Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 10:19 am Post subject: Help putting some weight on...
Help please i am getting a bit worried about Hollys weight - she has always been slim build, and is not a large dog ( she is lab cross) but she has lost weight recently. She'd started to refuse her dinner even if she was hungry...turns out there was a problem with autarky...got a new lot...she is eating better but not that well...i dont think its a case of upping her food amount as she doesnt always finsh what sh gets...does she need something with higher calorific value added untill she regains her weight back up? Should i swap food - it took us a while to find 1 she would eat, didnt give her dandruff or dodgy poos....or add othe stuff to her diet? Any suggestions anyone...NEVER have we had a dog in our family who was too skinny...person either for that matter and ive tried Googling but most sites talk about overweight dogs.
Oh forgot to say im not really going on weight so much though i did just get her weighed at vets to see if it had gone down. Im more worried now because i can not just feel her ribs but see them too now
Well we were at the vets a few weeks ago Mary for jabs etc. This vet did mention she was a bit thin then but gave her a health check and said she was fine...and she has lots of energy when she is out - runs like a greyhound but is a real lazy bones at home. She has lost another kilo since then though
Might be an idea to get her checked out at the vets again, at least it would give you piece of mind. All i know that in a healthy dog you should be able to feel the ribs but not see them.
Think I`d ask him to investigate further, even though she`s good in herself, whats she crossed with?, if its a dog thats naturally slim that could be something to do with it I guess.
when Ruby wasnt gaining weight I gave her little and often and gave her fattening treats like cheese kongs and stuff. I also gave her an extra meal before GTs so she didnt burn off all the calories by running around like a loon. Not sure if that info is any good to you but it may be worth going back to 3 meals a day for a week or so to see if that makes any difference.
My lurcher tends to be on the lean side and the slightest little upset makes her drop weight and look like a hat rack. I found that she really likes tinned creamed rice pudding. It doesn't upset her stomach (although she doesn't have a delicate constitution anyway) and it puts the weight back on quite rapidly. Also tripe is another good way to put weight on (if you can stand the smell ). I buy it frozen, thaw it and then you can feed it raw, although Tara (the Lurch) prefers it cooked.
It's worth getting her checked over by the vet if her weight keeps going down, but just bear in mind that some dogs naturally get thinner as they get older (just as some people do).
Thanks guys...i think ill get her weighed again next week now that she is eating again...(though she's fast turning into a fussy madam) and if she hasnt at least kept that weight on or gained a wee bit ill get her in to see vet. Dont trust my scales so will go to vets to do it anyway...think my scales have been lying to me over last few months
Will also try some of your tips - have to say as a veggie myself the creamed rice is more appealing than the tripe...but hey thats what husbands are for isnt it?... to do the jobs you dont want to do!
So far ive been a bit reluctant to feed her tasty extras as i wondered if this was one of the reasons she was going off her food - hanging out for something more tasty - but a bit cant hurt can it?
Now if only i had the same problem!
Last edited by shelley on Thu May 11, 2006 4:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
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and ive tried Googling but most sites talk about overweight dogs.
but is a real lazy bones at home. She has lost another kilo since then though
). I buy it frozen, thaw it and then you can feed it raw, although Tara (the Lurch) prefers it cooked.
