Advice needed

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Taffster

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My son has a dog at his dads he is a beautiful german shepherd dog approx 7yrs but he is so so thin, I would describe him as emaciated. However he is healthy and has a glossy coat and shiny eyes. He is a terribly fussy eater and I am struggling to offer any advice as to how to increase his weight. His dad is reluctant to take him to the vets because the dog is happy, but i just cant help but worry about him - he is a lovely dog to have around. Is there a breed problem with digestion that anyone is aware of or maybe a supplement on the market that we could try?
 
MurphysMinder of CaveCanem are the Resident GSD experts - they will have the best advice for you.
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They will be along soon.
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If he is happy and in good condition first off, don't panic.
I would need to see pics - GSDs have a natural tuck up and they aren't meant to carry too much weight - I like to see their ribs when they breathe in after exertion!
I have a lean dog, vet is happy with him and so am I, would rather have a skinny dog than an overweight one.

Some are prone to food absorbing problems but the vet could discount that.

Does he fence run? Like roundy roundy roundy? Lots of GSDs run their weight off through pacing - keeping him in a smaller area and doing more structured exercise - swimming, uphill walking, - WE exercise you, you don't exercise yourself! might help.

Try lots of oily fish, tuna, adding salmon oil, that kind of thing, Royal Canin also does a speciality diet for GSDs, but it is pricey.
Would he try feeding normal meat, minced lamb too? Chicken? I know very few dogs who turn that down!
Or the tripe mix you can get in the freezer at Jollyes or other stores.
What is he on at the minute?

Here's my skinnymalink at full stretch! Fit as a fiddle and well muscled - I cannot tire him.
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He is that thin you can feel every disk along his spine his cartlidge in his neck and along his ribs it feels like thin skin covering bone. A picture would be difficult as he is the long haired version so cant really see anything other than fluff. He does have a tendancy to bound everywhere and was tied up on a chain for the first 3 yrs of his life he still goes to the garage everyday but is now brought home and lives in at night. I have tried to get the dog on dried food and he is now down to half large tin of dog meat and 3 scoops of high protein dried food.
 
Chuck a bucket of water over him. I'm only half joking
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with coaties sometimes that is the only way to see.
Sorry to be obtuse but I can feel B's spine and ribs!
How do you think he would look in comparison to my dog? Bearing in mind he is also quite heavy coated?

High protein doesn't mean much in dried food - it's the calorific count that matters, the protein could be coming from anything. As you know dog meat is mostly water so won't be doing anything for him at all.

What sort of exercise does he get? If he was on a chain for so long, he might also have muscle wastage.
 
During the day he is at the garage wondering around until his hearts content then weekends he goes to the woods for some fun, in summer he goes in the week too. Sorry high in protein and oil, i found bakers to be the highest but he wont eat that so he is currently on 11% oils.
I think yours looks in better condition, to put it another way if he was mine he'd be straight to the vets. I have had naturally slim dogs before but even greyhounds have more covering than Scruff (not a name id choose either) I'll try getting some pics at weekend.
 
Very hard to tell without seeing him. I can feel the backbone on all 3 of mine, see the pic on my happy birthday post lower down, fit and well at 12 but quite slim. Glad he won't touch Bakers, sensible dog.
Oil as CC has suggested may help, and good old green trip is great for putting weight on, you can get it frozen from the pet supermarket type places.
Would his owner consider just taking him to the vets to get him weighed, most scales are in the waiting room area so cannot imagine vet would charge. Has he always been this thin or is it a recent thing? Also what are his motions like, that would give a clue as to whether he is absorbing his food properly.
 
I'd start throwing in some 'people' food as I say, like chicken or tuna and as MM says, that frozen tripe mix. Don't like Bakers at all and trying to work out what the ingredients/values actually MEAN on a lot of packaging can require a degree in rocket science.

As MM says, see if owner can pop him in to give him a weigh (mine is about 40kg but all legs and he is tall, 2.5yo)

I would suggest maybe a bit more structured exercise if that is possible - many dogs, allowed to wander in a certain space - will just stay in the same spot, I know mine will, just pottering - he needs to use his muscle, like I say, road walking at a brisk pace, bit of hill work, during the week, I am sure he would muscle up.
 
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