Usually, yes. If your dog's spine is easily felt with a thin layer of fat, it's most likely normal and indicates your dog is at a healthy weight. That being said, if your dog's backbone protrudes, it may be an indication that your dog is on the thin side (depending on breed and conformation).
You should be able to feel the spine and ribs, with only a small layer of fat over them. Amberlie R. Some dogs are just born with a topline (spine) that is a bit higher in parts. As long as they are at a healthy weight, it shouldn't bother them.
If your dog's skinny in the back and the spine is very pronounced with little or no flesh on top of the individual vertebrae, you have an underweight dog. You can also look out for a nice tuck under the dog's waist, and a contour going inwards after its rib cage. These are both signs of a good body condition.
Your dog is too thin if:
Your dog's ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones are easily visible. They'll have no palpable fat, with some prominent bones but only minimal loss of muscle mass. You have an underweight dog if their ribs are easily palpated (felt) and may be visible, with no palpable fat covering them.
As a rule, a dog's abdomen should be higher up than its ribcage, so that from their front legs their underside gradually inclines up toward their rear. A steep incline suggests that your pet is underweight, whereas a shallow incline or no incline at all indicates that your dog is overweight.
How easily can you feel your pet's backbone? If those bones (they're called the vertebral bodies and processes) are very prominent and easy to feel, then your pet may have decreased muscle mass and one of a host of the underlying conditions that can lead to such muscle loss.
Factors such as diet, age, breed, and health problems can affect your dog's weight and cause weight loss. However, if you have detected that your dog is eating well but still losing weight, then speak with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Food that is high in fat and protein. Cooked sweet potato and pumpkin. High-fat treats, especially before bedtime. Peanut butter added to their food.
Look for brands that contain at least 22% protein and 18% fat. High-fat, high-protein foods like canned salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines are also good options. You can also add cooked chicken, beef, pork, or lamb to your dog's food. Just be sure not to add too much at once as this could cause digestive upset.
As dogs become less active, their muscles begin to atrophy. Dogs that are ill dealing with joint pain or struggling to walk will lose muscle mass faster than other dogs. Most dogs will show signs of atrophy in their hips and hind legs first, which may make their hind end look shrunken.
An underweight dog will have a noticeably narrow waist and the bones of the hips and spine may be easily visible and can be felt protruding under the skin. The more pronounced these bony projections, the more underweight they are and hence the lower their BCS.
No, it is not normal for a senior dog to suddenly lose a lot of weight. This is especially true if your dog looks truly underweight (such as through ribs and vertebrae showing as well as having visible hip bones). While weight loss is a common symptom in aging dogs, it should never be ignored.
People often believe that dogs can't even feel their scruff. They definitely can feel it and are very aware of it because of its association with dominance. Remember, this type of training is not suited for every dog and you should get proper instruction before proceeding.
Because rice is carbohydrate-dense, it can lead to weight gain when given to your dog in excess. Commercially produced dry kibble often contains rice as a main ingredient. Like humans, carbohydrates are an important source of fuel for your dog but should be included as part of a well-balanced diet.
Don't worry—cheese is not toxic and is completely fine for most pups. However, some dogs can be lactose intolerant, meaning their body does not react well to dairy products. But even if your dog isn't lactose intolerant, it's still a good idea to keep their cheese consumption to a minimum.
Plus, since eggs are packed with protein, if your dog ingests too much it can lead to weight gain from too many calories consumed. In general, dogs shouldn't eat more than one egg per day.
Eat More Food
The most obvious way to help your dog gain weight is to feed him more food. The amount of calories your dog needs can be determined by his age and activity level, but a general rule is that an active adult requires about 30-50 calories per pound of body weight each day.
Yes, you can feed your dog canned tuna, as long as you do so in moderation and infrequently. Choose the version that's packed in fresh water instead of oil or salted water. Also check the label to make sure there is no extra salt added to the canned tuna.
Some dogs will eat grass just because they like how it tastes or because it is a way for dogs to entertain themselves when they are bored. Other times, dogs will eat grass because they have an upset stomach, need more fiber in their diet, or have a diet deficiency.
Coughing, diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy are the general signs the dog has worms. Other symptoms depend on the type of worm. For example, if your dog has a tapeworm, clear identifiers can be rapid weight loss or what appears to be grains of rice in their stool.
Sometimes health issues like nausea or mouth pain can cause a picky appetite, so it's a good idea to book a veterinary checkup if your dog isn't eating well. Once you're sure there's no underlying health problem, you should try reducing treats and selecting one nutritionally balanced dog food and sticking to it.