weight gain in puppy

by craig
(hampstead,Md usa)

My 9 week old german shepherd weighs 10 pounds. I have had her for one week and she hasn't gained any weight.

she doesn't have worms. I feed her 3 times a day. What is the normal weight gain for a puppy?




Hi Craig
It's impossible to be general about weight gain, puppies are very individual in that respect.

10lbs at 9 weeks is a respectable size for German Shepherd puppy. If he hasn't gained anything in a week and is eating normally, that is unusual. However if he seems happy and healthy otherwise I wouldn't worry too much. He will probably make up for it next week!

Consistent weight gain is what you look for in a healthy puppy, but the exact gain will fluctuate (sometimes wildly) from week to week or month to month, as there are growth spurts and then periods of much slower growth as your puppy develops.

If you're at all worried about your puppy, I would strongly suggest that you take him to your veterinarian for a check up. This is always a good idea when you first get a new puppy.

You can ask your vet about weight gain and any other issues when you take your puppy for his vaccinations etc.

As a rule of thumb,. a puppy usually weighs about 50% of his adult weight at 4 months of age. But this is a rough guide, not set in stone.

Best of luck with your puppy.