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Why is my active German Shepherd skinny and not gaining weight?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 2 years and 6 months old | 75 lbs

Why is my 2 year old German Shepherd so skinny? Like she won’t really gain weight she’s very active

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 16th, 2018

German Shepherds are naturally thin, so it could be she is the correct weight and isn't too skinny. It could also be the diet you are feeding Harley isn't giving her enough calories. If she's very active, she may need a dog food designed for very active dogs to get her additional calories. Finally, she could have a medical problem causing her to be so skinny such as intestinal worms or a malabsorption difficulty. I recommend making a visit with her vet to discuss her weight and what, if anything, needs to be done about it. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 18th, 2019

    Hello, thank you for your question about Lilly. It is possible that Lilly is not getting the necessary calories that she needs to gain weight. She should be eating a dog food that is designed for puppies (these foods are more calorie dense). You could try offering her more food throughout the day to see if this helps her gain weight. If you have already tried this or do not notice enough I would recommend having Lilly seen by your veterinarian as there are some underlying conditions that can prevent puppies from gaining weight. Hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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