Help with underweight dog

[dizzydonkeys]

Hi, I am more a lurker than a poster, but thought someone could help me out.

I have a lovely staffy, she is the long legged Irish type, had her all her life.

Problem being she has spent most of her 5 years anorexic, she would go days without eating anything.

Now the past year she has been eating well but always appears starving, she even steals out of your hand.

Vet checked/wormed regularly, vet says she doesn't weigh underweight, is in fact nearly 20kg, however she looks awful, spine and hips poking out.

She is happy and bright with nice coat etc, I just dunno what else to feed her, she is fed dried food - working dog mix 3 times a day, as if give her big bowl full it over faces her and she won't touch it, she can't have wet food as gives her squits

She is also thinkin she is a whippet and will just run all day given the chance, she is very boisterous.

Any ideas what to feed?

 

[Jbrogan]

I know you said you cant feed wet food but you should maybe try fresh tripe? All my dogs are fed on it and they love it, my westie was always funny abouting eating until I started giving him tripe! You can normally get it from butchers and freeze it!

 

[dizzydonkeys]

[ QUOTE ]
I know you said you cant feed wet food but you should maybe try fresh tripe? All my dogs are fed on it and they love it, my westie was always funny abouting eating until I started giving him tripe! You can normally get it from butchers and freeze it!

[/ QUOTE ]

We have tried that, she won't touch it! No idea what it does to her guts as she seems to hate it, she don't like mince either, thanks though.

 

[AmyMay]

Could she be allergic to the brand you are feeding, so not actually utilising the nutrients?

 

[dizzydonkeys]

Hmmm, could be, tho have had bloods and stuff done at vets not so long back when was getting extremely worried would anything of shown up? She has no other signs of an allergy, and not something vet mentioned, her food hasn't changed for 2 years, as was told not to keep changing it, I used to get different brand every half bag to try keep her interest - got told off for spoiling her!

 

[lucy16]

Hi, used to feed my rescue GSD a bit of lard every day (vet suggested this actually). It's pure fat so won't give them extra energy, and he seemed to like it. Put weight on him fairly quickly.

 

[TayloredEq]

Out JRT was always a fussy eater and carried no weight at all. the vet suggested to me to put her on puppy food even though she is 7 and she has finally managed to put some weight on.

 

[CAYLA]

Hi.......I always say this, but if she is bright and active, there really is nothing much to worry about.

You could try adding vegie oil to her food, I have with my oldies, and have seen a signifigant change in their weight, I did this after someone on here advised it for my old horse, as it helped his weight.

Dogs do not need the amount we shovel into them

they would go for days, even up to a week in the wild before a decent meal, and if she has no competition, i.e no other dogs in the house, thats even less reason for her to eat all of her food.

Use the old food down for 10 mins routine, then no more till next meal, and try splitting her meals into smaller ones, to encourage her to clear the bowl.

 

[dizzydonkeys]

Thanks guys, vet tells me I shouldn't stress, but she looks awful, am so worried RSPCA will be round or something.

I have another staffy who is a little barrel on legs and gets fed virtually nothing, but on same worming plan etc, and does in fact weigh less than the skinny one!

Maybe she is like these tall skinny people you see that can eat all day with no weight gain.

She is eating well at present, every scrap and has done for few months, hence why more concerned than when she wasn't eating.

Puppy food is a good idea to try.

Thanks so much, and sorry for late replies, I only get online during office hours, try avoid it on an evening.