Lab Weight?

[Darleina]

Hey Everyone

New here, but have a question I'm sure you've all answered a hundred times.

Our lab puppy had some issues when we first brought him home at almost 8 weeks. We continued on the food the breeder was giving him (Eagle Pack Large Breed) as she said all the pups were doing well on it (later we looked back at pictures from the breeder and realized he really wasn't). We almost had to hand/force feed him each day kibble by kibble- wet or dry. We took him into the vet at 9 weeks and he agreed he was quite underweight. He suggested we switch him immediately to a regular breed food to increase the number of calories he was getting when he did eat. We stayed with the same brand hoping for as little disruption to his system as possible, but it was the same thing. We tried and tried and eventually switched him to Canadian Naturals (an all breed all ages food- I know gasp, but he actually eats it for once like a real lab should!!) So he didn't really start getting proper food until about 10.5 weeks. He's now still skinny (as all the food he eats is still going to the actual growing that he's doing) but no where near as bad as it was. He's 14 weeks and 2 days now and weighs in at 21lbs. We feed him nearly 3 cups a day over 3 feedings a day (poop is still runny a bit with the amount his tummy is trying to fit in there).

So the question is: how much did your pup way at 14 weeks? We want to know how far behind he is still.

Extra info: He comes from field trial lines with the Dam weighing in at 65lbs and the sire in at 70lbs in athletic shape.

Thanks for any help you can give!

Here's some pics of our little guy Porter (named for a skydiving airplane as both myself and my boyfriend are skydiving instructors):

[Rocky911]

are you still in contact with the breeder? Can you ask them what the littermates weight at this point? That would be the best comparison.

You will hopefully get an idea on range of weight but different lines can vary, even within the same "lab type"

The board can be abit slower on weekends so you can also do a search on the website for other posts on this topic to get more answers. here are just a few

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/g...ghlight=weight

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/l...ghlight=weight

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...t=puppy+weight

(there are many more...)

[Darleina]

I've spoken with the breeder. His littermates at the time I spoke with her (around 10 weeks) were about 7-10 pounds heavier on average. So we do know he's little for what he should be, but we're hoping he'll catch up. Thanks fo your reply!

[javadoo]

Hm, 14 weeks is about 3 1/2 months old. Java weighed 34 lbs at 3 months, and 55 lbs at 5 months. She's a big girl though and always has been...she came home at 8 weeks at 16+ lbs. Now, at 10 months she is 70+ lbs.
Our newest pup Moka is almost 14 weeks old and she weighs about 24 lbs. She was a little one, coming home at 8 weeks weighing 11 lbs.

[Golightly Labs]

I think there's an underlying tummy issue. Ask the vet to check his poop for any parasites. He could have eaten something that gave him worms or a bug. The runny stool is the concern.

As for weight, I actually don't think he's too underweight at 21 lbs. But the poop issue is a concern.

[Mya]

At that age Mya weighed around 25 lbs. She has always been on the smaller side. That was not underweight for her, that was just right. As long as she was growing and gaining weight at a steady rate she was doing great. She's now 68 lbs at 1 1/2 years old. I would have the vet check out your dog for parasites. Take a stool sample in.

[Darleina]

Thanks for the tips everyone. We're waiting to get into the vet (small town, hard to get in) and we'll see what he has to say. Thanks again!

Darleina & Porter

[ZoeysMommy]

you got yourself a cutie! I would get some stool samples tested for parasites, the runny stools would concern me as well

[Random Gemini]

Um... hate to point out the obvious but have you had this pup tested for giardia?

Eagle pack from what I've been reading about it is a GREAT food and your pup should not have been losing weight on it. Loss of appetite, weight loss and runny stools = giardia.

[Darleina]

Thanks, we're not too worried about a parasite as he certainly has an appetite and he is growing normally now. We're just trying to catch him up. His poop is solid for the most part but can be quite soft if we over feed him. We're told this is just too much food in his system getting passed through without the chance for the body to fully process and absorb the liquid. It's not every time but its enough to be noted and we've spoken about it to the vet in the past. We never did get him tested for giardia though so perhaps if we see a recurrance of actual weight loss or lack of appetite.

We're more just trying to guage how much we missed. We figure about 7-8 pounds behind schedule. He's growing like a weed though now- which is also part of the reason the vet figures he's not actually thickening as much. All the food he is eating is going towards fueling his UP growth instead of his thickness.

Thanks again!

[CaraBella]

Cara was 25.80 at 14 weeks 1 day. At that time she was going to puppy play at our vets office & was weighed every week, so fortunately I have a record of it.

[Patty/Breeder]

Whenever you bring home a new pup a stool sample should be checked at your initial health check. If that was not done I highly recommend droping a sample at the vets to check for coccidia, giardia, etc.

He sure is a cutey!

[parrothead]

Your pup is simply adorable!!!!! Oh my goodness!!!

[Parapara]

First, your puppy is SO Cute!! What did the vet say with his stool sample? It could be the food making his stool runny.. definitely a vet visit in order

[Justus_momma]

How is your puppy doing now? Just because he eats well doesn't mean that there isn't a parasite of some sort. They can pick them up so easily. How many times did his breeder worm him? I would definitly have him tested for giardia.
My boy is from English/Show lines and he weighed 20 lbs at 10 weeks old. But I really wouldn't worry about what your pup weighs as long as he eats and gains weight on a regular schedule. It is very difficult to compare one dog to another because they are all different even among field or show lines. My pup is now 9 months old and has a littermate who is 3 inches shorter. So, as long as you vet is happy with his growth then don't worry.
Oh BTW- to the person with the weim pic...LOVE the weim. I have a blue who is 2 and she is the best dog!