weight of my boxer puppy

Question
QUESTION: My question is that I have a female boxer puppy that is ten weeks old and she weighs 5.5 pounds. When asking the breeder he said that her mom and dad are both under 40 pounds each and that she is just a small boxer puppy however my vet says this weight is entirely to small for her age and her breed? She plays,eats, and seems to be happy-Should I be concerned of her weight at this time? I'am very confused and would really like some advice on this. Thanks,Ashley

ANSWER: That is extremely too low weight for 10 weeks old.


5.5lbs is more in line for a 1.5-2 week old newborn. They weigh in over a pound when born.

40 lbs for an adult male is ridiculously low. Adult males should weigh in at 70-90 lbs regardless of their bone structure, and an adult female at 50-65 lbs.

The breeder is giving you excuses for an unhealthy puppy. And, their unhealthy parents they are breeding. I would imagine they are back yard breeders making a buck and not a legit kennel breeder.

Get her to a vet ASAP.

Feed her the highest protein puppy food possible, that is all natural without corn and corn gluten. Read the ingredients and select the best.

Add 1 cup whole, plain (preferably unsweetened, but sweetened is okay) yogurt to her puppy food at minimum, once a day, preferably three times a day for a month.

I would consider also a homemade formula to add weight on her"

1-can 12 ounce evaporated milk (not condensed)

12 ounces filtered water

1 raw egg

1 cup whole, plain yogurt

1/2 teaspoon Kayro syrup

Blend in blender. This makes a couple of containers to keep refrigerated.

Give her this at every meal, 4-5 meals a day, no less, and offer water too.

I would consider offering her to lick smooth creamy peanut butter off your finger as snacks a few times a day, and also vanilla ice cream (vanilla only) in a bowl once or twice a day.

She should gain weight rapidly, and weight approximately 10-13 lbs. for her age-- and no less.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,thanks for the advice-just one more question for you-I have taken my puppy to the vet and she says that we should do some lab work regarding her liver-that she may have a liver shunt-have you ever heard of this and should I let the vet do all this lab work right now or should I see if she gains weight first because when I firstgot her at 8 weeks old she weighed 2.9 pounds and in two weeks she gone from that to 5.5 pounds?    Thanks so much for your advice it sheds some light on the situation.  Ashley

Answer
I suggest taking her to the vet for the proper testing on liver shunts to be sure and if so, the proper treatment and surgery.

In the meantime treat her with the diet I recommended and as high protein as possible.

Visit these links and Google "liver shunts in Boxer dogs" and "canine liver shunts." Learn all you can.

But the vet is right to test her.

I pray that is not the problem, and it's only diet, but liver shunts don't absorb and process the protein. So the vet is on target to test.


Links:

http://rescueaboxer.blogspot.com/2008/09/informal-tribute-to-luna-and-strength.h

http://www.italian-greyhound.net/livershunt.htm


http://www.terrificpets.com/forum/53108.asp