How Skinny is Too Skinny?

[Chikachulove]

So I recently adopted a pair of boys who are 5 an 6 and have been living together their whole lives. Sticky is a beige an Nibbler is a black velvet. When I first for them, it seemed like Nibbler was very small. The previous owners said it seemed like he was a runt. He was also a little beaten up by his brother whenrey were kept in the presence of a female chin. Nibbler completely eats fine and I even see him chase Sticky away from his treats. I'm just not sure if he is "too skinny" his spine is sort of sticking out when you pet him. Sometimes you can see it just when he's sitting with a hunched back. At first I thought maybe it has his coat but he's getting better with his dust baths.

Just wondering if I should be concerned and whether he would need supplements?

Unfortunately I do not have a gram scale

 

[DaddyslilDimwit]

I think that if you can actually see the spine under the fur then that's too skinny. You can pick up a gram scale at Walmart for $10.

 

[smhluvsmh]

Pick up a gram scale! it is so important to keep track of weights for many reasons and it will be important for you to have a baseline. Free feed them quality pellets and tons of hay. There is a big difference between being small and being emaciated. Sounds like they may not have been taken care of very well.

 

[Spoof]

I'm just not sure if he is "too skinny" his spine is sort of sticking out when you pet him. Sometimes you can see it just when he's sitting with a hunched back.

A scale isn't going to help you much here, and they are very misleading on adult chins. That isn't to say don't get one, but you will notice a lot of fluctuation with these types of chins.

From your description there I'd say poor nutrition too. You'll want to put healthy weight on him and you can do that on a good feed but just like starving horses/cats/dogs it'll take 3-6 months or more before you feel healthy muscle mass start to really cover the backbone.

When they are really super disgusting skinny you can feel the pinbones in their legs, each rib, pelvic joints, etc. it is really gross. I can tell by your description he is not at that state - you would have been a lot more panicked. If you have to work to feel the spine that is fine. Some chins, like humans, run skinny and you can feel the spine but there should be a layer between the skin and the spine. It shouldn't feel sharp.

You can judge them pretty closely to the horse body condition scale. If he is bony on top with a potbelly and crappy fur it's lots of poor nutritional feed. If he's bony/skinny everywhere he either wasn't getting feed, couldn't access the feed, couldn't eat the feed or can't absorb the feed. If it is the first two cases you'll notice him filling out over the next month when you pick him up. If it is the second one, he'll go downhill super fast and if it is the third you'll notice for some reason he just never puts on weight and his coat isn't as nice. The last one people here have had great luck by using the chinchilla diet from Europe. )

 

[Chikachulove]

When I first got him his coat was kinda crappy but it seems to have improved a little bit. I guess his spine isn't super visible but when you pick him up to can clearly feel it. Otherwise everywhere else I don't feel his bones.

 

[Dragonflye]

I feel that it is better to have an objective measurement instead of a subjective one. I would recommend purchasing a scale and tracking his weight over time, just to make sure he is not losing. Having a scale around is always a good idea.

 

[Riven]

I would separate them. Even if you see him eat, that doesn't mean he gets to eat when you're not looking, and just living with the other chin may be stressing him to the point to prohibit weight gain.

 

[InkedupTara]

I feel that it is better to have an objective measurement instead of a subjective one. I would recommend purchasing a scale and tracking his weight over time, just to make sure he is not losing. Having a scale around is always a good idea.

I agree.