Expert: Jannie Balliett - 3/28/2008

Question
I have a 13 month old female boxer.  She weighs 52 lbs.  I feed her 2 cups of food twice per day (4 cups total).  I sometimes  mix carrots and chicken breast with her food. I have just recently started adding 1/3 cup Nutro soft food with her kibble. She also has three or four Nutro cookies per day.  She seems very thin to me.  You can see all of her ribs and when she bends down you can see her spine.  You can also see her little hip bones.  The last vet exam (approximately 3 months ago) she was not concerned.  My family frightens me as they are always telling me how skinny she is (they all have pitt bulls).  We walk our dog every evening approximately 1-3 miles.  Please advise

Answer
First of all, all Boxers appetites are varied. Some eat more than others.

You SHOULD be feeding her on the "self-feed" method.

This is providing her kibble available to her at all times for her to eat when she wants, and as much as she wants.

No dog has an appetite on YOUR schedule. You feed her at times she might not be hungry, and to tell you the truth, the amount you are feeding her IS NOT ENOUGH for a growing dog!

So you need to have her on the self-feed method: keep kibble (or whatever, in her food bowl AT ALL TIMES with fresh water AT ALL TIMES.

Secondly, I am shocked your vet was not concerned and did not follow up with simple tests. She probably has a thyroid condition and needs Thyrozine (or whatever he/she would prescribe) daily, if not twice daily.

The first symptom of a thyroid disorder/imbalance is ribs showing in spite of a healthy appetite, and the second symptom is shedding: excessive shedding.

You need a NEW VET. Pick a vet that is Boxer SAVVY. One that knows the breed well. Thyroid disorder in a Boxer is almost a normal in every Boxer.

Your vet is ignorant of the breed.

Get her to a new vet ASAP and tested. They will draw blood from the artery in her neck and test it. Then, if she has a thyroid imbalance, put on her meds. I use Pala-Tech's chewable (and flavored) Soloxine (3MG for my Roxxie) twice daily...and she loves them. They only costs around $15 for 180 count. Others such as Thyroxine cost $38-40 per 180 count and are pills, not chewable, not flavored.

Get her to a vet. She should NOT have ribs and hip bones showing, and should eat whenever she wants to. Get on the self-feed method ASAP.