My rescue dog is skinny and I can see her ribs. How to help her gain weight?

Question

We got Lucy from a rescue. She's a small, but lengthy dog. We've had her for a few weeks and we've been feeding her a generous amount of food and we can still see her ribs. The rescue said she was 1 1/2, but she's still teething and I believe getting bigger as well. I'm not sure if her body is using the food to help her grow. What can I do to help her gain weight? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 12 lbs

Ana M, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. I recommend starting by making an appointment to see a veterinarian. It is a good idea to have a general check up when you acquire any new pet. Dogs typically are done teething by 6-7 months of age. So that is quite different from what the rescue group told you of her being 1.5 years old. It is important to have an accurate age on her to determine if she should eat puppy or adult food. Her veterinarian will assess her body condition score as well and let you know if she still needs to gain weight. In many cases, it is ok to see the last couple of ribs. I hope this information helps and congratulations on her adoption!

My rescue dog is skinny and I can see her ribs. How to help her gain weight?

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