Sleet has been to the vets about her being so bony and she had some bloods taken to test for pancreas problems but they rang back today to tell us her pancreas is just fine.
The vet I saw said there is a food intolerence test but that he's quite sceptical about their accuracy...with them often coming back saying a dog is allergic to dozens of things and this is wrong and that is wrong when he doesn't reckon thats the case. He said it would be better not wasting money on it.

He did mention that there are Border collies who are just naturally like this and that they get a lot of skinny dogs taken in.
He mentioned other possible causes of low weight such as thyroid which he ruled out of her because she's so young and liver trouble which he also ruled out because she is otherwise active and healthy and she wouldn't be if she had liver trouble.

He said to raise the protien in her diet to help bulk her up. She's sort of like those naturally skinny lanky people who can eat whatever they want and never put on weight. Well, I can do that too but I'm glad I'm not beanpole skinny.
She's still on puppy meal and I've tried her on various ones with protien content between 27% to 32% and they haven't made any difference to her weight. Maybe her growing is contributing too and that she'll fill out once she's done as a few people have mentioned. Saying that, I know somehody with a ridgeback and she's the same but her very smooth coat means it shows more and she must be a few years old now and still the same.
Meanwhile, what high protien foods do you think I could add to her diet to help bulk her up a little? I hate feeling all her spine, ribs and hip bones when I stroke her. Makes me feel like she constantly needs a massive dish of food and must be starving.

Orijen has 42% protien content.

Keep her on a growth formula and that shoudl help.
I would be warey of making her protien content too high as it might cause liver/kidney problems.

Yeah, I have thought of those things along with high protein often making them too hyper as well.

She's always been on puppy meal since I got her although we tried a few different ones but none seem to put any meat on her bones.

Be careful how much protein you give her with her still being a puppy.

i used pasta and was recommended by a vet friend to give the multi colour chew sticks you can get which take about 30 secs for them to chew!

it worked....he had 3 a day plus normal food ::wave::

Oh yes, those chew sticks that come in different shapes as well as colours? I heard they were really high protein. My mum found her some meaty strip type treats and looked for the highest protein ones. Also, just been round to a mates with sleet and wren and he mentioned pasta to help build Sleet up.

Funnily enough, sleet was at the vets yet again with a swollen eye this time (See health section for photos) and I asked her about the best way to give more protein and how much would be safe. She said she wasn't sure about the maximum safe amount to give and would look into that. I know puppies need higher protein for growth as well but then you have to think about their kidneys and such.

Last wednesday, sleet weighed a straight 10 kgs. Today she weighed 10.15 kgs so she's put a little on in a week and she isn't growing as quick now at 6 months. It's still a pitiful weight for her size...especially as Wren weighed 9. something kgs last wednesday at 14 and a half weeks old...lol.

Dogs...who's have em..lol:D

Liver/Kidney problems are caused by to much low quality protien, such as from grain sources. Orijen contains high quality proteins from meat. :)