I posted this in the Weigh In topic, But I decided my best bet for an informative response would be starting a topic.

Loki is 1 year 4 months old. He is pretty thin, I can feel his hip bones and spin sticking out a lot! (Though his ribs feel fine, Exactly like they should). I am getting him tested for worms soon. I just weighed him and he is 60ibs?! Yet that skinny??? Do you think maybe he is just missing muscle mass? I just got him in Nov. from someone who said he wouldn't eat, but he eats here just fine. He goes through one of those 2ib coffee cans, worth of dog food most the time. He has free choice of it all night. All the other dogs we have of his size do just fine on half a can, Our old Wolf Hybrid even got fat off half of one, and he was much bigger. But , I have been giving him more in hopes he would gain weight. (Which he has, 35ibs when we got him at 11 months). But his back bone and hips are still sticking out. His hips are not bad, you cannot feel them from the side just from the top, but his back bone you can feel all the way down til it connects to the ribs (so sticking up about maybe half an inch?) Maybe he has a spine problem? All opinions gladly taken!

He is on Diamond Maintenance, and Diamond Premium. I know this is not a recommended brand, But it is what my mom gets and until I move out there is no choice in the matter. All of the other dogs are doing just fine on the feed.

Honestly he looks ok to me.

Especially the last picture on the bottom right. It looks like he is at a healthy weight in that picture. I don't see Ribs, I can see a Tummy Tuck, and the hips look about right.

It's normal for a Husky to be Lanky, and seems really skinny for the earlier parts of their lives. They don't really start to fill out until about 2 to 4 years of age.

In terms of weight, well sometimes a big one is just born. My Wife's Airedale retriever was something like 20 pounds bigger than he was supposed to be, and at a healthy weight.

We looked after, and tried to help place a Husky last summer/Fall that was close to 60 pounds and you could still see his ribs and bones everywhere. I think last I had inquired the owner had him up to a healthy weight of 75ish pounds, and I know for SURE this wasn't a Mal.

That being said it is never a "bad" thing to cover all the bases and get in to see a vet. All in all though he looks fine to me, but I'm no where close to one of our resident health experts

~Chris~

Yup - he's still in that awkward teenage phase - give him time and he'll fill out.

Okay- That is what I thought at first. Was, Okay he is just a young puppy in that phase. And, He looks great! But you can really feel that backbone in there and everyone who pets him think he is neglected! It has been driving me crazy and started making me second guess myself there.He is my first husky and I am learning loads on the breed, Glad to know for sure it is normal. :p
His papers list a breeding place, Which when googled came up as suspected puppy mill? So every little thing on him I go a little over board on to make sure its normal.

Tika wrote:

Honestly he looks ok to me.

Especially the last picture on the bottom right. It looks like he is at a healthy weight in that picture. I don't see Ribs, I can see a Tummy Tuck, and the hips look about right.

That bottom right picture I let my GD/Pit out to play in the yard and he was all sorts of excited. She is not spayed and he is not fixed, I had to stay out there to make sure they, ehem, Behaved. No pups for either of them. Ever! haha. He was strutting for her.

Yeah we used to get the "How much do you feed her?" remarks too. The spine is also very pronounced in my sibe as well when petting over it. Sometimes when I rub across or down it I get the impression it can't be comfortable.

The only two pics I have that really show case how Skinny mine is are from last year around summer time. Which would put Teek somewhere between 1+ y/o and 1 and a half years old.


This was around 1 year old or so due to it obviously being coat blowing season.





The other is around June or July I would guess putting her closer to Loki's age. It isn't the best shot but you can see how much her body cuts in after the ribs.






Loki seems perfectly normal to me


Side note... My god son has to teach me his "Ab Secret"

~Chris~

Thank you so much That puts me at ease a lot!
And, Lmao!! He can share that ab secret with me to!

I wonder how much he will weigh when he fills out! I love that he is getting big and heavy. He is coming on 23 inches at the shoulder The only frustrating thing is so many people ask me if he is a malamute. Lol

Loki sounds and looks perfectly fine to me. Honestly he sounds like a normal young husky. My dogs are perfect weights and I can easily their spines.

My boy didn't start filling out until 2.5 years old, before then we got lots of "looks" from people and comments on how skinny he was. He ate a ton but wouldn't put on any weight and people looked at me like I was starving my dog. He's 50 lbs now at 7.5 years old, but here are some pics of him at 44 lbs at 2 years old when he looked 'starved'...

Balon has filled out but I can still "feel" his backbone. My vet said some dogs just have a more prominent backbone.

Huskies are not really "husky" dogs! I think we tend to think they should be just because of the way the adjective "husky" is used in our society. (Pugs are "husky" dogs... and maybe English Bulldogs... )

I think all healthy weight huskies will have prominent spines.

He looks great!

I agree, he looks great! Don't fret, never a bad idea to have them checked for parasites. I maintain a yearly worming program for my kennel. He will fill out give him time, Denali looked like a noodle until 17 months

Thank you all very much. He is still going to get the vet check. Just having to put it off some. With the cost of shots and wormer for 6 horses, All the money is gone! haha