Oh Wise Newfieiets

[Luca's Dad]

Ok guys million dollar question? Luca just came back from the vet...he tipped the scale at 81.6 lbs.....he will be 6 month on friday....vet said change his diet....Breeder said don't. He gets a bowl of calif. natural kibbles for breakfast and dinner....once in a while he gets a can of tuna mixed in as a treat...be sides that he just gets the occosainal treat for learning new things.....who the hell should i listen to...he's big yet not fat...very muscular and strong legs...we exercise him everyday....this is my first newfie...is this size to age ratio ok....please advise

thanks Rudy

 

[sarnewfie]

Do the rib test, can you very easily feel ribs? if so, than you should be ok, is the vet concerned that he is growing to fast, in that the front legs are growing to long to fast that the muscle is not attaching? be sure to watch him closely for a while for any signs of limping.

 

[Luca's Dad]

i can feel his ribs just fine and his legs are equal..he doest limp at all in fact he gallops like a horse....

Rudy

 

[sarnewfie]

Rudy, that is good, listen to your breeder, i would keep a close eye on him though, the biggest problem with males is the accelerated growth, usually the pain in the bone will show up anytime between the 8-12 month stage. good luck.

 

[newby]

Luca,

My Bear will be 6 mos on the 25 and he is 76 lbs. He also is not fat, just big...I cannot say he gallops like a horse though! lol!

 

[Kootch]

One thing about the 'feeling the ribs' thing... When you fell the ribs, you shouldn't need to press in AT ALL to feel them. I thought our 7 month old was good, but when we had a couple of Newf veteran breeders feel him, they said he had a layer of fat that I never would have known him to have. I've since had a chance to feel Newfs at proper weight, and you really should be able to feel each rib without pressing at all.