This is a placeholder text
Group text
by ajchandler on 29 June 2012 - 17:06
Question: I have a 12 week old purebread Malinois and he only weighs 13lbs. He looked pretty skinny when I got him about 2 weeks ago but I'm feeding him well. He didn't eat for a few days due to coccidia, but medicine wiped that out and he's eating very well. Mom is a retired police veteran imported from Belgium. She's about 60lbs and the sire is thin but 72lbs. The sire is only 1.5 years old. My vet said my puppy will only grow to 30-35lbs. Is this possible for a malinois? He was the last puppy left so most likely the runt. Shouldn't he have caught up by now? Is it possible to have a 35lb purebread Malinois?
by malndobe on 29 June 2012 - 19:06
Is it possible, definitely. I bred a 50 pound female to a 65-70 pound male and got pups that as adults ranged from 30lbs to 65lbs. The 30 pounder is only 18 inches tall also, and 30 is a "filled out" weight for her, skinny she's 27-28lbs.
You said the pup is eating well now, is he still skinny though? IE is 13 pounds right now a good solid weight for him, or could he stand to be a few pounds heavier (ribs are showing, etc).
I'd estimate him to be more like 40 as an adult based on his current weight, maybe a bit more. General rule of thumb is double the weight around 5 months old to get an adult weight. But that also varies, in the smaller adults their adult weight is more a doubling of their 4 month weight. But your pup will probably be around 20 pounds at 4 months based on it's current weight, ie 40ish pound adult.
You said the pup is eating well now, is he still skinny though? IE is 13 pounds right now a good solid weight for him, or could he stand to be a few pounds heavier (ribs are showing, etc).
I'd estimate him to be more like 40 as an adult based on his current weight, maybe a bit more. General rule of thumb is double the weight around 5 months old to get an adult weight. But that also varies, in the smaller adults their adult weight is more a doubling of their 4 month weight. But your pup will probably be around 20 pounds at 4 months based on it's current weight, ie 40ish pound adult.
by ajchandler on 29 June 2012 - 19:06
Thank you,
His ribs were showing a couple days ago - but he's filled out a little in the last few days since I started giving him the parasite meds.
Anything I can do to help along his growth in a healthy manner, or are his genes the only factor in his size at this point?
Anything I can do to help along his growth in a healthy manner, or are his genes the only factor in his size at this point?
by malndobe on 29 June 2012 - 19:06
If you have taken care of the parasites and have him on a quality food, there isn't anything else you can do really. He will grow to be what his genetics say for him to be. He may be a little delayed because of the poor start, but what you have already done is about all you can do. Over feeding isn't going to make him get bigger, it will just give him the runs.
Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top