My active dog's ribs and spine show. Is he underweight or just lean?

Question

My doberman is about 5 years old. He lost some weight i'm assuming because he's been more active and I adjusted his food. He's been eating a lot more and is still active. You can still see his ribs and spine. Does he still look underweight? He does to me (he is a pretty small doberman). Pet's info: Dog | Doberman Pinscher | Male | neutered

Elva Ma DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thanks for your question! From the photos, I do not think Ivan looks underweight. It is difficult for me to say for sure though without putting my hands on him. What you can do is run your hands along his rib cage. If you can feel his ribs with a bit of fat around them, then he is in good shape. This should feel similar to running your fingers along the back of your hand. If you cannot feel that bit of fat around his ribs, or if his ribs are clearly visible from a distance, then he may be underweight. I hope this helps, and that Ivan is otherwise happy and healthy!

My active dog's ribs and spine show. Is he underweight or just lean?

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