Help with dog really thin :(

dingle12

dingle12

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Hi can some one please help our GSD guard dog is so thin
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a vet has seen her and done some tests on her stools and they have come back saying she is not absorbing anything from her food. She is now on some powder from the vets (enzymes). Is there any dog food that could help her? would wagg sensitive be any good? she is bright in herself and her coat is not that bad she is just so thin. Thanks
 
This is sadly quite common in GSDs, I know pups from litters by my dog's sire have had this problem.
Will be a matter of finding what works for her. My dog does well on Arden Grange hypoallergenic, bulked out with eggs, yoghurt and veg oil (not all at the same time!)

Our club sec ha had a few similar problems with some of his dogs, I will ask him this weekend how he dealt with it.
 
As suggested pancreatic insufficiency is very common in Gsd'd, the powder u have been given is to replace the enzymes that are not being produced naturally, hence cauid sing the problems with absorbing food.
Does he have loose faeces aswell, or jsut the weight loss?

Dis your vet go through the low fat, carb, fibre diet with you or discuss a prescription diet?
I think royal canin may also produce the diet he needs, stick to one food as not to upset his system once u get him a good quality bland diet.
Also feeding more frequent smaller meals will help.
 
My rescue GSD was always too thin when I first had him, mainly due to being a bit of a worrier, I think. Our vet recommended a spoonful of lard every day which did make a real difference without making him more hyper.
He's now on the natural barf diet and the vets always comment on how well he looks when he goes for his booster.
grin.gif
 
Have you researched raw feeding? I have heard of several cases where dogs with this condition have responded well to a natural diet without all the unnatural starches, synthetic additives and hidden “extras” in commercial cooked feeds, which in my opinion at the very least may well be responsible for making these types of condition much, much worse. The more I read of the feeding problems and specific special diets available on here the more I think how lucky my dogs are that I took the plunge!

Here is an interesting extract regarding the powders you are using, they are derived directly from pigs and sheep’s livers and processed into powders or tablets. But if you have a local abattoir nearby this might well help and as part of a raw diet you might well see a different dog:

“In some instances, raw pig pancreas can be used. The pancreas needs to come from animals certified as healthy by an approved meat inspector. Accurate dosing is more difficult with the raw pancreas, but in general, a 45-pound dog would need to receive 3 to 4 ounces of the chopped pancreas. The raw pancreas can be frozen at -4ºF for up to 3 months and still retain its enzyme activity.”
 
I have also heard of the raw pig pancreas being fed with good results, and have heard of people having good results with raw diets and others that have made the dog worse, so maybe worth you having a good read up and see what u think.

Some dry diets that some of our clients use with sucess are
*wafcol slamon and rice
*Royla canin Capelin and something else but I cannot remember but u could try googling (maybe expensive)
*Chappie dry and meat
 
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