Weight - too low?

CoCosMom · Mar 18, 2009

Weight - too low? (Pics Added 1st Post)

CoCo, who is 3 years old, was experiencing some stiffness and soreness after some weekend-warrior type activities on our nearby trails. We took her to the vet, who put her on glucosamine supplements and told us to drop her weight.

In December she was around 28kgs (61lbs)... this past Saturday she was down to 24.8kgs (54.5 lbs). The vet wants to see her down another kg, to about 52lbs.

Does that seem low to you guys? I think she looks pretty good now. I'll have to post a pic, but she has definitely slimmed down, narrows at the waist. Anyone here have a healthy lab under 55lbs?

Edit to add pics (measured her, she is about 21.5"):

TobysTrix · Mar 18, 2009

Depends on her build and height, I guess. That does seem light to me though but I'm certainly not an expert by any means.

Toby's more than twice that, but our vet says he's at the right weight for his build - of course, he's a giant, too!

Luvmydog2much · Mar 18, 2009

Yikes, I don't know who Coco's parents are, but I remember you saying she was show bred. That would be a very petite labby for sure. I would be apalled if any of my puppy buyers called and told me that my pups were 55lbs.

Do you have a photo?

millstonekennel · Mar 18, 2009

You should be able to just feel the ribs with out digging for them to much and not be able to see them. Here is a chart that might help.
http://www.purina.com/dogs/health/AdultBodyCondChart.pdf

Trickster · Mar 18, 2009

52lbs sounds very slight for a full grown adult.

Pictures would be good...

zoezoe · Mar 18, 2009

cissy was/is about 55 lbs.; anything more is too much on her. she is "compact" compared to zoe who is around 62 lbs. remembering coco's pics and being a small puppy; it would make sense. my vet also feels less is better in labbies.

HersheyK's Dad · Mar 18, 2009

HK is 56 lbs. and the vet is super happy with her weight. I thought she looked good at 61 lbs., but was told no.

justine · Mar 18, 2009

Abbey isn't full Lab but she tips the scale between 42 and 45 lbs. She's way too active and high strung to keep a lot of weight on her and she's not a big eater, either, so she's very thin but muscular.

I think it really depends on the dog.. Abbey would look like a cow if she gained 10 pounds

cinderbay · Mar 18, 2009

cinder is 50 but small she should be at least 57-60 with good muscle tone

sarah · Mar 18, 2009

Milly is dead on 60lbs and in my thread "how tall is your lab?" there is a picture of what she looks like if you want a comparison.

Cheers Sarah

Baloo317 · Mar 19, 2009

I'd say that's smaller than average, but healthy weight is so much more dependent on body condition/type rather than actual weight in numbers.

I agree with zoezoe, with labs often less is more.

YellowJakesMom · Mar 19, 2009

zoezoe said:
cissy was/is about 55 lbs.; anything more is too much on her. she is "compact" compared to zoe who is around 62 lbs. remembering coco's pics and being a small puppy; it would make sense. my vet also feels less is better in labbies.

I agree. Especially if you are having possible issues with joints, you will be doing her a huge favor by keeping her a little on the thin side than tipping too far the other direction.

CoCosMom · Mar 19, 2009

Luvmydog2much said:
Yikes, I don't know who Coco's parents are, but I remember you saying she was show bred. That would be a very petite labby for sure. I would be apalled if any of my puppy buyers called and told me that my pups were 55lbs.

Do you have a photo?

I'll post a photo tonight. Her mother, Lacey, was on the petite side at around 55-60lbs, I didn't meet the father as he is from the US, but a couple of members here have, and I believe he was also on the smaller side.

Sire: Boothgate's Chief Producer

Dam: Gomagan Leather E Lace

CoCo DEFINITELY looks trimmer than her folks do!

CoCosMom · Mar 19, 2009

*bump* for pics in 1st post.

PhoebeJeebies · Mar 19, 2009

I'm not an expert by any means, but I'd say she looks thin - if anything, she could do with a couple more pounds on her.

ETA I see a cute little Ben in the corner who looks a lot like his mommy!!

Baloo317 · Mar 20, 2009

I think she looks good now, for what it's worth. But I like labs (especially those with joint problems) a little on the thin side.

millstonekennel · Mar 20, 2009

She looks good to me.

zoezoe · Mar 20, 2009

i think she looks great and like baloo said; i also like them on the thin side. she's perfect to me! and so is her brudda!!!

Fritofeet · Mar 20, 2009

I think she could use a couple of pounds. She can have some of mine!

Bob Pr. · Mar 20, 2009

She looks great to me, too.

You'll be doing yourself AND your Lab's health & longevity a BIG FAVOR by keeping her on the light side. This has been proved over and over by recent scientific nutritional studies ON LABS.

Read links below:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first two links are reports of different results from the same study and as if it was recently done (actually it was published in JAVMA around 2003-4 or so). The first summary emphasizes the huge increase in longevity; the second the siginificant reduction in health problems.

http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/article.php?id=144

http://www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/02/12.12.02/dog-diet.html

Here's another study exploring reasons for the better health:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsande...ewssummary/news_12-4-2007-13-0-17?newsid=9914

The summary below of that same investigation makes it clear that the dogs used were Labradors and that it's an extension of the original Nestle-Purina study:

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2007/April/11040701.asp

Weight - too low?

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