Why are some Labradors skinny

Is My Labrador Too Thin?

When a Lab looks much leaner than their pals at the dog park, their owner might worry is my Labrador too thin? Labradors overall body condition is a better indicator of whether theyre in healthy shape than their weight. If they have visible ribs or vertebrae, its possible they are too thin. A veterinarian is best placed to make this judgement, and identify the reason why.

Is My Labrador Too Thin?

Overall, Labradors are better known for overeating and being prone to obesity, than being too thin. But not all Labs are insatiable, and not all weight loss in dogs is solely the result of undereating.

In this article, we look at the lower threshold of the healthy weight range for Labs, and how to tell if your dog is getting close to it, or below it. If you like, you can use these links to navigate straight to specific topics:

Lets start by looking at the normal Labrador physique, so that its possible to recognize when a Lab is underweight in comparison.

Are Labs Naturally Skinny?

The shape of a Labrador Retriever is iconic and easily called to mind for most of us. That they all mostly fit the same template is due to a clear description of the ideal Labrador conformation set out in their breed standard. The standard is littered with adjectives like strong, developed and powerful. It also requires Labs to have a moderately wide chest, and be short coupled (which means the distance from their ribs to their pelvis is relatively short, compared to dogs on average).

These features have the combined effect of making the Labrador look more naturally heavy and bulky, than thin and gangly.

But undoubtedly, if youre lucky enough to meet a lot of Labs, youre likely to meet some which look very slender, and others which look very chunky. This is partly due to natural variation in size, and lifestyle factors. But theres another important reason why a lot of Labs in the U.S. look slim and racy, whilst a smaller proportion look broader and more heavy set.

Different Labrador Shapes: American vs English

Breeding choices and different opinions about how the ideal Labrador looks on either side of the Atlantic has led to two distinct types of Lab English and American. They both belong to the same breed, but English Labs tend to be broader, stockier, and more heavy set. Whilst American Labs tend to be taller, longer, and slimmer looking.

In the U.S. most Labs, predictably, belong to the American type. A smaller proportion belong to the English type. So the general perception of Labrador body shape in the U.S. is slimmer than Lab owners in the UK are used to. But whats the ideal weight range for either type?

What Is The Ideal Weight For A Labrador?

The American Kennel Club describes the ideal weight of Labs in working condition as

• approximately 65 to 80 lbs for males
• and approximately 55 to 70 lbs for females.

The Kennel Club in the UK doesnt specify an ideal weight for English type Labs. But around 70 to 80 lbs for a male and 60 to 70 lbs for a female is typical. For both types, you can see that theres a significant difference in size between the largest and smallest individuals in each sex class. And its possible to have healthy individuals which fall outside of the average range too. Which is why relying on numbers on a scale isnt the best way to determine if your Labrador is at their ideal weight.

How Else Can I Tell If My Labrador Is Too Thin?

This is where overall body condition comes in. Vets assess body condition partly by observing a dogs outline from the side, and from above. Labradors at a healthy weight have a discernible waist from above, and from the side their belly is tucked up slightly higher than their chest.

Vets also examine body condition by touch applying pressure over the ribs to assess how much fat is covering them, for example. Dogs in healthy condition have ribs which can be easily felt under a thin layer of fat.

How Can I Tell If My Lab Is Underweight?

Overall body condition is a better way of identifying whether your dog is at a healthy weight than putting them on the scales alone, because it works regardless of what sex your Lab is, how tall they are, and whether they are big or small in stature generally. Unfortunately, us dog owners arent instinctively very accurate at assessing our dogs body condition. Even using a body condition score chart, we tend to underestimate their size.

Or in other words, were more likely to think theyre healthy when in fact theyre overweight. And we tend to think theyre underweight when theyre actually in optimum condition. In fact, only half of us ever get it right! However, if you can see any of these changes in your dog it is possible that they are underweight:

• Visible ribs, vertebrae or pelvic bones.
• Or being able to feel any of those bones immediately under the skin with no fat covering them at all.
• Loss of muscle mass.
• The underline of their body (the shape of their ribs and belly sideways on) following an S-like curve. In ideal condition, the underline of adult Labradors slopes up towards the hindquarters, but in a straight line.

