My daughter has just recued an 18month old Golden retriever and we fear something is wrong. He eats and eats but is losing weight. His back end also looks very skinny and coat condition not good at the rear. Poops and urine good and very bouncy and not atall lethargic. She has been to the vets who just said to change his food and report back in a month. Has anyone any idea as to what could be the problem?

Has she changed the diet?  What from and what to and how long has she given it?

Obvious question, but has this dog been recently wormed, with a vet prescribed wormer not shop bought???

A really good complete dog food with chicken and rice or some BARF feeding should help him to put on weight.  An awful lot of GR's and GSD's do tend to be quite thin, (unless really big boned) at this age, and then tend to fill out with solid muscle between 2-3 years, this is probably why your vet is not too worried.

As long as he is fit and well, eating fine, with no runny tum then try not to worry too much, he should fill out in his own time.

We dont know what he was always fed on being a rescue. The person she got him from said he was on a tinned food from the vet to put on weight but the dog would not eat it so for the last month has given him complete Dr Johns. When she took him to the vets he did not advise any special diet but just told her to change it. The vet said he was concerned but tests would be expensive so just to try changing the diet first. I am aware that large dogs go through a lanky stage having owned GSDs but this dog just does not look right. Big and chunky from the shoulders forward but the back end terribly thin. With my GSds they never lost weight when in the lanky mode and generally looked lanky all over not just the back end.

Is the dog sound on his back end  and has he defined muscle tone ? If not I would def take him back to the vets. I have found with my older Goldens that green tripe and biscuit will add bulk. Skinners working 23 also is very good but watch the protien levels in some  foods. How much does he weigh ? I keep my boys (they work during the season) at 32kg and the girls at 28/29 kg.

How much does he weigh ? I keep my boys (they work during the season) at 32kg and the girls at 28/29 kg.

Don't forget though how much Golden SIZE can vary! I have had one male dog who was his right weight at just 25 kg, and currently have one that would look too thin at anything less than 37.

As others have said 18 months is a notorious age for many Goldens to be to skinny -they usually grow out of it by age 3. When my youngest went through a particularly bad phase (I was almost afraid to walk him in case people would report me to the RSPCA!) I started giving him 3 meals a day and he soon added weight.

Thank you Marianne, I do realise that Goldens can vary in weight. I was mearly giving an example of what my dogs weigh when in peak fitness, they pick up 2 to 3 times a week during the season. If you read my text again I NEVER said that this is what Goldens should weigh. If at all worried the poster should get a second opinion and also try a different food type. Out of my 8 goldens here I have had 6 that have gone through a skinny lanky stage although still having well defined muscle.

The first visit to the vet was for a booster vacination and weighed 27 kilos. Second visit a month later and he weighed 25 kilos. This second visit for castration.  She will definately be taking him back to weigh again in a couple of weeks. I think he has poor muscle tone also at the rear. Its very much hit and miss with a private rescue as people are reluctant to tell you if anything is wrong, in case you won't take them with health problems.

Hi Gaby, It's lovely that your friend has given this boy a loving home and obviously cares very deeply about him. If he were mine I would be questioning if he is not defined at the back end or has poor muscle tone there also if he may have hip displaysia. it would be worth asking the vets opinion about this though I would have suspected that the vet should have picked this up. Good luck with him.

I would be inclined to change from Dr John food. Arden Grange is a good one, if you don't feel like feeding raw. There is a price difference with either way compared to Dr John, (which I think is aimed at Adult, finished growing dogs) but your dogs health will thank you for it!