![Why Is Your Vizsla Puppy Skinny? [6 Reasons]](https://vizslacare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/New-Project-1-6.jpg)
Vizsla puppies are famous for their sleek, muscular build and beautiful coats. So why is your Vizsla puppy skinny? Why does he have a potbelly or look so bony? It’s essential to know the causes of these problems because they can lead to life-threatening situations if not treated properly. This article will explain six reasons why you might find yourself with a skinny Vizsla pup.
Why My Vizsla Puppy Is Skinny?
It is usual for puppies to be skinny, even in breeds like Vizsla. Why? Our grown-up dogs are often overweight, so, naturally, their offspring will have a better chance of being thin or average weight rather than obese. A puppy needs less food because they’re growing and developing; as the pup grows into adulthood, its energy requirements increase.
Besides this, it also takes time for an adult dog’s stomach and small intestines to take up more space from eating larger meals. Besides this, most Vizslas won’t overeat without some encouragement. Thus, they are most often skinny.
Moreover, other reasons why your vizsla puppy might be skinny could be:
Refusing Food Makes Vizsla Puppy Skinny
Many Vizsla puppies refuse food as a way to manipulate their owners. So when you feed a Vizsla, it usually doesn’t want more until an hour or two later when it’s begging for your attention again.
If Vizsla puppies aren’t getting enough exercise and mental stimulation, sometimes they’ll also turn down food because they can live off of their fat reserves for months.
Vizsla Puppy Might Be Skinny Due To Stress And Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can cause a Vizsla puppy to lose weight. Usually, this is because stress hormones, such as cortisol, have the effect of increasing hunger. Stressful activities use these increased amounts of energy. So, they aren’t available for metabolism or appetite suppression. Thus, it can lead to more calorie consumption than necessary to maintain body weight.
Lack Of Exercise Makes Vizsla Puppy Skinny
A Vizsla puppy can also lose weight due to a lack of exercise. And this is because a lack of physical activity leads to an increase in appetite, which can lead the dog to eat more calories than necessary and finally leading them to become overweight or obese. A healthy diet combined with appropriate amounts of daily exercise will maintain a healthy weight for your Vizsla puppy.
Inappropriate Diet
A Vizsla puppy can also lose weight due to an inappropriate diet. Generally, this is because people will feed their dog the same type of food more often. Why? Because they are convenient without considering whether or not it’s appropriate for the dog’s age, size or breed.
A Vizsla puppy needs a diet with high-quality protein sources and healthy fats like Omega-rich fat for optimal health at the early stage of life. And as they grow older, they need more fibrous food until they are too old to digest them. Unfortunately, the owner fails to understand these, so Vizsla becomes skinny.
Vizsla Puppy Might Be Skinny Due To Genetics
One of the most possible and common reasons for the leaner appearance of Vizsla is due to genetics. Since some breeds of dogs have a higher metabolism, they tend to be on the skinnier side. People call these breeds “sporting” or “hound-type” dog breeds. And they include Vizslas, Weimaraners, Dachshunds, Basenji’s, Afghan Hounds, Salukis, and Whippets.
Low-Quality Food
One of the most common reasons, why Vizsla puppy is skinny is because they are not getting enough energy from their food. Check to make sure your veterinarian has approved the food you’re feeding and that it’s high quality, made specifically for active dogs.
You may be familiar with low-quality foods, also “junk food” for humans, but animal nutritionists have a similar view about these foods. Why? Because they are high in calories and low in nutrients.
Undetected Health Issues In Vizsla Puppy Makes It Skinny
Vizsla puppies can quickly become malnourished, so it’s vital to be on the lookout for any health problems that could cause weight loss. If your pup is not eating or has other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy, they might have health issues that need medical assistance.
If your Vizsla puppy is thin, it could be due to various health problems, most commonly bladder stones, kidney disease, or cancer. So, these pets need close monitoring so that treatment can begin when the condition starts taking its toll.
Furthermore, dogs with metabolic bone diseases like renal osteodystrophy may not eat and develop a thin appearance. Thus, these diseases need screening so Vizsla can receive the appropriate diet and treatments.
How To Know If My Vizsla Is Underweight?
People often assume underweight puppies as unhealthy. However, this is not the case. A Vizsla’s weight can fluctuate by a few pounds throughout their lives. And it is normal for puppies to be skinny when they are young.
Usually, the healthy weight of Vizsla is around 17.2 pounds for males and 16.5 pounds for females.
But how do you know if your Vizsla is underweight or not? Read more below to get your answers.
Check Your Vizsla’s Body Shape
Some Vizslas may have a thinner build than others because they might have longer, leaner muscles and less fat in their bodies.