If any of these apply to your Lab, we recommend asking a vet to check them over. Even without any of these features, always report any unexplained weight loss to your dogs vet too. There are several possible causes of emaciation (being underweight) in dogs, and its important for a vet to decide which one applies, and how to manage the weight loss.

Causes Of Weight Loss In Dogs

There are several reasons a Labrador can get too thin. One is not eating enough calories to replace all the energy they burn in a day. Other reasons include

• parasitic infection such as leashmaniasis and parvovirus
• cancer
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• and hereditary muscle wasting conditions such as muscular dystrophy, and myopathy.

And as you can easily imagine, none of these are treated as simply as by giving the dog more calories in their diet! Its also worth bearing in mind that Labradors dont reach their adult weight until theyre about a year old, and its not uncommon for them to go through a skinny teenage phase whilst theyre still growing.

However, being too skinny during their growing months can also have a damaging effect on things like bone development. So its really important that a vet determines whether your Lab is too thin, and whether they need help gaining weight.

How Can I Fatten Up My Labrador?

Once any underlying causes of being too thin have been resolved, your vet may recommend adjusting a dogs diet to help them gain weight. Sometimes the simplest way of doing this is by overfeeding their usual diet a little every day, until they reach a healthy body condition. But your vet might also recommend switching to a more energy rich diet.

Whats important is to be led by your vet. Making sudden changes to a dogs diet without veterinary expertise can cause digestive upset and diarrhea which may make weight loss worse!

Is My Labrador Too Thin Summary

The chances are that youre here because youre concerned that your Lab might be underweight, and you want to make an informed assessment of their condition. Its great that youre doing that!

All Labs should have an owner that pays attention to their welfare so closely, and cares about them so much. But if youre worried about your dog, only allow a veterinarian to put your mind at ease. The truth is that a lot of dogs we perceive as being underweight are actually in a healthy condition. A vet will be able to determine whether they are really too skinny, and if so why, and how to safely fatten them up.

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References & Further Reading

Bergman et al. Dystrophin-Deficient Muscular Dystrophy in a Labrador Retriever. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 2002.

Dos Santos. Associations among immunological, parasitological and clinical parameters in canine visceral leishmaniasis. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 2008.

Hawthorne et al. Body-Weight Changes during Growth in Puppies of Different Breeds. The Journal of Nutrition. 2004.

Jeena. Diagnosis and clinico-therapeutic studies on canine hepatic dysfunction. G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology. 2017.

Nwoha. Parvoviral enteritis in a dog: Case report and review of the literature. Continental Journal of Veterinary Science. 2011.

(paid link)

Raffan et al. A Deletion in the Canine POMC Gene Is Associated with Weight and Appetite in Obesity-Prone Labrador Retriever Dogs. Cell Metabolism. 2016.

Snead et al. Clinical Phenotype of XLinked Myotubular Myopathy in Labrador Retriever Puppies. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2015.

Yam et al. Inaccurate Assessment of Canine Body Condition Score, Bodyweight, and Pet Food Labels: A Potential Cause of Inaccurate Feeding. Veterinary Sciences. 2017.

The Labrador Site Founder

Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.

She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program

Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website

9 Alarming Reasons Why Your Labrador Is So Skinny (2023)

When you look at Labradors

Most of them look so fluffy or thick.

But why is yours so skinny?

And should you really worry about this?

Keep reading to find out:

• What to do if your Labradors too skinny.
• When should you take your dog to the vet.
• 9 alarming reasons why your Labrador is so skinny (must see #5 & #7).
• And so much more

Why is my Labrador so skinny? 9 reasons

#1: There are 2 types of Labradors

The weight of your dog depends on their variation.

