Feeding thoughts?

druid

druid

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Ok, suggestions and ideas appreciated.

I have a newly aquired rescue lurcher (whippet rather than GH based). He's 24" at the shoulder and weighs barely 18kg, ribs visible and palpable, backend rather boney. The vet guessed he should be more around the 23-25kg mark...does that sound reasonable?

Currently he's getting Royal Canin Medium Junior food - 300g split into 3 small meals a day. To "top up" the calories he's getting a frozen kong w/ peanut butter and a small handful of chopped carrots in it. Should I look to change to a different brand/kibble or up the quantity? Or top dress w/ something else? Or give his current diet a chance to kick in?

He is a bit of a finicky eater - treats he loves (liver treats and cheese cubes are key to recall currently!) but won't touch some foods. We rejected Orijen and JWB before he agreed on the RC
 
My lurcher looks mainly greyhound and stands 28" at the shoulder but weighs around 28kg if that helps.

He is a shy feeder so I give him IAMS which is quite concentrated and means he doesn't have to eat much in volume to get the right amount (about 2/3 qty of most other feeds). If he drops a bit of weight a couple of spoonfuls of porridge mixed in always perks him up
 
Getting them into good nick takes about 3 months after they come out of rescue, it is usually accompanied by a massive moult as they throw off all their 'kennel' coat :D I give all mine Skinners Field Trial Duck and Rice (they have it soaked with warm water to help Islay, who has hardly any teeth left!) and they look fantastic on it :)

Mine are two pure greyhounds at 23" and 25" and one greyhound x whippet at 24" - Islay is the biggest and weighs around 27kg as I recall :)

I wouldnt worry about building him up too quickly, you will just upset his stomach, but just give it time :) I have had more problems with fat rescues recently (Islay was fat when she came out of kennels, and Amy was fat when she came down from Cayla's :eek:) but Flick was a starvation case when she was rescued and had real food issues when I got her. She has just calmed down over time and was back to 'normal' with her approach to food after about a year; she took longer to get into good condition, about six months as I recall :)
 
Sheeeesh, Amy was not fat u big liar, she was fine/stocky and well muscled:mad::p
Also OP vegie oil is good for adding the poundage, jsut add some glugs to his feed.
 
Last edited:
CAYLA said:
Sheeeesh, Amy was not fat u big liar, she was fine/stocky and well muscled:mad::p
Also OP vegie oil is good for adding the poundage, jsut add some glugs to his feed.
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Yes Cayla, sorry Cayla ;) Amy was not fat, she was stocky and well muscled :)

I've asked them to delete my account BTW, as I am fed up of my inability to keep out of all the bitching in Soapbox, so you'll have to speak to me on text or by Facebook/e-mail now :D
 
Gazehound said:
Yes Cayla, sorry Cayla ;) Amy was not fat, she was stocky and well muscled :)

I've asked them to delete my account BTW, as I am fed up of my inability to keep out of all the bitching in Soapbox, so you'll have to speak to me on text or by Facebook/e-mail now :D
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No u have not........if so u will never speak to me again, i refuse to join the pile of shayt known as facebook:rolleyes:

You love being in the middle of the biatching:p
Be like me, stay neutral and be lovely, calm, polite and serene and sweet:)
 
Don't you dare delete your account Gazey, there is little enough on here nowadays to make it interesting (present company excepted of course).
Re the weight thing, I always prefer to just go by eye rather than a set weight. Evie (young GSD) weighed 29kg last time she was at the vets, which would sound underweight compared with greyhounds weights but she is fine. My old GSD weighted around 40 kg, she wasn't much taller than Evie just a different build and although she carried more weight she wasn't fat, you could still feel her ribs quite easily.
 
Thanks guys - raw isn't an option, my hosuemate is veggie and shares my fridge so it would be unfair to ask her to look at lots of meat all the time. My parents feed thier cats raw and it does seem very good for them so I can see the benefits.

Will look at the other suggestions
 
Gazehound said:
Yes Cayla, sorry Cayla ;) Amy was not fat, she was stocky and well muscled :)

I've asked them to delete my account BTW, as I am fed up of my inability to keep out of all the bitching in Soapbox, so you'll have to speak to me on text or by Facebook/e-mail now :D
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Don't go!:( There's too many spangle/GSD nutters on here, they're after world domination, us skinny owners can make a difference!:D

Seriously, I have no idea whats been going on in Soapbox, but you come across as one of the most unbitchiest, unspiteful member on here. Don't let the oddballs on here get you down, you have as much right to an opinion as the next person, especially concerning the skinnies!:)
 
blazingsaddles said:
Don't go!:( There's too many spangle/GSD nutters on here, they're after world domination, us skinny owners can make a difference!:D

Seriously, I have no idea whats been going on in Soapbox, but you come across as one of the most unbitchiest, unspiteful member on here. Don't let the oddballs on here get you down, you have as much right to an opinion as the next person, especially concerning the skinnies!:)
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Awwww BS thank you, you make me feel loved :D Actually the nice Admin man refused to delete my account, so I feel a name change is in the offing.....:rolleyes:
 
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