Flora lacking energy

Vizslak

Vizslak

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Well I never thought I would say this but I'm a little concerned at Flora and her energy levels recently. She sleeps FOREVER! Rarely gets up with the rest of us in the morning she normally comes downstairs about 10.30-11 ish. She has always been a little like this though. She seems to get short bursts of energy but does tire very quickly (especially for her breed) She has a good hoon on walks and seems active etc...but just not as I would expect really, its hard to explain! Mentally she is still very alert most of the time, pestering me if she is bored etc but I just think she needs a bit of something extra. She seems to get to a point relatively quickly where she is tired and a bit lifeless and I cant get her jeed up at all whether this is working or in the show ring. They are on arden grange at the moment (not long changed actually but she was the same before the change) and they have tripe and rice or pasta in the evenings. Everyone else is fine so I think I may just have to feed Flora something else. She holds weight well, always has done so I dont want to feed for energy and end up with her fat...although shes never been fat either! Any suggestions? I guess a working dog food would be a sensible step, I did consider putting her back on puppy but I reckon she would get very fat!
 
LOL I knew someone would say that but I honestly dont think there is anything actually wrong with her, I did consider getting them to run some bloods but I think its a feeding issue primarily. When she is in 'pet' mode ie. not going out showing, training, working she is fine energy wise I think she needs a bit of a boost as we have just started doing more again after a summer of doing not very much. If she gets any more lethargic I obviously will take her in but would ike to see if I can resolve the issue with some different feeding first.
 
One of my beagles (Dakota) has low thyroid issues and was like Flora sounds. It was when he first came to us from his prior home (we fostered him for 6 months before adopting him). He would go out on walks but not really enjoy them the way you would expect a dog who had not been walked regularly before to even though he was okay energy-wise while out. He would eat but it would be lethargic as if he didn't really care. He would sleep a lot and not pay attention to what we were doing around the house. He just didn't seem right. I told the vet at his first check up for the rescue group we were fostering for that he didn't seem like a typical dog who was only 4 should. As you said in your post, it was hard to explain. The vet didn't really agree that there might be something wrong because there were no other symptoms (he was a little overweight and fearful but nothing that wouldn't otherwise be related to how he was kept before he came to us) and I couldn't really put it into words. The vet did agree to check bloods however and that's when we found out about the thyroid.

Since he's been on the meds he is a different dog. He barks with excitement for his food (:rolleyes:) and romps around his walks like there is no tomorrow. He also jumps around the house when the leads come out. He follows us around and sits and stares at us when we are cooking. Normal dog stuff! It's three years on and he still has more energy at 7 than he did at 4 when we first got him. His thyroid is tested every 6 months and it is bang in the middle of normal now.

Just something to consider if a diet change doesn't work :).
 
Thanks Galupy, thats helpful in that it sort of confirms to me I dont have too much to worry about, she certainly still enjoys walks, bounces like a bouncy thing when leads come out, and at dinner time...she wolfs it down too. Its sustaining a decent energy level she has issue with when working or showing.
 
I'm a bit of a numpty when it comes to feeding...I thought high protien was bad?! was going to switch her onto field and trial ...is this decent food wise or full of ****?! Its higher protein but I thought I needed to be feeding more fats/oils which its actually fairly low in. I dont know! Feeding experts come hither!!!
 
slinkyunicorn said:
See The Moo was 2 earlier in the year and has definitely calmed down in the house at cuz up for a kip at every opportunity - when out and about etc he runs around for ever still - hare chasing a speciality....;):D
Click to expand...
she hasnt calmed down at all in the traditional sense...still bonkers, just a bit sleepy with it! lol...i cant explain!
 
I have no idea, Otto food is different to normal dog food as it's purely meat and fruit, no grains at all. For some reason it makes it high protein, but in a good way. I dunno!
My parents dogs were on field and trial something or other, but they switched onto something else recently as they were doing great on it.
You could try adding sardines in oil to her normal feed, ours get it as a bit of a boost after working. Otto loves sardine time!!! :D
 
my god its dear though!!! Its the same company as orijen yes? I dont understand therefore which one is better to feed?! :confused:
 
Yup, it is bloody expensive! Otto has expensive taste :rolleyes: He decided he was going to react violently to the Skinners D&R, so we had to go for the Acana. I don't have a freezer or the time for feeding raw.
I got the Acana as it was slightly cheaper than Orijen, the Orijen is 70% Meat, 30% fruit and veg, whereas the Acana is 60/40. So I think the Orijen is better but marginally!
 
Oh its all so confusing! To be honest I cant warrant spending that sort of money on her food...if like otto there was a major problem I would find it from somewhere but theres nothing really wrong with her she looks in top top condition, tummy is fine etc...I just want a bit of extra energy for her. In an ideal world I'd have all four on orijin I suppose...maybe one day hey! :rolleyes: :D
 
No exactly and if I didnt have a choice I would go hungry myself and would spend that much! Certainly I was not entertaining feeding all four on it! :eek: :D
 
Weirdly, after chatting last night, the OH went out today and bought Orijen for all 3 dogs, having spent all his free time this morning researching the best dry food. Brig has never reacted poorly to any food, obviously the babies are sensitive because they're little. They are all very food motivated so no issues there but I'm worried about the high protein content for the littl'uns.

What sort of percentage does Skinners have? Is there a particularly good one, cos I'm looking at some of the ingredients and getting a bit sceptical-lots of wht I would consider to be 'fillers'.
 
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intrestingly though their working 23 is no higher in protein or oil than ag adult food that mine are currently on...so to increase energy for flors i would need to put her on the superior. Go careful though...not all skinners feeds are wheat/gluten free. All are free of additives and preservatives though.
 
Cor, you are a diamond and no mistake. The low protein content makes me think stick with what I've got! I'm a bit speechless at that-max is 30% for the superior. I don't work Brig and he is always full of energy on a feed that has 22% protein. This is a ruddy minefield.

Has Flora ever had oil? I wonder if that would make a difference to her energy levels?

There must be a feed out there that doesn't cost loads, is hassle free and has a good set of ingredients! I'd love to do raw but only have a teeny freezer and literally no butchers locally-it's mad!
 
Floras current food is 25% protein 16% oil. No I guess I could try supplementing her with more oil...or oily fish as kirstyhen suggested. I'm not convinced thats what I need to give her more energy though...tis all very confusing no good looking at petfood company research...they all conflict to suit themselves :rolleyes:
 
I like the idea of oily fish, although I reckon it would go through Zak like grease-he's defo more sensitive than Bear-cub. I dunno re the energy: I know oomins aren't dogs but carbohydrates and slow release like pasta-there's lots of it in the Pedigree Chum tins (which we've got rid of-yay!) Saying that, carbs are not a natural thing for a dog who should really be eating pure protein.
 
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