After all, theres the American and English Labrador.

So, what could be the difference?

For one, Labs from the UK are much bigger. Thus, theyre bulkier in appearance.

Meanwhile, American Labradors are slimmer.

For easier comparison, check out the size table below:

Labrador type	Height	Weight
American	21.5 to 24.5 in(54 to 62 cm)	55 to 80 lbs(24 to 36 kg)
English	21.5 to 22.5 in(54 to 57 cm)	60 to 80 lbs(27 to 36 kg)

Clearly, their gap isnt too wide.

But the point here is:

Your Labrador might just be lighter compared to the others. Especially if yours is the American type.

After all, English Labs are typically heavier.

So, that means your Labrador could already be in their best shape.

But how would you know which type of Lab is your dog?

Well, aside from their weight

These 2 Fidos have more differences.

To simplify this, use the table below as reference:

Body part	English Labrador	American Labrador
Head	Wide	Narrow
Muzzle	Medium short	Long
Tail	Straight and thick	Thin and curved up
Coat	Dense	Thin

But despite their contrasts

Both Labradors have the same temperaments.

And if youre still unsure about what type of Lab you have

You can always try asking your vet. Or get in touch with Fidos breeder.

#2: Floating ribs

Do you see a bump sticking out of your dogs rib area?

Now, that could make you think Fidos skinny.

But the thing is, theres a condition called:

Floating ribs.

So, hows this related to your Labs weight?

You see, dogs have 13 ribs. But the last 1 is linked to the backbone. And not to the rib cage.

So, anytime your Labrador moves

You can see that 13th bone poking through Fidos skin.

And once again, this doesnt mean your Labs too thin.

In fact, the last rib is a natural part of your dog.

But if youre still worried about your Labrador

You should always consult a vet.

Read next: Floating Ribs In Dogs: 7 Things You Should Know

#3: Poor diet

Your Labs weight also depends on how you feed them.

But what kind of diet could make Fido look so skinny?

Well, in this case

Your Labrador might not be eating enough. As a result, they end up losing weight.

So, how much food does your furry pal need?

Heres a useful guide from vets:

Your Labradors weight	Cups of kibbles per day	Daily calories
55 lbs (24 kg)	2 cups	1145
80 lbs (36 kg)	3 cups	1629

Note: You must use a standard 8 oz. measuring cup. Also, if your Labradors sick or pregnant, they might need more food than that.

And for a more accurate diet plan for your Lab

Its best to consult a specialist.

But what if my dogs eating the right amount of food?

In that case, you can consider more scenarios.

For example:

If there are other dogs at home

These canines might compete for food.

And with a Labs gentle nature, they would give up their meals.

Now, this could happen if youre not around to watch them eat.

Moreover, some dogs dont react well to sudden diet changes.

So, if you switched Fidos food brand too quickly

Your Labrador might stop eating properly.

Or, in some cases, your Lab could also be picky with food.

And that can occur if they want to eat human snacks instead.

Check out also: 7 Surprising Reasons Why Dogs Like Human Food

#4: Improper exercise

Labradors also need the right activities. Especially as a hyperactive breed.

So, how much exercise should Labs get?

As adults, they must work out daily for about 80 minutes.

But what if your Lab goes overboard? Say, their exercise went on for almost 3 hours.

Well, at that point, your dog will lose weight for sure.

However, this isnt safe at all.

For one, Labs could get injured. Or they might end up collapsing too.

So, to prevent this

You can try following these tips:

• Buy interactive toys for your Lab.
• Let them play brain games for a change.
• Go jogging or swimming with your Labrador.
• Hide treats around the house. This activitys more relaxing.
• Walk your Labrador twice a day. Each set could be for 30 minutes.

With these activities, it gets easier to control your Labs energy levels.

Reading tip: 17 Brain Games For Dogs To Entertain Your Fur Baby

#5: Illnesses

Any dog could lose weight if theyre sick.

And the thing is, there are many diseases to watch out for.

