I'm writing to get some advice regarding my Cocker Spaniel's weight. He'll be 4 months old tomorrow and I don't think he's very big... I'm wondering if this is normal or if there's something wrong. At his last weigh-in, he was around 11 to 11.5 lbs.
I feed him a home-cooked diet (rice, veg and meat) because he didn't get on well with dry food, and also out of personal choice.
Until a week ago, he was having 2 meals a day, so I've added a third meal at lunchtime, but I can't see much of a difference... He looks very slim to me.
Could you let me know how much your 4-month-old puppies weigh?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Sophie
Translated from French
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My puppy is three and a half months old and weighs 12.5 lbs – her brothers and sisters already weighed over 13 lbs at just 3 months old. The breeder felt I wasn't feeding her enough, and I’ve seen a dog trainer who advised me to increase her to 150g of dry food a day. I think you have to be careful and check their weight regularly to make sure the puppy has the right diet for their growth.
Mine weighed roughly 6 and a half lbs at 2 months old, so that's not far off at all. As for their poo, a puppy should really go after every meal—if you feed them three times a day, they should be doing three poos. So that’s not a huge amount really.
Three or four poos a day is fine, it’s not that many. Puppies put on about 2 to 4 lbs a month, but if you’re really worried about his weight, the best thing to do is see a vet. Or a pet nutritionist.
He weighed 5.5 lbs at two months old when we first got him... so exactly two months later, he’s weighing in at 11 lbs...
Hi, it’s best to see a vet, and is their worming up to date? If there’s nothing wrong health-wise, maybe they aren't eating enough for their daily activity levels.
"How old is your dog now?"
He’s nearly 18 months old (in August). He must weigh around 30 lbs at the moment, maybe 31... Regarding yours, the size vs weight ratio does seem a bit off. Does the vet think it’s okay? I’m quite surprised. What weight proportions of rice / vegetables / meat are you giving him? 3 or 4 poos a day also seems like a lot to me. Mine has only ever done one, unless he’s had a bit of an upset tummy.
I haven’t been to see the vet about this issue yet, I’ve actually got an appointment tomorrow morning... I think I’m over the recommended amounts: 150g meat, 180g veg, 300g rice PER DAY OVER 3 MEALS.
Hi there. It’s best to see a vet, and is his worming up to date? If there’s nothing wrong health-wise, it could be that he isn’t eating enough for his daily activity levels.
How old is your dog now?
He’s nearly 18 months old (in August). He must weigh around 30 lbs at the moment, maybe 31...
As for yours, the height-to-weight ratio does seem abnormal.
Does the vet think that’s okay? I’m quite surprised.
What are the proportions of rice / veg / meat by weight that you’re giving him?
3 or 4 poos a day also seems like quite a lot to me. Mine has only ever done one, unless he has an upset stomach.
3 or 4 poos a day is fine, it’s not that many. Puppies usually put on about 2 to 4 lbs a month, but if you’re really worried about their weight, the best thing to do is see a vet. Or a pet nutritionist.
Hi Sophie, that might seem a bit low indeed. But it all depends on his size. He might just have a small frame. Also, at that age, they really lack muscle mass. How tall is he? Personally, I've never strictly followed the recommended portions, even after setting up a nutrition plan, as I just needed to feel his ribs to know if he was doing okay or not. You should be able to feel his ribs, but they shouldn't be sticking out like piano keys when you run your hand over him. Usually, a dog that’s hungry will let you know. When I moved him onto adult food and portions, I followed the guidelines at first and saw straight away that he was eating faster, was always hanging around his bowl, and so on... So I increased the portions. To give you an idea, mine weighed about 15.4 lbs (roughly 1 stone 1) at 16 weeks, but he’s 45cm now, which is quite tall for the breed.
How old is your dog now?
Evening,
Thanks for your replies.
Actually, he definitely lets us know. He acts like he’s starving; he’s completely food-obsessed. I can tell he’s hungry all the time, and I’m even starting to think he might have an absorption issue. He’s pooing 3 or 4 times a day, which I think is a lot.
You can see his ribs and feel them quite clearly.
I’ve increased his food, but his weight isn’t changing, or only very slightly. He’s 33 cm tall, so he’s quite a small build.
