Help putting weight on my lab!

[superpony]

I have a 15 month old Labrador who spent the first 6 months of her life in and out of the vets with vomiting and diarrhea. This meant she didn't really put weight on as she should have done and lost some but we finally found a food that suited her approximately 4 months ago. Just before she had her last bout of illness she was 20kg (this was about May time) she then went down to 18kg and is still 18kg. She is a show type lab so of heavier build, but she is really looking v poor at the moment.. you can see all her ribs and part of her spine.

I know that many labs are overweight and obviously don't want her like that BUT she is certainly too skinny.. the vet agrees and said we need to get more weight on her somehow. I am concerned about changing her food as we have finally found one that suits her. She is currently fed Burns Pork and Potato, for her size they recommend about 240-250g max. She is currently on 300g and they have said that I shouldn't increase it further as it could affect her digestion/dodgy tummy? She is also super active/always on the go etc!

Health wise everything is fine.. she has had everything checked (I work in a vets) and bloods etc all clear. The Burns Nutrition Line have said if anything to decrease the biscuits as we are giving her too much and instead add vegetable oil or fried eggs. I have tried vegetable oil in the past and it made her sick. I am worried about the eggs as again don't want to upset her tummy, make her poorly and cause her to loose even more weight!!!

All ideas very welcome!

 

[wren123]

I am not qualified but I totally disagree with the Burns Nutrition Line, if you have a food which suits her then I would slowly increase the amount until she reaches the required weight. I always feed by how my lab looks rather than what is suggested on the packet, she is slim and she has a long walk everyday but I only feed her about half the suggested amount on the packet, my vet is very pleased with her weight.

 

[s4sugar]

Feed to activity & the dog - not to a weight.
If I were to add anything it would be pork - a slice of belly pork if pork suits her.

 

[galaxy]

My gsp was a naturally rib by dog too when he was on burns pork and potato. I changed him onto Arden grange lamb and rice with no improvement and then onto fish4dogs and now fishmongers. Since being on the fish diets I can no longer see his ribs. Highly recommend you give it a go

 

[Echo24]

Ditto wren123 I woe personally not feed anything else, particularly with her history of diarrhoea and vomiting. I would increase feed gradually and weigh every week to monitor weight gain. Is she on two meals a day? To aid a dog's weight gain without giving them big meals, it might be worth splitting her meals to help her gain weight.