Sophie  Offline
early riser
Joined: May 24, 2005
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Posts: 16
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69 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Sophie
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Location: Manchester
Gender: 
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 Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:43 am Post subject: Underweight? |
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Hi everyone,
Sophie is now 11 months old and she isn't gaining weight. She has grown and filled out a bit but her ribs still show. She doesn't look like the normal heavy set labrador. She is just over 21KG. I feed her Burns Adult. I feed her 12oz. One and half cups in the morning and one and a half in the evening.
When we are out she spends most of her time looking for food and will eat anything and has the disgusting habit of eating other dogs poo. I have just started to muzzle her but I don't like to do that.
What do you think? Should I try a different food or add something to her food? If I feed her more than the suggested amount of Burns she just gets runny poos. Any suggestions? Or should I not worry and accept that she is just a different build than other labs?
Thanks, Tom
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scoobysmummy  Offline
lead trained
Joined: May 08, 2005
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Posts: 1370
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3764 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: scooby doo
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Location: west yorkshire
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:08 am Post subject: |
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hi tom!have you spoken to your vets about this?
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Becs Offline
The Clique Chick Queen
Joined: Dec 10, 2005
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Posts: 10127
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114301 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Hartley (black lab) Zorro (Golden retreiver) Flo, (JRT) Ted (mini dachsi) & Mouse (brown Lab)
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Location: gloucester
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:16 am Post subject: |
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Hi Tom, 21 kg does seem light for an 11 month old lab (Echo is 21 kg at 6 months) but then they do come in a range of shapes and sizes.
Have you asked your vet about her weight? Is she healthy and active in general? What was her Mum like in build?
If she is a poo-eater (not uncommon) she will need to be wormed more frequently as she could be picking up worms from other dogs. Also eating poo can make her stools loose, so it may not just be the extra food that you've tried. I've known other people who have tried muzzling their dogs to stop them eating poo and the dogs have just stuck their noses in the poo, complete with muzzle and then licked it off the muzzle (yuk, yuk, yuk!!!) so its not always the solution you would hope it to be!
I had a lab who I couldn't get weight onto, so I changed him to a raw meat/veg/ biscuit diet and that worked. Tripe is supposed to be quite fattening, although a dog needs other foods as well as just tripe. I'm wondering if bulking out Sophies food with things like pasta might help.
I'm sure that other L.F people will be able to advise you more than I can, but if you are really concerned, I would suggest you speak to your vet. Leaner dogs, especially as youngsters, are less likely to have joint problems than their heavy-set peers, so as long as Sophie is fit and healthy in all other ways, there is probably no need to worry.
Becs
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Sophie Offline
early riser
Joined: May 24, 2005
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Posts: 16
Posts Left: 10
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69 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Sophie
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Location: Manchester
Gender:
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:24 am Post subject: |
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Hi
Ooops she is actually 13 months old not 11 months - sorry.
Thanks for your advice so far.
Tom
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_Jules_ Offline
And the Girls
Joined: Sep 27, 2005
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Posts: 33574
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242523 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Mojo, Pickle, Pood And Twoee
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Location: Essex
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:25 am Post subject: |
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Hi Tom,
Right there's two issues here. Firstly some Labs are leaner and leggier than others. What were her parents like. If they were working type then they are more likely to be this shape dog . If so, Sophie may never become the chunky, thick set Lab that you see at shows.
Secondly, Is Sophie on Burns for any particular reason, ie allergies? Have you tried her on any other food? I'm asking because it seems odd to me that she can't tollerate an increase in food without it affecting her poos.
The fact that she spends most of her time looking for food, eats poo and looks underweight seems to indicate that she is hungry. ( I know Labs seem to be always hungry by nature ).
If there is no reason for keeping her purely on Burns then I would suggest that you change her food or even perhaps add something else to it. I know some people here feed Burns with Naturediet (wet food) mixed in. Or perhaps you could change her to a more natural diet (BARF or Raw meaty bones diet).
I think I'd be inclined to try her with Naturediet ( if you can get it) and add some cod liver oil to her eveing meal. I've had success in the past with poo eating dog with Super Solvitax cod liver oil.
I hope this is of some help.
Jules.
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Jules, Mojo, Pickle, Pood and Twoee.
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