17 Week Old English Mastiff underweight?

[jenny adams]

and to work there they must have a pet or had one in the last year so its not just a job is a way to meat other pet owners sorry wrong thread

 

[jreach72]

Here are a couple of pictures from today. Not as many ribs showing...

 

[jreach72]

The second picture is in the nice hole in my back yard that her and the lab have carved out...lol

 

[jreach72]

I got home and was able to weigh me, then hold her and weigh her...I know not exactly scientific but it will give an idea. Two weeks ago at the vet she was 17 Weeks 3 days old and weighed 28lbs. Today exactly two weeks later she weighs 38lbs. 5lbs a week I am guessing is a good growth rate...not too fast not to slow. Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Smokeycat]

My boy averaged just under 5 lbs a week and is supposed to be a slow grower so I'd say she likely right where she should be.

 

[raechiemay]

The second picture is in the nice hole in my back yard that her and the lab have carved out...lol

Ah, something EMs are good at. At least the 2 I've had have been. My parents have craters in their backyard that D & my parents lab/chow mix have dug. I think they're trying to dig holes to China.

The updated pics of her look good! I think initially Duchess was gaining anywhere from 1-5 lbs a week. Some weeks she wouldn't gain anything but she would grow half an inch to an inch. I've been weighing her at home & it's been fairly accurate. She's 7.5 months old & she weighs 73 lbs. It took her FOREVER to get to 60 lbs then another FOREVER to get to 70 lbs. Her growing as tapered off for the moment. She's slowly getting taller & is 25 inches at the shoulders. Both her parents are smaller, which I think I read your girl's parents were on the smaller side as well. D's mom was about 130-140 & her dad was I think 160-170. I can't exactly remember their weights but full grown (3 years of age) I'd say D is gonna weigh about 120-125. But we'll see. Your girl has a very beautiful face.

 

[voidecho]

I wouldn't put too much stock in that first pic where she's eating/drinking out of the bowl. Lincoln looks exactly like that all of the time when he's sucking up food or water. It makes him look way skinnier than he really is. Looks like your girl is sucking in air or something when you took the picture. From the more recent pics she looks healthy to me.

 

[jreach72]

Thanks everyone for the input it is helpful to hear that she is not the only one that is small at her age.

 

[jreach72]

Just an update, took her into the vet to have her nails trimmed last week on the 21st. Exactly 20 days since her first visit. She weighed 40lbs. So she is gaining almost 5lbs per week. We also just switched her to Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed dog food. I am giving her 1.5 cups of that food 3x per day as they puppy bag indicated we should go by the mature weight rather than the weight she is now. Can anyone give any advice on whether I am giving her too much or too little. She finishes off every bit of the food at each feeding now.

Oh and she is now taller than my lab/mix. Lab mix is 20" at the shoulders and she is 21" at the shoulders, rear is little higher but she seems to be balancing out now.

Thanks!

 

[raechiemay]

So she's about 20-21 weeks old now? Took me a bit to calculate as I woke up with a horrendous headache & I just had to do basic math while staring at the calendar on my phone. Lol. Anywho, if that's where she's at age-wise, she's not too far behind where my pup weighed at that time. Duchess was about 52-53 lbs but has only steadily been gaining about 2-3 lbs a week. Although I haven't weighed her in 2 weeks since I've been on vacation. I'll weigh her today. She's 31 weeks today.

As far as the food goes I wanna say I had been feeding D closer to 6 cups a day but I could be wrong. 2 cups, 3 times a day. Is the food you're feeding for adults or puppies?

Oh & Duchess was also 21-22 inches tall at 20 & 21 weeks of age.

 

[jreach72]

Food we are feeding is adult food. We were doing 2 cups 3x per day of puppy food and just migrated her to adult food after reading some posts that Mastiffs really need to be on adult "Large Breed" food for their whole life.

Our pup is still a bit skinny (see two photos attached) the smaller picture is here with Bear on the day we got her. The next picture is her with Bear this past weekend.

 

[raechiemay]

I think she looks great now. I wouldn't worry to much of what the scale says. I know it's hard bc I've been there. I relied too much on what the scale said & always thought Duchess was too skinny. Your pup may look lanky to you now, but keep in mind she's going to grow at her own pace. Remember mastiffs aren't really considered large breeds but more so giant breeds. I don't believe a large breed specific food is going to make much of a difference. Ad I remember when I had D on a 3x a day feeding schedule she was eating about 6 cups a day. I'd maybe shoot Smart Family a PM & ask her about the food you're feeding & see if she thinks you need to increase the amount. She's pretty knowledgeable when it comes too food. Sorry I can't help you anymore in that department. I just wanted to say I think your pup looks good now compared to the pics at the beginning of this thread.

 

[jreach72]

Thanks raechiemay I have PM'd Smart_Family...it was actually one of her posts that led me to switch to adult food so good call.

Just a general update, weighed the little tyke last night and she now weighs 45.8lbs 5.8lbs in 5 days! Her head looks totally different and her jowls are growing! I made the mistake of wearing flip flops (live in SW Florida) when feeding her the other morning and the drool that came off her face after drinking was enough to drench my foot! I will get some head shots when I can to post. She is cute as can be...we laugh every night as she falls asleep snoring...cutest thing I have ever heard.

 

[raechiemay]

Aww she sounds like a sweetie! I know when I left for vacation I weighed my girl & she was 74.8. I just weighed her yesterday & she was 80.4 lbs. She gained 6 lbs in a week! I think she's more of a slow grower so I'm not complaining about that. Look forward to more pics of your baby. Glad to know I'm not the only one with a "pocket" mastiff

 

[jreach72]

It will be interesting to see these dogs at full size. I helped raise Great Danes when I was younger and it was fairly often when the "RUNT" would turn into the big massive male or female out of a litter when all was said and done. I remember the breeder saying it had more to do with the "love" they where given than their birth size.

 

[raechiemay]

As much as I want to see Duchess at her matured size, I want to enjoy (ha!!) the puppy stage as long as possible.

 

[jreach72]

I do agree with that...these are crazy fun pups. But then again what pup isn't crazy fun.

 

[raechiemay]

I just bought mine a giant rawhide chew. The little jerk decided she was a afraid of it. My 5 lb dog is now chewing on it. Doh!!!!

 

[jreach72]

Lol!

 

[jreach72]

Just a few updated pics...she is still very light for her age but height is good and growing daily! I weighed her last night at she was around 59lbs. She is now 25 weeks 3 days old (almost 6 months old).