weight gain help

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michelleice

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hey all Ive been battling weight gain with my dog for last year shes 8yrs

had her at vets first vet said she was slightly under weight but as shes part whippet she looked fine, Problem with that is shes staff x lab no whippet in her ( i saw both parents)

so i asked for a second opinion and other vet gave me a calorie paste called Nutri-Cal which worked for a bit till she refused to eat it, she was wormed/teeth checked and bloods done all fine.

we looked at her diet which at the time was tin of bakers split morning and afternoon with biscuits.

moved that up to bakers complete biscuits bigger dose 3 times a day with can split in 3 (big cans) with biscuits

stop walking her to just once week big walk and round block (3 mins) every night - no change

started walking her more as by vets request 4 times week long walks still round block every night.

Shes not drastically under weight just want he not so thin on back end.

vets are baffled and dont know what else to do

Anyone have experience of this?
 
Bakers is not the best food in the world, but if it works for you, it works, try adding an egg, yoghurt, tuna in sunflower oil, veg oil and salmon oil to her feed.
However if she is well in herself I wouldn't worry too much, some dogs are just skinny and I'd rather have a skinny than a fatty :)
 
There are other brands than those two, they just happen to have the biggest advertising budgets :)

But if it works, it works, like I say, try adding those things, my fella goes mad for tuna.
 
michelleice said:
bakers is only thing she will eat, pedigree chum gives her runs
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Have you tried any other brands? Neither of those are good quality and are mostly just 'bulk', smaller amounts of better-quality food might suit her better, plus I bet she poos like a carthorse at the moment with all that food. :eek:

I really don't mean to keep banging on about Fish4Dogs but they do a salmon oil and a cooked salmon mousse, both of which are really highly palatable for fussy eaters and will help pack weight on, plus you can mix them in with new kibbles to persuade her to eat them. As CC says fish in oil, eggs etc. will also help if she will take them. :)
 
blackcob said:
Have you tried any other brands? Neither of those are good quality and are mostly just 'bulk', smaller amounts of better-quality food might suit her better, plus I bet she poos like a carthorse at the moment with all that food. :eek:

we have tried
winalot
butchers (just checked one shes on for wet)
bakers
cesar ( turned her nose up)
chappie (vile)
sainsburys own
pedigree
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Have a try of Skinners or James Wellbeloved - preferably a grain-free variety - both of those are well-regarded on here and the Skinners especially is very reasonably priced. :)
 
Try James Wellbeloved, it is expensive but is good quality, my dogs will only eat it if I put boiling water on it & soak it for a few min & I then add a tiny bit of Aldi own wet food the only one I have found that they like & isn't too expensive.
 
Just looked at fish4dogs site and the salmon oil, got a local stockist over road (what it says on website) pets corner so im gonna run down once sons up and grab some also look into the food, im assuming pet shop/vet for them as i cant see sainsburys doing them
 
See if they've got the little pouches of salmon mousse too, it's irresistible to them. :)

Nothing worth buying in Sainsbury's or from the vet (massive generalisation, sorry) but both of those brands are available from Pets at Home if there's one near you. Wainwrights is another decent one they do, I think it's on offer at the moment.
 
thought i would put some pics up Ive just went and took to show you OH says shes fine but she was more bulky a year ago than now

not best pics she didn't like me following her with cam

2005
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2007
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today excuse her claws need cut (tonight job after a bath)
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CaveCanem said:
I think she looks fine!
Could maybe do with a few more pounds but she's not emaciated :)
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Thanks just want her more up and feel im losing battle! will definitely get salmon oil and mouse today and try and find skinners/wellloved food in tunbridge wells failing that ill Internet it!
 
From the photo she looks fine. A naturally lean dog.

Some labs are scrawny and many staffies don't fit the standard so she does fall within the scope of that cross.

Why do you or the vets want more weight on her?
 
I think she looks fine! I thought I was going to see a pic of a skinny minnie! I would far rather have a dog that is on the slim side than a fatty.

I am another bakers hater on here, but my little old terrier wont eat anything else! He is however becoming quite porky so his feed will probably be tweaked a bit.
 
michelleice said:
for her hight shes under weight
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No she isn't!

Forget her height and look at her frame.

If a vet needs to use height or breed to assess optimum weight they are not doing it correctly.
You need to look at where the weight is distributed and how the body is covered or muscled.


Some years ago I got into a huge argument with one local vet's practice. They had told a client to cut down the feed she was giving her 9 month old GSD as he was overweight when in fact the dog was underweight - every rib showing - but was nearly 30" at the withers.( he'd gone in to be weighed for worming)
Their argument was their chart said he was outside the breed range. The fact he was 20% taller hadn't occurred to them.

If Butchers suits her (and you) stick with it but feed it with Skinners or similar rather than biscuits. Fish 4 dogs is ok as are many others but avoid the mass market, pretty pieces & colours, brands.
 
thanks for all the advice i have taken it on board, not gonna put her straight on skinners as she will get squirts so ill be mixing it with her food shes on the now and take it from there

Not wanting her massive just built up a bit more so her back end isn't skinny and i cant feel her spine

Thank you all
 
I really wouldn't want maybe more than a pound or 2 on her. Its better she is a bit lean than overweight!

I wouldn't stop her exercise either because it will just lead to her losing muscle.

I honestly thing she looks great and applaud you for not having an overweight dog!
 
i try and not over feed as rather she was just under/spot on im gonna have to adjust it with the new feed though so that will be fun!
 
i think she looks fine
have you tried raw food,breast of lamb is good putting on weight,mince,chicken,fish,pasta,eggs,several small meals,let her finish her food then add more if needed but maybe give her 4-6 small meals aday

maybe your trying too many different brands,a dog wont sarve if fed regualary

as long as she heathly,eyes looking bright and full of energy,coat in condidtion, i wouldnt try not to worry too much

some dogs keep on the thinner side and some dont..just like us lol
 
haycroft said:
i think she looks fine
have you tried raw food,breast of lamb is good putting on weight,mince,chicken,fish,pasta,eggs,several small meals,let her finish her food then add more if needed but maybe give her 4-6 small meals aday

maybe your trying too many different brands,a dog wont sarve if fed regualary

as long as she heathly,eyes looking bright and full of energy,coat in condidtion, i wouldnt try not to worry too much

some dogs keep on the thinner side and some dont..just like us lol
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brands have been done over 8 yrs as shes a fussy eater, i wont feed her raw meat as Ive had bad experience with it :D
 
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