Dale is looking a little lean

[Chip's Mom]

Dale just turned 5 months old and he is starting to look a little lean to me. I have just uped his canned food. He is cutting teeth and now has his bottom canines in and he is very active. I am thinking that Chip went through this about that age. Any thoughts.

[Michael Romanos]

A little lean sounds great. But if you mean skinny then that is slightly concerning. I recall the canine nutrition guy I interviewed saying that whilst underweight is better that overweight, a dog should not be underweight either.

Don't lessen activity or exercising at all. Some food is definitely more fattening than others but like a human, a dog can be slim on the outside but fat on the inside - which means that quality food is important even for a dog that needs to be built up. Without doubt, the Hills dry food Taylor gets is a little more fattening than any of the others he has had - so he gets a little less of it or a little less of the supplement food added to his meal. Royal Canin, I am told, is an opposite - one needs to give more of it than is usual because it is 'leaner' in its contents.

I am sure Dale is not in the category of internal parasites eating the good food you give him.

[Chip's Mom]

Dale is on heartworm medication so no worries about worms and he isn't skinny just looks a little lean to me.

[glencorgi]

Sounds like a growing spurt, have two girls here doing the same thing. Up his food a little to compensate for the spurt.

Debbie