So, lets focus on the common health issues in Labs. Namely:

But aside from these

Any dog could also face other canine problems that causes weigt loss, such as:

• Stress.
• Cancer.
• Diarrhea.
• Diabetes.
• Oral pain.
• Parasites.
• Gut problems.
• Kidney issues.

Warning: Some of these diseases can be fatal for Labradors.

Now, the health risks above have varying symptoms. Thus, its hard to tell which 1 your Lab might have.

So, how would you know if Fidos actually sick?

Dr. Coren says that dogs tend to hide their pain.

However, vets state you can still notice signs, like:

Note: For your Labradors safety, you should take them to the clinic.

Continue reading: 9 Surprising Reasons Why Your Dog Is Eating Slowly

#6: Drug side effects

Lets say you already took Fido to the vet.

And before you did, your Labs weight was just fine.

In that case

It seems that your furry pal got skinny after going to the clinic.

Now, this might make you think:

Did my Lab catch more illnesses at the vets?

Not at all.

Its just that dogs also lose weight when theyre healing.

And thats because of the medicine Fido takes.

After all, some drugs have side effects. And 1 of them is affecting your Labs weight.

Meanwhile, surgeries also do the same thing.

So, if your Lab recently went through an operation

That could explain why theyre so skinny.

Now, these cases are still normal.

But if you have any concerns, you should talk to Fidos vet.

#7: Stress

Research claims that some dogs eat more when they feel anxious.

But this issue could also be the opposite

Your Lab might eat less due to stress.

Though, how can you tell if Fido has this?

First, you can pay attention to their body language.

Observe any signs of stress, such as:

So, what should you do if your Labs stressed?

There are many ways to calm an anxious pup, like:

Note: If none of these works, consult your Labs specialist.

Learn more: 17 Clear Signs Of Dog Stress (Stressed Dog Body Language)

#8: Depression

Mental health matters for Labs too.

And since you already read about stress in #7

This time, Ill tell you about depression.

You see, your Lab might stop eating due to this issue.

And with that, theyll lose weight too. In return, Fido ends up looking skinny.

Now, you must be worrying:

How will I know if my Labs depressed?

Well, just like with stress

Fidos body language can be your guide. So, just watch out for signs, like:

Warning: Depression can be fatal for any dog. In case you notice these symptoms, call an expert ASAP.

Aside from that, you can also spot this issue right away.

And specialists say you could do that by knowing what causes depression in dogs. Those are:

• Stress.
• Injuries.
• Illnesses.
• Boredom.
• Losing a loved one.
• Adopting a new dog.
• Picking up your emotions.
• Sudden lifestyle changes.
• Meeting new family members.

With this, you can prepare for your Labs reaction.

And if you need more help on how to cheer up your pup

Just watch this useful video:

Suggested read: Quiz: Is My Dog Depressed? 19 Symptoms (+Tips To Treat It)

#9: Its their normal weight

Sometimes, theres no alarming reason at all.

In the end, being skinny could just be your Labs appearance.

For example:

You might see bigger dogs more often. Like, Chow Chows or Bulldogs.

And that could make you think your Labs skinny. Especially if you compare your pup to those larger Fidos.

Basically, your Lab might have no issues at all.

In fact, Fidos skinny look could mean that:

Your dog has a balanced diet and lifestyle.

Lets say your pups eating the right amount of food. Plus, they follow healthy exercise too.

So, why are they still so skinny?

Well

Your Labs weight can be affected by genetics too.

For example:

Do you know someone who eats a lot yet never gains weight?

In most cases, its because those people have fast metabolisms.

And that could happen to your Labrador too.

But in case youre still worried

How could you tell if your Labs underweight?

Well, you can refer to the table I gave in reason #1.

Right there, it states that Labs have an average weight of 55 to 80 lbs (24 to 36 kg).

So, if your furry pal weighs less than that

Then thats the time your dog is too skinny. In that case, you should contact the vet.