sardines, boiled eggs, some liver...

I definitely wouldn’t feel worried though. Being lean is a thousand times better than being overweight. And people are very used to seeing fat dogs so don’t put too much stock in the opinions of people on the street.

 

[Plum's mum]

I agree with @Oberon @alschwahn, that we are so used to seeing overweight labs this is what people expect to see. Nearly every lab I see is a bit or a lot overweight. I was talking to another lab owner on Saturday about labs being prone to weight gain and he referred to his lab as big built but not fat but she was definitely overweight!

I also met a lab owner who said people kept telling her that her working line lab was too skinny but to my eye he was absolutely perfect.

Aspen looks great to me in the pics.

There are times you can see Plum's ribs in certain positions but generally she is a good size, shape and weight.

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

My 2 cents - I actually think he looks too skinny. You want him to be on the slim side, but Aspen looks on the slim side of slim to me. My vet friend said "you want to be able to see a couple of ribs when the body is turned" but not when they're standing straight.

 

[Atemas]

I think he looks just right for a working line Lab. Red looked like this until recently, almost out of proportion - very long skinny body. She is now maturing - filling out - I am going to have to watch she doesn’t get overweight .

 

[Jen]

He’s a gorgeous dog

I personally would agree with @Xena Dog Princess and would say he’s a little bit on the slim side. I was told you should only be able to see the last couple of ribs when they’re sniffing or eating and should be able to feel them as though they’re under a blanket.

I agree that people are used to seeing fat labs though - we always get comments that Stanley is very small for a lab, especially from people walking barrels!

 

[Cath]

Can you not take him to the vets to get him weighed again? That might put your mind at rest.

 

[FayRose]

Yes he is slim, but looks fine to me. His coat look shiny and healthy too. If he was mine, I wouldn't let him lose any more but neither would I try to put weight on, so long as he is healthy. As someone else has said, we are so used to seeing hefty labs that we are inclined to look twice at a proper shaped dog.
I'm often told Molly is too thin - by otherwise sweet well meaning folk, one of whom has a definitely podgy lab. She openly moans that her lab has joint problems and seems totally unaware that less weight would help

 

[Ashley]

I too think he’s a bit on the thin side since I can see his spine and full rib cage in the first photo. I would chat to your vet but I would consider adding a bit to his diet, whether that’s a protein topper to his food or a bit more food. Especially if he’s more active in the summer he’s probably burning more off.

 

[Boogie]

He’s slim, but he’s a youngster - he’ll fill out a bit in the next year or so.

They need a ‘blanket’ covering, not a sheet (too thin) or a duvet (too fat).

 

[Beanwood]

He is a little slim, however, Aspen is still very an adolescent. I agree with @Oberon, in that, I would like to see a little more coverage and muscle mass around the shoulder blades and back, however, this will come with age no doubt as being just over a year old he has probably finished growing upwards, and now needs a little outward growth.
You could up the protein and fat content a little in his diet, to increase the building blocks he needs right now. I am not a canine nutritionist, but maybe adding an egg a couple of times a week, as well as adding a tin of sardines twice a may help.
Working on specific exercises, hill climbing, weight-shifting (three-legged stand) are good exercises to help in developing a good core. Others exercises such as Cavaletti poles and head turns are also great. There again I am a bit OTT when it comes to exercises, you really have a gorgeous boy there so I wouldn't worry!

 

[JES72]

67lb is 30kg. Homer was a lanky 29kg at 12 months and filled out to 32kg by 2 years old. Aspen does look slim but is going through that tall skinny teenager stage of a human 15-17 year old. We gave Homer some extra protein snacks of tinned pilchards with his meals. At six years old he’s 36kg and full of muscle, so we now need to be careful not to feed him too much extra.

 

[Jennifer]

I would rather have a dog be bit too thin than a bit too fat. He looks fit and healthy in those photos which is the important thing. As others have said Aspen is still growing and maturing. He may even have recently had a growing phase which wasn't obvious. I'm sure he will fill out as he matures and his muscles will develop. He's gorgeous.

 

[Hollysdad]

Ignore the scales. Our standard test is that the Lab should have a waist when viewed from above and the side, and that the ribs should not show. The ribs are visible in some of those pictures so he could do with a bit more weight.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I don't weigh mine very often I just look at them and keep them looking the way I like. All mine were skinny and leggy at this age the change a lot physically in the next 12, months. They are grown but muscle change develop. Rory's nearly 5 now and nicely muscled and a good weight, there are some areas which he needs work but that's my summer project.t his us him about 2 he's changed a lot since then.

 

[Beanwood]

Rory is just perfect!

 

[SwampDonkey]

I know but then love is blind. His legs are a bit cow hocked his back is too long he has an unhealthy interest in plastics and footballs ah perfection sort of.?