wyrdsister
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I'm looking for some advice as to how to keep weight ON my older spaniel. Teg is fourteen and a half and has always been the world's fussiest eater. I had a hard time keeping weight on her when she was a young dog and now, with the inevitable effects of old age, it's getting even harder.
Quick history: there is nothing sinister causing weight loss. Having had two spine operations for ruptured discs and a cancer scare, we're in close contact with our vets and she's monitored regularly - everything has been checked, including her teeth/mouth. She's currently on PLT to manage the lingering inflammation issues with her back, one daily. She also gets an Senior Supplement (PetSpec) to support her joints and a seaweed supplement to keep her teeth clean. Both of these have proved very effective.
Her normal feeding regime is 1/2 cup of Acana biscuits, with 1/3 of a can of Lukullus or 1 can of Applaws, twice a day. If I up the quantity, she wanders off and ignores it. If it's left down, she ignores it. If I take it away and offer her a third meal in the middle of the day, she takes the odd mouthful, then ignores it. She is like this with ALL food - I've spent the last decade trialling everything under the sun and this is the best of the biscuits/meat options.
I'm not willing to go down the raw food route for two reasons: 1) I'm vegetarian and whilst I won't inflict that on my dogs, selfishly, I just can't cope with having corpse in my kitchen; 2) having conned my mother on her various visits into feeding T a few raw items, she's just as uninterested as she is with the biscuits, more so if it requires chewing, gnawing, effort.
At present she's in pretty good condition, not thin yet but with the cold winter coming, in which I know she loses weight, I'm hunting for ideas. Despite her age, she's a lively, active dog who loves her walks and chasing the ball with my younger girl. So, folks, any suggestions? Pretty please?
*Cookies and cake for anyone who read all that*
I'm looking for some advice as to how to keep weight ON my older spaniel. Teg is fourteen and a half and has always been the world's fussiest eater. I had a hard time keeping weight on her when she was a young dog and now, with the inevitable effects of old age, it's getting even harder.
Quick history: there is nothing sinister causing weight loss. Having had two spine operations for ruptured discs and a cancer scare, we're in close contact with our vets and she's monitored regularly - everything has been checked, including her teeth/mouth. She's currently on PLT to manage the lingering inflammation issues with her back, one daily. She also gets an Senior Supplement (PetSpec) to support her joints and a seaweed supplement to keep her teeth clean. Both of these have proved very effective.
Her normal feeding regime is 1/2 cup of Acana biscuits, with 1/3 of a can of Lukullus or 1 can of Applaws, twice a day. If I up the quantity, she wanders off and ignores it. If it's left down, she ignores it. If I take it away and offer her a third meal in the middle of the day, she takes the odd mouthful, then ignores it. She is like this with ALL food - I've spent the last decade trialling everything under the sun and this is the best of the biscuits/meat options.
I'm not willing to go down the raw food route for two reasons: 1) I'm vegetarian and whilst I won't inflict that on my dogs, selfishly, I just can't cope with having corpse in my kitchen; 2) having conned my mother on her various visits into feeding T a few raw items, she's just as uninterested as she is with the biscuits, more so if it requires chewing, gnawing, effort.
At present she's in pretty good condition, not thin yet but with the cold winter coming, in which I know she loses weight, I'm hunting for ideas. Despite her age, she's a lively, active dog who loves her walks and chasing the ball with my younger girl. So, folks, any suggestions? Pretty please?
*Cookies and cake for anyone who read all that*
and oily fish like tuna or sardines in sunflower oil, or salmon oil added to food, and eggs, are all great conditioners.