help for my sister

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Missmac

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My sister has a boxer who in horsy terms is a poor do-er!

She has pretty much ad lib beta puppy but is still light. She is up to date with worming and hasnt got fleas.

Can anyone suggest something that will help her put on and maintain weight.

Thanks
 
Stop the ad lib feeding and replace with two meals a day.
Beta Puppy is crap.
There are far better puppy or performance foods around and many decent ones are cheaper. Supadodg puppy or Skinners performance come to mind or switch her on to tinned Chappie. A 1200g tin a day over two meals and she will put weight on unless there is a medical reason not to.
 
Thank you. She has tried a few brands to no avail. Her vet recommended she try beta puppy.

I will tell her what you said.

Thank you.
 
The majority of vets know little about nutrition but are sponsored to sell Hills, Science Plan etc. If it's in the surgery, don't buy it!

Puppy food is a myth, totally unneeded. Give her any food she likes that is of decent quality. Much as I normally agree with S4sugar, long term, I think Chappie is crap, too, low protein, high on rice. It's easy on the tummy, true.

Here are two links you might want to look at. Green is good, red is avoid. :)

http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/194976-wet-dog-food-index.html

http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/189896-dry-dog-food-index.html

You could suggest raw, it's not as scary as it sounds. (See the sticky above and this thread, only need to read the first four pages: http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/111437-raw-feeding-everything-you-need-know.html) Tripe is very tasty and chicken leg meat on the bone is good and calorific. However, it's not for everyone. If my big lad is off raw, he loves Wainwright's trays from Pets at Home.

How old is the pup? My lot were on three meals til about four months then two, but fairly big as they are energetic little things.
 
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Thank you.

She said that the vet told her to feed rice as it will help her put on weight but after reading this and the jack russell thread I think she was quite shocked!
 
How old is the pup? I would agree ad lib isn't the best way to go, depending on her age several meals a day are far better. As CT says green tripe is great for putting weight on, though it does stink. Whilst Chappie does smell horrible, and would appear to not be a brilliant food, it has been used for years for dogs in poor condition or with digestive problems and it really does seem to suit them. What are the pups motions like, if loose it could be the vet has suggested rice as a bland food again rather than actually to put weight on.

I have just reared a litter on Fish4puppies and can thoroughly recommend it, it has really suited them. Its not the cheapest, but neither is it stupidly expensive, might be worth your sister getting a small bag to try.
What are the pups motions like, if loose it could be the vet has suggested rice as a bland food again rather than actually to put weight on.
 
We had an incredibly skinny boxer, something to do with stomach enzymes (many years ago now), vet recommended Chappie. That did the trick and she did well on it for the restof her long life :)
 
I would feed little and often. Pasta/rice with raw tripe/mince and the odd egg thrown in. For a young, poor doer breakfast at 8, lunch at twelve, tea at 4 and supper at 8.:)
 
Thank you.

she is four and a half years old but had a litter back in December. She picked up nicely after having the pups but has now gone to look a bit ribby again.

I will pass on all your suggestions.

Thank you.

A
 
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