Boxer dogs can light up any household, and taking care of them can be fun and rewarding. As a responsible and loving owner, you spend time taking care of them, making sure they eat the right food. You also make certain you give them recreational time. Despite all your efforts, do you still catch yourself thinking, “Why is my boxer dog so skinny?”
Do you think there’s something you’re not doing right?
In this article, we’ll talk about why your boxer goes through a “skinny” phase and how you can deal with it. Yes, you don’t need to raise red flags during this stage. Unless your pet has a medical condition, being skinny in their growth is normal.
In taking good care of your dog, you have to learn more about their habits and growth spurts.
Read and be the best dog parent for your beloved boxers.
Table of Contents
The Boxer Dog and Its Skinny Phase
Not only humans but also dogs have phases of growth. This period can be obvious with boxers. This breed is slim, lean, and is a dog that packs in muscles. When boxers transition from puppies to adulthood, they reach a point of being skinny
It’s a temporary time where they even end up showing parts of their ribs. It’s a phase to watch out for between the 14th and 22nd months of raising a boxer. It can be shocking to see that the body ratio of your dog seems off.
Boxers tend to eat a lot, but they never gain too much weight. Adolescence, like humans, also affects dogs in different ways. There are no medical-related issues related to this phase of their growth.
Why Boxer Dogs’ Bodies Need to Be Lean to Bulk Up
If your dog is eating well and continues to grow, then don’t let the protruding ribs bother you. It’s all part of how boxers adjust to their body type. At the ages of growth of to 2 years old, boxers start getting leaner and leaner.
They will eat a lot like normal, and their body structure will catch up afterward. You’ll start to notice the difference after 2 years. At this rate, your pet’s body has grown at a steady pace, and muscles are filling up the skinny parts of their bodies.
A boxer’s body starts to fill the lean spaces with the muscles around the chest. You can also start to see that thin layers of fat, muscle, and tissue reaches to fill up their rib cage. When the boxer reaches full adulthood, there’s no sign of the rib cage. All places where the “thinness” occurred is gone and replaced by bulk and fat.
If Still Bothered by Skinny Boxers, What Health Issues Should You Watch Out For?
Health issues are not common with boxers. The transition period is natural for growth, but make sure your dogs are at their healthiest. Below are some common health conditions that you should take note of.
- Diabetes
- Bowel disease
- Heart conditions
- Immune system issues
- Thyroid issues
- Parasites
- Addison’s Illness
- Liver and kidney infection
- Bowel, gallbladder, and pancreas issues
The best way to avoid having an unhealthy pet is to feed them healthy food. A nutritious meal to keep them healthy while being too skinny is a must. You should also consider making your pet fit in the physical sense despite being skinny.
It also helps when you check their stool and bowel movement. This is to track if they have been eating well and digesting the food with no complications. In case you find out your boxer suffers from one of the listed health conditions, contact or visit the vet.
Can You Still Make Your Skinny Boxer Bulky in the Transition Phase?
The transition phase is normal, and you only have to wait it out until the muscles and fat forms within the body. But if your goal is to improve your pet’s diet and nutrition, then there are some simple things you can do.
- Do not serve cheap and unhealthy food to your dog.
Many owners fall victim to giving their pets food that they eat. Remember that not all human food is good for dogs. You need to know the limits since it’s also for your pet’s health. Letting your pets eat cheap and unhealthy food will only make them skinnier. Bear in mind that non-nutritious food does nothing to the dog’s body.
2. Try making healthy homemade snacks for your dog.
Even for people, too much processed food is not good. If you want your boxers to gain weight, then make them a blend of healthy snacks that are high in fat and calories. Snacks are different than meals, which is why you need to give it to them in moderation.
Something homemade will always be good for the health. You can also check out some DIY ideas for your pets that will help them eat better.
3. Don’t force your dog to eat too much.
If you want your dog to look bigger, forcing food upon him is not the answer. Don’t make your pet eat a large quantity of food when they don’t want to. It is better if you offer food in the same amount all the time. Make sure that the food you give is healthy and high in calories.
The amount of food you give doesn’t matter and will not make your boxers fat. It’s what’s in the food that matters. Fat and calories are what your dog needs right now and not health complications.
It’s normal to worry if you think, “Why is my boxer dog so skinny?” But rest assured that it is only a phase that boxers go through. The important thing to do is to check your dog’s growth.
