Hi everyone. i just need some advice. I bought a Lab puppy on Sunday, he was the last of the litter and 11 weeks old. I thought he was a bit little when I got him, but his mum was slender, so thought he would just take after her. He was friendly, and I just wanted to take him home with me anyway. I took him for his first vaccination yesterday, but he only weighs 4.3 kg..thats just under 9.5lbs.
I wormed him the night I got him home and all he has wanted to do since is eat. He was from the breeders first litter, and they said that they were fed 4 times a day until 7ks old, then twice a day from then on.
He has no under skin fat, rolls...and when he stretched down to eat you can see his ribs. There were big chunky ones in the litter...do you think he was just pushed out of the way as a pup? and will he gain the weight.like a prem baby, and reach the same adult weight and size eventually? I am feeding him little and often now, in the hope that he will gain a small amount each week.
Any advice gladly accepted. Has anyone else had a similar thing with a labrador pup? Thanks Maddy x

what was the vets opinion?

To be honest, the vet was shocked when I said he was 11 weeks old, as he is a similar size to a 6 wk old pup. The mum was slender, similar to my border collie, so she said that he could possible take after her.
Ive just ready the other posts in the weight forum, and im shocked..he should be at least 11kgs not 4.3! The breeder has basically starved him, cutting him down to 2 meals a day at 7 weeks...no wonder hes ravenous.
The vet said that i have to worm him again in 2 weeks, and hopefully he should have gained some weight in that time.
He is full KC registered, papered and from good FTCH blood lines, and hes happy enough in himself...im just so worried with him being so underweight, and worried about the possibility of any permanent damage.

As I'm sure you know, pups need to be fed 4 meals a day until they're 12 weeks, then three meals a day until 6 months, and then down to 2, which they usually stay on for life. You've already realised your poor pup has been starved, so will need especial care for some time, and may have medical problems as a result. With his poor start I'd keep him on 4 meals a day (or even 5 small ones) for at least another month before considering cutting one out.

I've just looked at my records, and my working-bred labrador bitch puppy weighed 20 lb at 11 weeks, and she wasn't a 'chunky' puppy.

We have a working Lab who is about 1 week younger than yours. He has been well fed at the breeders and also here, yet you can also see his ribs as well. His mother is slender as is the father. He is also from a breeder who has just started out, though the pedigree was researched before the mating took place(know owners of the stud dog).

He's asleep right now so don't want to wake him to weigh him, will add his weight shortly though after he has woken.

JG has given good advice and i'm sure with a careful eye and a good vet everything will go well for you.

Just weighed him and he is 13lbs at 9 1/2 weeks. Though he doesn't really seem to be growing that quick, they do say that pups grow in their sleep. It feels he is always awake apart from the past hour, typical Lab pup though,, My berner pup slept a lot when young..

> I bought a Lab puppy on Sunday, he was the last of the litter and 11 weeks old

> I took him for his first vaccination yesterday, but he only weighs 4.3 kg..thats just under 9.5lbs.
>

> He was from the breeders first litter, and they said that they were fed 4 times a day until 7ks old, then twice a day from then on

Well I am shocked too.

I have a breed that probably as adults weigh about 3/4's what a Labrador does.

I would expect my pups at 8 weeks to be about 10lbs.

Puppies need feeding at least four times a day until 12 weeks, then 3 times  a day until around 5 - 6 months and then twice a day until a year.

Up the 7 weeks the Mum is still feeding them some of the time to then drop them to twice a day is ludicrous.

I suspect your right the bigger pups managed the smaller ones not.

Your pup probably will make the height he was genetically destined to, but he may never make the Bone structure.

I look for a Lab puppy to gain around a Kilo per week or thereabouts.. so would expect a 11week old pup to be around 9/11kg depending on parents

this little lad has a long way to go.. and I am sure you will do him justice.. feeding him possibly 5 meals a day for a few weeks .. you say he is around the sze of a 6 weeks old.. then treat him as if he is just that...

I would imagine at this age he is not running or playing around for any great length of time.. but.. just in case you are encouraging him (new puppy and all the fun etc).. try not to.. you want him to store all his energy not use it up... so loads of love  and cuddles etc.. but very little playing.. that will come later :-)... he will need to be out socialising and as soon as his jabs are done.. walking should be limited to 5mins or so.. not the 15min he should normall have at this age.. so I would carry him for a while.. pop him down for a few min.. and then carry him again.. pop down for a few mins etc.. meeting and greeting as you go :-)

while feeding him extra, he will need to keep a good liquid intake.. so water would be down at all times... however.. I would possibly be making up some 'half quantity' lactol .. this will also give him those extra calories needed while drinking... or goats milk..

dont make a mistake of feeding him extra dog 'treats'... these are full of calories, but they  have little nutritional value... so for housetraining and little extra's.. chicken, cheese, especially goats cheese, if you can get it..

Thank you all very much for your advice. Its very worrying, but I am already doing as you say...treating him as I would a 6 wk old. He slept all day yesterday, except for waking to have feeds and toileting, so I left him alone to save his energy. He was more lively by the evening, so we had a little play in the lounge, but he doesn't play for long before he wants to curl up on me and go to sleep. I don't know if its good or bad, but I let him sleep on me as I think the body contact is warmer for him and more comforting. Hes had a bad start, I want to make sure he feels secure and safe.
I emailed the breeder, and told them that the vet was concerned about his size, but she said that she thought he looked fine! Ive got to collect my papers from them yet, when they receive them from the kennel club, so Ive got to bite my tongue until then.
They shouldn't have had puppies if they weren't prepared to put the effort in. They said they weren't planned, but that's no excuse for not researching what to do and how to feed/worm them etc. I asked her what they had wormed them on and when they had been wormed last...neither question got an answer, they said they thought he was about due!
I just hope he does ok, I will keep you all informed on his next weigh in at the vets, and fingers crossed. Mnay thanks again xx

sound like you are doing okay for your new pup. Pity the breeder didnt.
Hope all turns out okay for him.
keep up the good work.

I doubt he has been wormed then either.

Hi Everyone. Ive just had Boris back to the vets this morning for his second vaccination and microchipping, and at 13 weeks old, he now weights  7.3 kgs! The vet says he's doing well, and she isn't worried about him at all now.
Thanks to everyone for their tips and support. I'm so relieved that hes gaining weight, hes much bigger now and he even has those little puppy rolls :)
Its amazing what feeding and worming can do...
best wishes to you all, Maddy xx