So, how can you tell if your dog’s body shape is more on the slender side? First, look at how much space there is between its ribs and hips: if it seems like there is a lot more space between them, then your dog is likely on the leaner side.
Feel For Your Vizsla’s Ribs
The best way to tell if your Vizsla is underweight or not is to verify that you’re getting the right amount of food for her age, size, breed, and activity level is to feel for her ribs. How? Place one hand flat on top of the other in a “patting” motion vertically along the side of her rib cage.
How many ribs do you feel? A healthy Vizsla will have a minimum of 12 pairs, while an underweight Vizsla may only have nine or ten.
Look At Your Vizsla From The Side
You must see the ribcage of a Vizsla easily when viewed from the side. If you cannot see your dog’s ribs, it is probably underweight. Also, compare their body types to look for diminished muscle mass or fat deposits prevalent in overweight animals.
Check your Vizsla’s back legs and see if they are thin but not too thin or emaciated. If their muscles (rather than fat) appear more prominent than an average Vizsla’s body, this may be a sign that they’re not eating enough.
Examine Your Vizsla’s Behavior
Usually, underweight puppies are fast and picky eaters. Skittish is another unusual behavior that thinner (underweight) puppy shows. It is slow to get up when called for dinner or spends all of its time hiding.
Furthermore, skinny Vizslas have lesser energy, yawn a lot, and have less stamina. Besides this, they have lower immunity and are more likely to suffer from infections.
Weigh Your Vizsla
Generally, the minimum weight for a Vizsla is about 30 pounds. However, for optimal health, your puppy should weigh between 60 and 80 pounds in adulthood. Further, it should grow at a rate of about one pound every week.
Therefore, to know whether your Vizsla is skinny or not, you should weigh it regularly.
Consider The Health Effects Of Being Underweight In Vizsla Puppies
Vizsla puppies are generally healthy when they’re at the correct weight. So, to know whether your pal is underweight or not, you should know its health status. A healthy weight Vizsla is energetic and doesn’t show signs of limping, fatigue, or breathing difficulties.
Some dogs are naturally thin, while others may have a condition that leads to weight loss. However, if your Vizsla pup weighs less than five pounds of its average weight, it is underweight. Thus, take care of them as soon as possible to prevent any health concerns in the future.
Make A Vet Examine Your Vizsla
A veterinarian will do some physical examinations like checking the pup’s abdomen, neck and shoulder regions. And this is because some breeds might be more vulnerable to even a minor infection that can cause them to lose weight.
A veterinarian will also do blood work on your Vizsla puppy to know if an underlying illness or condition is causing it not to eat correctly. As a result, the Vet conducts an overall checkup of your Vizsla to identify if it is underweight.
How To Help Your Vizsla Gain Healthy Weight?
Managing a healthy weight of your Vizsla is vital for their health and longevity. So, it is essential to focus on your dog’s diet and exercise to maintain its average weight and give it a qualitative life.
Owing to the importance of weight management, here are some ways to help your Vizsla gain healthy weight:
- Feed Vizslas a diet of high-quality, natural protein sources. Feed your dog lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, or dairy products, that are low in fat and high in nutritional value.
- Vizsla puppy diets differ depending on age and size, but in general, two meals a day are the best option for most dogs.
- Observe if your Vizsla is drinking their water every day and notice the likelihood of them possibly gulping it down. If not, make sure to increase the amount of water. Staying hydrated can help eliminate hunger and thirst as well as manage weight.
- If your Vizsla puppy is skinny and seems to be not feeling well, promptly bring them in for an appointment with the veterinarian.
- Knowledge of a Vizsla’s bowel movements per day is key to understanding if your pup needs help. If the dog hasn’t had a bowel movement in over two days, there may be something wrong with its stomach.
- Monitor whether or not your Vizsla has any other symptoms, such as hair loss. If you notice bald patches in their coat or if they act abnormally, contact a veterinarian with some degree of urgency.
- Introducing new foods into the diet can be challenging for both adults and kids, but there are plenty of ways you can go about it so that your Vizsla puppy doesn’t vomit or have diarrhea.
If any of the above symptoms persist, take medical assistance from the Vet.
Conclusion
If your Vizsla has a slimmer and less muscled dog, it may be because they are in the process of growing. And as their muscles develop, so will their appetite grow accordingly, or if not, that’s what we hope for it.
Summing up, this article will help you identify why your pup might be too thin. If you think your dog needs medical attention or a higher calorie diet, consult with a veterinarian for advice.
If it doesn’t seem that anything’s wrong and he needs more exercise, feel free to give our suggestions below. Following the tips in this article will help your puppy regain their healthy weight. Whenever a challenge arises, leave a comment below. We’ll be happy to offer feedback on the situation.
