How to fatten Popple up....?

[Puppy]

For market!!

No, seriously,

she has always been a picky eater, despite trying many different brands, but recently with her being even more active she is at times looking a little leaner than I'd like.

She is currently on JWB junior biscuits, with some tinned meat to get her to eat, but she rarely clears her bowl. Is there a something I could add to her food to just build her up a little bit - she is bursting with energy and has a super shiny coat and lots of muscle.

I've given her scrambled egg, which she LOVES

but it was maybe a little rich for her tummy

and I was wondering if there was anything else people could suggest.

Thanks in advance from us both

Gratuitous Popple pic cause I can't resist!

 

[k9h]

With the shine on that coat I doubt there is very much wrong at all!! Well done.

Best thing with fussy eater is not to pander there every whim & chopping & changing food just makes them more picky!!

Though 'green' tripe is suppose to be very good at putting weight on?

 

[MarleyandDarcy]

tripe and lamb rib is good for putting weight on

If you can't actually see ribs then I'd have thought she is prob ok, as k9h said she has a shiny coat so she can't be too malnourished!
I feed mine raw and find they put weight on really easily with it, I gave up trying to feed dry complete feed as they hated it.

 

[Puppy]

Thanks. She is certainly in good health. She'll run for literally miles/hours

I guess she is lean like a little race dog!!

I was wondering about trying some dog gravy just to get her to eat a tiny bit more...?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Fab piccy of Popple - she looks in good health - look at that shiny coat! You could give her the occaisional tin of tuna or sardines or pilchards in oil or tomato sauce. The other thing you could try to get her to clean up her biccys is a small cup of hot Bovril - is made from beef extract again and the smell alone is enough to make them wolf it all down. To be honest I wouldn't worry about her weight as she is quite young - especially if she hasn't been speyed yet. If she has been speyed even more important to keep her weight down as they can pile it on quite easily - so much more important that she is fit and healthy.

 

[Cyberchick]

When I had trouble with the weight on my weimeramer it was suggested on here to put her back on Junior/Puppy food and try some NatureDiet.( She is 2 )I did both of this and she looks fab now, just how I want her. She to is on JWB Junior so I would stick to that and maybe give NatureDiet a go, it worked for me.

Super pick and lovely dog.

 

[sloulou]

Scrambled egg shouldn't be too rich? Some breeders wean their puppies onto scrambled egg as their first solid food.

Sardines in oil is good for fattening up.

My lab is a bit like this - but I've recently adjusted his diet and he is clearing the bowl again - so maybe she's trying to tell you something!

I can show you a pic of my skinny labbie to show you!

But he's put on a little since then after diet change

 

[jvoyce]

I'd suggest a cod liver oil capsule once a day...

 

[Puppy]

Ahhh, if only I had a £ for every time someone called Popple a lab or part bred!!

She is a spratterdale

Springer x Patterdale - despite the fact her mother was the springer, she is really only terrier size

More pics to give you an idea:

She's certainly been ok when eating just my left overs of scrambled egg so maybe it was a one off when she had a off tummy last time I gave her a whole one for lunch.

Decided to give it another go and I have given her one today which she had with biscuits for lunch and v almost emptied her bowl (same as she did with breakie that was biscuits and tinned meat). It maybe just because in the last few weeks she's had a touch of a growth spurt and we've been more active as I am trying to get fitter again.

Shall keep trying the eggs/tuna/veg oil and see how we go

Thank you very much all

H xx

 

[Puppy]

Oh, good point, I bet she'd love cod liver oil.... Shall get some from the feed store

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Puppy that was just an excuse to post lots of piccys of Popple wasn't it? not that I blame you as she is so sweet - love the one of her in the bath (?) and where she is curled up next to your other pooch - she looks so tiny!!

 

[Puppy]

Thanks, no she hasn't been speyed yet; hasn't even had her first season

 

[Puppy]

ha ha! I did get a bit carried away

It's hard to explain how she really isn't that lab like in the flesh.

I think she has a very spaniel shaped body; the lower body outline she has from her rib cage to her back leg - does that make sense? But it's a fine line between her being trim and fit, or looking a bit skinny...

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

She is still a baby though so I wouldn't worry too much - they never seem to grow all together do they?! Anyway you may find that she doesn't really fill out until she is about 2 and certainly once she has been speyed she may put in weight to easily! I try and keep mine on the trim and fit side as it is so much better for them in the long run (wish it was so easy for me!) Spaniels do fill out quite a lot when they finally mature (although never really grow up mentally!)

 

[sloulou]

ha ha - I know she isn't a lab

I was just saying what breed mine was

Lovely to see more pics of her tho xx

ETS - People kept asking me if mine was a labradoodle when he was younger

I was very offended

 

[Puppy]

Ah, sorry, gottcha, thanks

Popple either gets called a lab, or a daschund

Am going to take her for a bike ride now to make sure she has a good appetite for supper

Thanks for the advice all

H xx

 

[sammarlon]

Feed little and often!! Try adding some milk to her biscuits. I have a border terrier and that was fussy too, once soaked in full cream milk ate the lot!! Doesn't she look cute, lovely photos.

Sam

 

[kibob]

She looks great. I wouldn't worry too much about her weight though. You will more than likely find that after she has been spayed she will gain weight.

My little collie/lab bitch has just had her first season (10 months). She went quite skinny just before and during her season. She is a manic wee thing and uses up heaps of energy. However, she has settled down again (weight-wise) post-season. She will be spayed in 12 weeks time, I'll need to watch her weight then incase she gets too porky.

Popple looks great, adding the oil may just help her appetite so she finishes up her meals

. Please don't add milk though

 

[MurphysMinder]

Ditto kibob. I would far rather see a slim dog than a fat one, she will probably beef up as she matures, particularly once she is spayed. Her coat looks great and she is obviously full of energy, maybe she just doesn't have a huge appetite.

 

[Puppy]

Thank you for all the advice guys

I think her weight and appetite waved a little as she's just come on heat this week for the first time. (Or at least, Puppy always used to go off her food before coming on heat...)

I been giving her a scrambled egg each day for lunch, and also some tuna for tea - which she is loving

so I think we've cracked it.

Thank you very much for all the advice