My standard poodle has always been skinny. To the point where I can feel his backbone and hip bones with no effort. We have tried to fatten him up, but it isn't happening. It makes the following MUCH more noticeable.
I had noticed that he has always had a very "thin" chest. I don't know how to describe it other than saying that it is curved at the top, but right under his front legs, it straightens out and meets in a sharp point. You can actually see his heart beating and if you put your hand on his chest, you can literally feel his heart bulging at every beat. The "point" of his chest is very flexible and you can move it slightly back and forth. I've also noticed that if you pat his chest (like a "good boy" pat), he gags every time. I have never seen a dog with a chest like this, and it worries me. The vet even made a comment about his chest looking weird, but didn't seem concerned or even have any suggestions about what it could be.
He also has a very prominant sagittal crest on his head. I didn't know if maybe this could be a skeletal disorder inherent in the breed, or if it was completely normal, and my big-dog-ignorant self is just being an overly critical mommy.
I had noticed that he has always had a very "thin" chest. I don't know how to describe it other than saying that it is curved at the top, but right under his front legs, it straightens out and meets in a sharp point. You can actually see his heart beating and if you put your hand on his chest, you can literally feel his heart bulging at every beat. The "point" of his chest is very flexible and you can move it slightly back and forth. I've also noticed that if you pat his chest (like a "good boy" pat), he gags every time. I have never seen a dog with a chest like this, and it worries me. The vet even made a comment about his chest looking weird, but didn't seem concerned or even have any suggestions about what it could be.
He also has a very prominant sagittal crest on his head. I didn't know if maybe this could be a skeletal disorder inherent in the breed, or if it was completely normal, and my big-dog-ignorant self is just being an overly critical mommy.
