CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Feeding => Topic started by: karen488 on August 01, 2012, 08:36:06 AM
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Bingley is a little bit thin I think. I keep giving him more but the lucky little thing stays quite thin. He is just turning 11 months. Think Darcey was quite thin at this age and then naturally filled out with age, but can't remember. He is v hungry and v active on walks. Should I feed even more or be patient? (on BH bad hair day)
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I'd be patient - they go through a growth spurt at this age and can often look a bit rangy.
As long as his general health is fine and he's eating I wouldn't worry too much ;)
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I've got the same prob with Sherlock - he's 15 months now and always been really skinny, no matter what I feed him. The vet says he's not underweight though - just very fit and healthy! Like Bingley he's very active and always alert and ready to go, so I guess he just burns off energy quickly.
You can see his ribs, and to me he really does look too thin. But he already eats double the recommended amount for a dog of his size so I can't feed him any more than I do without causing probs with overfeeding...
I hope he does fill out eventually though. I get sick of all the "isn't he thin!" comments...
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I'd be patient - they go through a growth spurt at this age and can often look a bit rangy.
As long as his general health is fine and he's eating I wouldn't worry too much ;)
Thanks for reassurance. Bingley doesn't eat, he inhales! :005:
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Penny's really skinny too, and she already gets about twice the recommended feeding amount for her size. I think it's because she's allowed off the lead on more adventurous walks and seems not to have noticed she's a show cocker and not a worker! She ranges all over and charges around madly, tail going like crazy. At the vet's yesterday while getting boosters the vet weighed her and said, "Oh, a mini one - perfectly healthy though." I guess she must use up lots of calories on long walks.
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Penny's really skinny too, and she already gets about twice the recommended feeding amount for her size. I think it's because she's allowed off the lead on more adventurous walks and seems not to have noticed she's a show cocker and not a worker! She ranges all over and charges around madly, tail going like crazy. At the vet's yesterday while getting boosters the vet weighed her and said, "Oh, a mini one - perfectly healthy though." I guess she must use up lots of calories on long walks.
Sounds like Bingley. Maybe if I was as active as him I'd be skinny too!
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My youngsters have been the same, including Eddie, the Papillon :luv: :luv: Our vet says it is typical of young males and one they pass the two year mark, their metabolisms slow down a bit and they find it easier to hold weight.
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Last year, when Milly was just over a year old, I became rather paranoid about her weight as I thought she was underweight despite her being able to eat for Scotland. :005:
Our vet said she was just about perfect and showed me how to feel for her ribs and to compare her waist to the rest of her body.
She's nearly 2 years old now and has settled at 12.6 kg on the scales. Fed on Origen adult with additional pieces of raw vegetables and a weekly raw egg and tin of sardines.
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Karen, Hazel is lean as well, and she looks really long in the body,though she isn't really :-\
She's still getting 400g per day, I did think about reducing it as she's (obviously ;) ) nearing 11 months and I was thinking she should be dropping down to adult portions now (M & J get just 200g per day).
She is ridiculously active, more so than M& J were at 11 months. However she also hasn't had a season yet, so I'm wondering if this is part of the reason behind the activity and lean look. Hearing Bingley is the same make me think perhaps it's a little genetic :D
X
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Thanks Kelly. Think he will fill out in time. At least with them being lighter there's been less pressure on their joints with all that racing about.
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Ive got a skinny miss as well. Lotti is 11 months and weighs less than a 3.5 month boy she plays with. She could also eat for GB and get a gold medal in running. Ziggy big bro is normal just a large type worker.
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I was worried about Dexter a few months ago for the same reason. My Aunt kept on about what a skinny little thing he is which made me feel bad. Then another cocker owner remarked on "what a little un he is" and I started to wonder if he was too small.
Dexter is now coming up to 14 months and he does seem to have filled out a little recently, I think they go through a teenage lanky phase :D
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Harry was skin and bone at that age, he was on the go all the time and ate like a horse!
I actually took him to the vet as OH was worried, but she said he was fine and that he would fill out as he matured and he did, but he is still nice and slim :luv:
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I agree Stella my sprocker girl is quite thin and leggy (she was a really podgy pup though) but at 10 months am not worried as I know she'll fill out eventually
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My Cavalier, Dillon is 13 months and thin as a rake :dunno: he has filled out a little over the past couple of months, but he does remain quite scrawny. He is very active though and always on the go. Saffy cocker is a slim girl anyway, but she does have cushings though stable at the moment.
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Am wondering if I'm feeding him much. He gets 180g of BH a day. He still has lunch as he has managed to convince me that he would die without it!
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I also feed Barking Heads and Darwin is skinny - only 10Kg, but I know his current weight is right for him. He's 3 and 1/2yrs and over the winter he put on a little extra weight, which he lost over the spring. Barking Head feeding guidelines are very vague. Between 100 - 200gm for a 10Kg dog. So I feed approx 160gm a day split between 2 meals, Gravy Bone at 6am and a carrot at lunch.