TINY SHELTIE

jacl48

Forums Novice
Good morning all you sheltie lovers. I have owned 8 in my at life and adored them all. My last one came from a very reputable breeder and was 24 lbs when he passed at age 13. Our new sheltie a female names Frankie is a one year old from the same breeder. We just got her 3 weeks ago. She is happy active and a true joy. She is only 5 lbs. We have not been to the vet because she went into heat 3 days after we got her. Has anyone had one quite so tiny. How can i fatten her up a little?
 
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I’m relatively new to Sheltie’s in that I’ve only had them for maybe 13 years but I’ve never heard of one being so small! How tall is she because at 5 pounds I’m thinking she must be the size of a chihuahua!
If she is small in stature as well then perhaps increasing the weight isn’t possible but I would definitely get her into the vet for a vet check before you do anything. I would think if this is a reputable breeder then you would’ve signed a contract and this must be in the agreement to get her checked out should anything be wrong.
 
First, welcome to the Forums and your new family member!

It's not unusual for a litter to have a really small or really large pup but a 5-pound adult is much smaller than I've ever heard of. If she's small boned, be careful fattening her up too much, it puts pressure on their joints. If your vet agrees she needs some weight, there are lots of good foods you can bulk her up with. I agree that a thorough vet check should be first to make sure she's healthy.
 
Welcome to the forums and having another Sheltie in your family. I really agree with Pipers Mom and Ann about what they have said so far.
I would also caution you about letting the little one jump on furniture If she is that tiny. Her joints and leg bones may not be able to handle the stress of the landing, possibly hurting herself. That would be one more question I would ask your Veterinarian about when you see them. They will know best.
Good luck with your new family member :)
 
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Welcome to you and Frankie! As all have said, vet visit first, and be VERY cautious about fattening up a dog unless she's truly underweight. Shelties can balloon out very easily and it's just not healthy for them in the long run, both for their joints but also just longevity. Would love a photo of your petite miss. You can share a link to a photo site if that's something you do, or join as a Premium member to post photos directly.
 
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