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Author
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Topic: Starvation?
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nounchie87
Junior Member
Member # 896
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posted April 21, 2004 05:09 PM
Hello fellow dog lovers,
Well, there's a dog, medium size, still a puppy, that my neighbor owns and I really like the dog too, but what concerns me is whether Tony, the German Shepard, is being starved or not. Today, afterschool, I came home, petted him, and while I was heading for the door, I could see his rib cage faintly,not too conspicuous yet gets me wondering if it's a sign of starvation?
Other than today, a while ago I did suspect that Tony has not been treated well in concern with eating. So if any one would help me answer my question, that would be grateful and it's for to help Tony too.
Thank you all.
Animalovs
Posts: 2 | Registered: Apr 2004
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ellierat
Member
Member # 612
Member Rated:
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posted April 21, 2004 05:23 PM
You should be able to see the last rib on a dog that is in perfect weight. The stomach should be without concave but not rounded either. The best way to test is to feel the dogs ribs, if you can feel the last 3 but not see them he is fine, if you see the last he is fine, but if you can clearly see all the ribs and the stomach is concave he is underweight. But better to have a slightly underweight than obese dog.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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nounchie87
Junior Member
Member # 896
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posted April 21, 2004 06:16 PM
Thank you ellierat
Posts: 2 | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
Member
Member # 740
Member Rated:
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posted April 21, 2004 09:21 PM
Do you have any other reason to think the dog is being mistreated?
Is his coat falling out, or any signs of sickness?
Many german shepard pups look underweight and they fill out around 2 years of age. Crosses (not pure) sometimes look under weight their entire lives.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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MarioLuigi
Member
Member # 824
Rate Member
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posted April 22, 2004 03:07 PM
Your dog should have a nie hourglass shape to him. You should be able to feel the ribs slightly under a layer of padding. He shuold not have many visible ribs. Watch his eating habits to see hta he's eating. Over eating and still losing weight means there is a very good chance of worms or other parasites. Not eating is a sign of illness.
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Posts: 92 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2004
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