The More Active The Less Heavy
Your dog is so playful and active. He gets too much exercise and burns a lot of energy. As a result, you see him as skinny. He doesn’t gain weight, but rather lose them. With that being said, you might wonder, “Is it okay if my dog is skinny?”
It’s good that you are asking this question. A lot of loving pet owners have also wondered whether they should simply ignore the weight issue of their four-legged friend or not.
To give you a quick and simple answer to your concern whether it is okay to have a skinny dog, the answer is no. To put it in another way, an underweight dog is not a healthy dog. However, there’s more to know about this topic. So, continue reading to learn more.
How To Know If Your Dog
You can easily identify a skinny dog. They are those whose ribs are too pronounced. If you try to run through your finger on their ribs, you don’t feel any soft tissue, but mostly skin covering the bones.
Another good indicator is their weight. You should try to weigh your dog. From there, try to compare his age and size to other dogs within his breed. You should know then the normal average weight he should have and if he is below that, then it could be that he is underweight.
Causes Of Underweight In Dogs
The weight of your dog could be an indication that he is suffering from a certain disease. For example, if he develops a disease that causes loss of appetite, then he would surely lose weight as a result.
Moreover, parasites can also be a culprit. Intestinal and skin parasites are known to suck nutrients out from your dog, leaving him malnourished and underweight.
Too much exercise could also lead to failure in gaining weight. If your dog is hyperactive, he could be using too much energy and consuming calories and stored fat.
Finally, one possible cause is a problem in his diet. It could be that he is given less food or if he is given enough food, it is the wrong kind of food.
Generally, your dog loses weight when what he takes in is less than what he is using.
Health Problems In Underweight Dogs
Now, here’s one of the reasons why you should not ignore your dog’s weight problem. If your dog is underweight, he may develop any of the following:
- Weakened immune system
- Hair loss
- Hormonal imbalance
- Prolonged wound healing
- Reduced bone density and strength
- Infertility
- Decreased energy
- Muscle loss
- Increased susceptibility in developing various diseases
- Shortened lifespan
When It Is Okay To Have A Skinny Dog?
Generally speaking, being skinny is associated with being underweight. However, there are instances when being skinny is okay. This only happens if your dog’s natural body built is being skinny.
Various dog breeds are naturally skinny. Thus, if your dog belongs to any of these breeds, it is more likely that it is normal to have him look skinny and lean.
Here are some of the most common dog breeds that are skinny:
- Italian Greyhound
- Whippet
- Afghan Hound
- Greyhound
- Kanni Dog
- Sloughi
- Ibizan Hound
- Pharaoh Hound
- Saluki
- Azawakh
Now, it doesn’t mean that if your dog is among these dog breeds that you shouldn’t be concerned if they are too skinny. You still have to check what the normal weight for your dog. If it is below the normal weight of his breed, then you need to correct the problem.
Speak To Your Vet
Your vet is your partner in taking care of your pet. This means that you should not hesitate to discuss with your vet what you can do to help your dog improve his health especially his weight. Moreover, you can also research more about this topic to ensure you have the necessary knowledge about normal weight for your furry friend.
