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DottiesStars User is Offline

Kansas City, KS

SH
Posts:42

02/05/2008 9:37 AM
Here is some info on the floating rib that Rebecca talks about. This is very common in more than just sporting breeds as Boxers have it too. The Floating Rib: The last (or 13th rib), which is unattached to the other ribs. They are said to be floating because of an absence of an anterior articulation. However, they are not completely mobile and unattached: * they articulate with a single thoracic vertebra posteriorly * they are attached to thoracic cage muscles along their length. Here is a link to one discussion on the topic with the Boxers. http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63252 I hope that some of this information helps you. I too noticed the rib in the picture that Rebeca mentions and although I'm not seeing your dog in person, it looks to me like she is right about what she has said. I also agree with some of the other posts that it might be time to look for a different vet, especially if they didn't know what breed you have and it's not a rare breed or "designer" dog. As for the amount of food you're feeding, I wouldn't really worry about it. One of my dogs was eating 2 cups each meal, 3 times a day until he was 9 months old. I than took him down to 2 meals a day and was able to take each meal to 2 1/2 cups. If I give him any less than that he starts to look skinny. At 5 years old, he was still eating a total of 5 cups per day and was at a perfect weight. Dogs with a higher metabolism sometimes have to eat more to maintain their weight. A higher protein food will help out. Until your dog is 1 year old, I recommend keeping it on either a large breed puppy or performance, to cut down on potty and keep up on energy. Dottie J

gsp_lab

SH
Posts:46

02/05/2008 10:37 AM
Salley (4.5 yrs) eats 3 cups a day and maintains a girlish figure of 45 pounds. She does poop a lot and acts like she hungry all the time. But she's a petite girl. I don't think your GSP is too thin. Grrr...over the weekend I had a fat lady with an even fatter lab tell me that my solid liver lab/gsp mix needed to gain weight so he would look "more like other labs". Ugh--I feel like I have to watch his weight like a hawk (he's up to 78 pounds now) anyway and would like to take a pound or two off of him. I think her yellow "whopper" weighed in at about 95 pounds (we were at PetsMart) so that is definitely a road I DON'T to take Zipper down. I told her that he was mixed with a German Shorthair and that GSPs were not supposed to be fat.

Isabell07

Fort Walton Beach FL

SH
Posts:47

02/05/2008 4:20 PM
ya like I said it was a military Vet tec where you don't really see a vet DR. and most of them don't know anything about dogs they were just put into that job for the army. They know how to give shots which I could do it myself to since I use to be a Vet tech. so that is why I am not really worried much about her. i will be moving back home to my old vet which I just can't wait. i love this man. He is so good. i use to take my cocker there when I was home all the time. So new vet is already in the works. So no worries there.

The best things in life are never planned! -------------------------------------------------------------------

everbell

Kanata, ON

MH
Posts:3164

02/05/2008 5:59 PM
Ya ... Peanut butter is definitely one of Bo's favourites ... along with some nice plain yogurt! He also gets at least one apple a day and lots of frozen mini-carrots. He's up to 5 cups of food a day plus treats (at 11 months) and you can still see his back 5 ribs. His energy level is, umm, nuclear! I think that just goes with the territory

Joce and Rich Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs) Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats) The Everbell Adventures

caly1522

MH
Posts:270

02/05/2008 7:01 PM
Your new puppy is sooooo cute Isabell!!! I love the pics with the big collar. I think she looks good.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Pre

Marie

Wisconsin

MH
Posts:2721

02/06/2008 12:13 AM
You can't count any ribs on Rocky. He loves his food and bats at his bowl 2 times a day to remind me he is hungery. about 5 to 6 cups a day plus what ever he gets is mouth on

Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231

unowhoandwhy User is Offline

Middleofnowhere, NH

MH
Posts:1805

02/06/2008 8:42 AM
I free feed dry food for mine and they are very good about only eating when they are hungry. Layla is a hit & run nibbler - she likes to race into the house, grab a mouthful of kibble, and chew on her way back out for more adventures. Of course, she also spills half of it on her way back out, but it just forces me to sweep the floor more than I want to but as often as I should. She's so active that the weight stays off her no problem. I watch Daniel's intake a little closer, because he is older and less... insane , but since I got Layla he has lost all the weight he put on after I had knee surgery and was on crutches for 10 weeks & in physical therapy for 6 months. They also get plenty of yummy treats when they are good. Their favorites are yogurt, peanut butter and clementines (those little mini-oranges). Daniel will even peel his clementine if I don't do it for him.

Daniel Yankee Flyer - 8/2002 Lady Layla - 1/2006

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