So Logan is a skinny butt. I know what ideal body type is supposed to be, ie...feel the ribs but not see them, tummy tuck, etc...The issue with him is he's so fluffy it's really hard to tell if he's too skinny. When we took him to the vet about 3 weeks ago now, he weighed in at 34.7lbs. She said she felt he was too thin. I do trust her judgement on that because she likes how Bode is and he is in good shape. She suggested switching foods (he's on TOTW puppy High Prarie) but I don't really want to do that unless absolutely necessary. Anthony and I figured out he was feeding Logan less than he should have been, so we've rectified that. He gets a full 3 cups a day (1 in morning 2 at night) and devours it.

Weighed him yesterday on the scale at the pet store and he's up to 38lbs. I don't think 3lbs in 3 weeks is enough. You definitely can feel his vertebrae when you run your hand along his back. Ribs aren't as obvious but you can feel them. It's just so hard to tell with all his fur if he's too skinny or if he's just a skinny dog.

This is the best picture I can find of him at the moment that shows his body condition. What do you guys think?
Untitled by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Your description of what you feel, is the norm. Most Husky's of normal weight have pronounced back and hip bones, and as you said her ribs "aren't as obvious but you can feel them" . Your picture shows a normal healthy Husky (at least to me). She might be able to put on a few more pounds but not many.

My Avalanche is really at his best weight, but still looks severely underweight. He's healthy and gets enough exercise to maintain his svelte look - but, for me, I'd prefer about 15-20 pounds more, he just looks skinny!

Al, I generally know what a normal husky looks like. Like I said, Bode is svelte but nowhere near underweight and my vet agrees he is great. With Logan, you can feel every single one of his vertebrae and his hips joints and vet said he could use some weight.

The other thing is, his joints "click" a lot after getting up. I'm worried it is from lack of nutrition, which the vet said is a possibility. That he's not absorbing nutrients like he should be.

I'm sorry Sara, I didn't look to see who wrote that I just replied to it - did not mean to be condescending. Apologies.

Supposition here, the clicking could be simply that normal joint lubricant isn't getting to where it's needed (obvious, sorry) and on that note, I have absolutely no idea why it wouldn't. I don't have reason to either agree or disagree with you last statement but I think I would agree with it.

He does look pretty thin to me. I'm sure when he is wet during a bath it would be even more pronounced. That's how I tell how Kenzi is shape wise because she too is fluffy and thick furred. I thought she was getting a little broad in the hind end again but gave her a bath the other day and nope, she looks just fine when wet. While his body weight has gone up some, have you been checking his measurements? Is it possible that he is in a growth spurt and has gotten taller and longer lately that just makes his weight wear funny?

Mishka was at that point but I found with age and exercise, he built back muscle up and the feeling of the spine was gone. Are his hip bones easily felt? I find some dogs have a more prominent spine but as long as their hip bones aren't jutting out they aren't too skinny.

Olivia's boy Rowan is like that. He was a rescue and in a bad situation but he is very skinny even though he is fed high quality food and lots of it.

As for the joint issue, you can start him on Glucosamine to see if that will help lubricate his joints.

Haven't been checking his measurements, he's definitely gotten taller though.

I wouldn't say his hipbones are "jutting out" (but then it's hard to tell with the fur). But I can feel the bones when I feel around back there.

I was thinking about a glucosamine/joint supplement but I was wondering if it's a bad idea while he's still growing.

I wouldn't think that glucosamine would bother him while growing, but you could also try colloidal silver. I had better luck with it for Keno than with the glucosamine. It works faster too so you notice what it can do more quickly than the glucosamine.

Sara, I too have had this problem with Miya. It seemed like I could never get her to gain weight and I hated feeling every bone in her body. Nutritionally, I would opt to feed a partial raw diet, if possible. Ashleigh and myself feed both raw and kibble. For me that has been an easier way for me to get her to gain weight, since too much kibble can overwhelm the belly. I would like to ask though, if your vet thinks he is not absorbing all of his nutrients properly, has you vet told you that tests need to be done? How is his coat and other aspects of him? I also understand your desire to see a vast improvement quickly, but to protect his bones and joints slow weight gain is more desirable, especially since he is still growing. Lastly, the glucosamine and chrontidine (sorry I know I did not spell right), is added in many high end kibble that is for puppies and all life stage, so I do not think it will hurt him any.

Renee-Even doing partial raw really isn't an option for us. Too many logistical issues. We didn't talk about any tests to be done right now other than a stool sample for worms, which I am planning on taking in this afternoon. Her suggestion was to switch him to Pro Plan or Eukanuba, which I do not want to do.

His coat is great, he's otherwise a happy energetic puppy. He does have looser stools on and off, but nothing I would consider diarrhea.

Sara, Tape worm can be a strong possibility, it was for Miya. Fecal tests do not always work in verifying Tapeworm, it often times will show negative, because a worm needs to be shed at the time of the stool sample. If raw is not an option, and money isn't necessarily an issue, I would opt for Orijen or Acana(both real high in protein), or my kibble I will be going to in the spring Merricks, high protein but added glucosime and chrontidine. Also, an inexpensive route, turkey burger, human grade, I can get a 12 ounce package for under $2, and can be used for 3 meals, add it in to his kibble, cooked or uncooked is perfectly safe. It gives bulk, and protein and fat, which is often times needed in low weight dogs. Hope those are some options that may work. And no to the 2 kibbles your vet suggested, they are trying to add grain in order to bulk him up.

Do you remember where Bode was at at that age, remember you are comparing and "adult" husky to a puppy, and puppys to have that weird lanky skinny stage, Kim's three were on the skinny hipbone side till they hit 4 i think, it was just their build.
maybe trying to do 1.5 cups in the morning and 1.5 cups at night. can you add some peanut butter kongs to his cage as a snack for the added fat?
there will be a group of us Sat that can take a look at him to, in person. If Claudia is there she may have some good ideas for you as she is good with food info.
if his stools are good he is processing the food the way he should be i would think.
can't go wrong adding a few supplements to his food if you wanted to.
i also wonder if it is a growth spurt causing it as well.

So, just had a quick phone chat with the vet. We are going to do a precautionary dewormer just in case since even if he has them they may not show up in a stool sample. She was encouraged by the 3 lbs in 3 weeks and she will see him when he's in for his neuter next week to do a body condition check and do a better calculation on his ideal kcal intake.

I was not truthful with her when she asked what he's eating because I don't really trust (trust isn't the right word but it's what I'll use) the food recommendations she gives. I told her we were still in the process of transitioning him off of the TOTW puppy.