You should be able to feel the ribs with a slight covering of muscle over them, but they shouldn't be visible, feel like sharp ridges or be poking out. It's important to really feel them with your fingertips rather than just looking, as many dogs' coats will hide the ribs from view.
How do I know if my puppy is too skinny?
How to Tell If a Dog Is Too Skinny1The ribs are clearly visible or feel like they lie just beneath the skin, with no fat layer in between.2The hip bones, shoulder bones and spinal cord are easy to feel beneath the skin.3The bones at the base of the tail are protruding.Is My Dog Too Skinny? - Hill's Pet Nutrition
Why is my puppy so skinny even though he eats?
Your dog might be eating a lot but doesn't seem to gain weight or your dog is refusing to eat. Reasons for being a dog skinny are obvious which include loss of appetite, lack of healthy diet, some medical problem, being thin from shelter, or your dog burns more calories than he intakes.
Is my puppy too skinny if I can see his ribs?
Only if the ribs are visible with no palpable fat is the dog too thin. In particularly severe cases, the ribs, lower back vertebrae, and pelvic bones may be easily visible, with little to no discernible body fat.
When looking at a puppy's chest What do clearly visible ribs indicate?
If you can easily see a dog's ribs, she's probably underweight. But in some breeds, including Greyhounds, Whippets, and Italian Greyhounds, the dog's ribs show at a normal weight.
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