Expert: Jannie Balliett - 12/1/2009

Question
we have a 6month old boxer (male) and seems to lounge around his food at times and not scoff it down as he used too, so we have reduced his feed to 2 times a day. Also seems to be quite thin towards his hind legs just wondering what sort of weight a 6 month old boxer should be really and should we be worried!? thanks  

Answer
Don't reduce his food -- actually, I suggest self-feed with Boxers once they are 6 months old.

Leave food and water out all the time, available to him.

Reasoning, Boxers are grazers; they eat bits and bites once in awhile, all the time, but eat late at night.

You do not want him to "scoff" his food, or drink his water fast. It causes bloat: his stomach twists and kills him fast.

This is why he is thin, he needs self-feeding to eat when HE wants to eat.

Be sure to feed him a high protein puppy food; an all natural or organic, no corn, no corn glutens, no glutens, no by-products.... search and read labels at a pet store- not a grocery store.

Add whole, plain (no flavor) yogurt to his food a couple times a day. This is a miracle.