he looks thin, but...

[Timber]

Sometimes, Timber looks really thin, and I wonder if I'm giving him enough to eat. For a 9 and a half month old mini dachsie pup, how much per meal would you suggest I give him? We go on 1 or 2 walks a day, plus he runs around in the yard every day.

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Tiffany
Future Solid Gold Kennels

[dutchman]

Hi Tiff,

There is no hard easy answer to that question. Every dog is an individual and each brand of food is also different. I have seen small dogs that eat more than dogs that are almost twice their size and neither is too thin or too fat. As a general rule for adult dogs the recommendations on the food bags is way too high and will result in a fat dog. I still think the rib test is the best way to judge a dogs weight. If you think Timber is too thin you could try increasing his food and keep a close eye on his weight. At nine and a half months he still has a lot of growing and filling out to do. He is too young to judge what his final weight will be. Many dachshunds that are suppose to be minnies end up in the in-between area many people call tweenies. OF course there are many that are tweenies because they are over weight but some like Tanner who is 13# now would most likely be too think if I tried to keep him at 11#.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Susan'sFreddie98]

Hi Tiffany,

A rule of thumb is, if you can see ribs, they're too thin. You want to be able to easily feel them, but not see them. Timber is still too young to determine. Wait until after he has reached 1 year (he should be fully grown and mature at 1 year).

I remember when Freddie looked scrawny during his growth spurt, he also didn't eat very much (didn't finish the portion in his bowl).

I also expected him to be a true Mini. Not the case, as a couple people, including his Vet, could tell by his bone structure, and the length. He is a "Tweenie", 15 lbs. He is built stocky and thick, even though he could lose a couple.

Timber is really burning off fat, from the exercise. You may be surprised later!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm35.gif" border=0>

~Susan~

[Krista]

Well It was about the time that my boys were that age that I asked the very same question. It just seems that many dachsies go through a thin gangly stage at that age. Rudy did, and he is still a really lean dachshund, but the vet and breeder think he is at his perfect weight. Roscoe REALLY looked thin to me at 9 months since he is longer than Rudy is. I added an extra (healthy) cookie to his diet here and there, but I probably didn't really need to. Now, a few months later (he turns one 4/8/01) he is filling out nicely and no longer looks too thin.

If you are worried, talk to your vet and you breeder. If they are worried too, you can add some egg to his diet. Eggs help put on weight and they are healthy too.

[kelj3]

<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm35.gif" border=0>
Chipper is only 6 1/2 months old and he weighs in at 8 1/2 lbs. The vet seems to think he's at a good weight for his age. I feed him a cup of food a day (I have since he was 3 months old) Sometimes he eats all of it, other days he leaves some. I think your vet would be the best judge of whether your baby is too thin or not.

[Timber]

Is Chipper a mimiature? Timber is now 9 and a half months and weighs 9 lbs! Timber probably weighed around 5 or 6 lbs at Chipper's age.

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Tiffany
Timberland

[kelj3]

Hi Tiff...yep, Chipper is a mini. It sounds like Timber is just going to be a little doxie. Chipper's vet said that she doubts he'll grow too much more, especially with the warmer weather coming. He'll be able to get outside more and get more exercise. How big were Timber's parents? That's a good gauge on how big Timber will get.
Kelly

[Timber]

Well, the last time I saw Timber's parents were in June. I have pic of each of them ,although they aren't very good. The one of his mom, Rosie, is better, and she was pretty small. I asked the breeder if she could get some nicer ones of them. I only have a chance of getting a good one of his mom, since Timber's dad, Baron, was hit by a car and killed October 4, 2000.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/kfrown.gif He was pretty small too, I think.

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Tiffany
Timberland