Why is My Vizsla Too Skinny?

Pets are a fundamental part of the lives of many people around the world. Dogs, cats, birds, rodents, and snakes are just some of the most popular pets among families. 

Generally, families choose an animal with specific characteristics that suit their lifestyle as this would greatly facilitate their care. That is one of the reasons why dogs are part of most families in the world. There are many breeds of canines with different physical and psychological characteristics. One of the most interesting and desired by people in various countries is the Vizsla. 

The Vizsla is a dog that is characterized by its different abilities, especially in hunting. They are animals that present a high level of physical activity and need to exercise daily.

In addition to being very active and energetic, they tend to be loving and friendly to all the people and animals around them. One of the peculiarities of this breed is that it suffers from separation anxiety, which can be negative for certain families. 

It is important to note that despite the fact that many people or families are interested in the qualities and abilities of this breed, we also have to say that these dogs are acquired and desired for their physical characteristics. 

We will talk a little more about this later, but we have to say that Vizslas are slim dogs with a well-proportioned and muscular build.

Many owners of these dogs tend to have concerns due to this since they are often unable to identify the canine’s naturally thin body with respect to when the pet is underweight due to a lack of a good diet. 

If you notice that your Vizsla does not weigh enough according to its breed, then it is essential that you know the reasons why this happens. 

Why is My Vizsla Too Skinny? 

Many people are concerned when they notice that their pet is underweight. Regardless of the species, it is essential that as owners, we solve this situation, which can be caused by different factors. 

In the case of dogs, specifically Vizslas, it is important to note that they have slim, muscular, and well-proportioned body. Because of that, many people tend to get confused and believe that their canine is underweight when it really is not.

This breed’s body is in this way since, throughout its history, it has been characterized as an active and energetic animal that requires a lot of daily exercise. 

However, the situation can also arise where your Vizsla is really too skinny due to other factors. 

The first thing we have to do is know the size, including height and weight, that a Vizsla should have. Remember that these dogs have a slim, athletic body. 

Vizslas belong to the medium-large breed group. They are dogs that can have an average size but can vary depending on their gender, diet, etc. The male Vizsla usually measures between 56 cm and 66 cm while the female between 51 cm and 61 cm. The male of this breed has an approximate weight between 20 kg and 27 kg, while the female measures between 18 kg and 25 kg. 

It should be noted that if your canine’s weight is not within the ranges indicated above, it may still be healthy. Vizslas are dogs that get a lot of exercise and are physically and mentally stimulated all the time. 

Reasons Why Your Vizsla is Skinny 

There are several reasons why your canine is underweight. Some of them are: 

Bad Vizsla Nutrition 

Many first-time owners do not properly research these dogs before purchasing them. One of the most important things that we must know when taking care of any animal is its diet since as we know, they cannot always eat the same foods as humans. 

A Vizsla’s diet should be based on nutrients and vitamins along with the necessary carbohydrates to give it enough energy. This diet must be balanced in relation to the amount of exercise that the canine does daily so that energy recovery is as expected. 

You also have to make sure to give it the right portions according to its size. Many people feed their pets the wrong portions of food, causing the canine to not receive the calories its body needs.  

That is because if the portions are not enough, your Vizsla will burn more calories than it consumes when exercising, causing weight loss. 

Sometimes poor nutrition is not the fault of the Vizsla owner. Remember that all dogs of this type can develop different personalities, behaviors, and habits. Many of them are due to genetics and others are induced by the lifestyle they have had.

The fact is, some dogs may refuse to eat either because of a bad habit or a health problem. Obviously, this situation will negatively affect the weight of the Vizsla by losing excessive calories. 

Excess of Exercises for your Vizsla

As we have said in the previous point, one of the main causes that our Vizsla is too skinny is due to the excessive loss of calories. Although diet influences this issue, it is not the only cause. 

Vizslas are energetic dogs that need to spend a lot of time exercising during the week. They love to run, swim, play, or do any training that stimulates them physically and mentally. In general, training sessions for a Vizsla should be around 30 minutes to 1 hour. 

However, if we provide our Vizsla with an exercise routine that makes it exercise for much longer, then that’s when there will be problems. Although this canine has a lot of energy and stamina, training 3 or 4 hours will be too much for it, which will affect its metabolism and burn excess calories. 

Many people believe that there shouldn’t be any kind of problem in these situations. We have to say that they are right up to a point. If you want your Vizsla to exercise for more hours, you have to modify its diet and adjust it to compensate for the number of calories lost compared to those ingested when eating. 

Vizsla Health Problems 

There are many health conditions that can affect your Vizsla and lead to weight loss. Tooth pain can be a fairly common cause. That is why as owners of a dog, we must be attentive to their dental care. 

Gastrointestinal problems can also lead to weight loss in a Vizsla. Other influencing diseases are: 

• Diabetes. 
• Cancer. 
• Thyroid disease. 

In any of these cases, it is best to take your Vizsla to the vet so that he or she can perform a complete examination and, depending on the results, develop appropriate treatment for the canine. 

Vizsla Aging 

Similar to humans, dogs also become skinny as they age. During this stage of life, the Vizsla will begin to lose their appetite, have digestive problems, and lose muscle mass. Added to this, it won’t be able to exercise as much as it used to, so it will also lose strength. 

This situation could be reduced by taking your canine to the vet to change the diet and exercise routine of your Vizsla according to its age. 

How to Help Our Vizsla Regain Its Weight? 

The solutions will depend on the actions we take to prevent the problems explained above. We must ensure that we give our Vizsla an ideal quality of life. Therefore, a quality diet based on nutrients and vitamins and a varied and balanced exercise routine with its diet will be of great help so that your canine remains in shape and ideal weight. 

You have to feed your Vizsla at the right times with the necessary portions for its body. In this way, we will prevent it from losing more calories than it should or, failing that, gaining more calories than normal. 

In addition, take your canine to the vet regularly to monitor its health and rule out or prevent any health problems that your dog may suffer. 

If your Vizsla is too skinny due to its age, the only thing you can do is take it to the vet and take care of it properly. 

Conclusion 

A healthy and happy Vizsla will have no weight loss or overweight problems. That is why it is essential to know how to care for and maintain this type of canine properly. In addition, before acquiring one, you have to analyze what type of person you are and evaluate if you are really capable of taking care of it.