Patch had terribly offensive wind, fairly loose fluffy big poos, too. I read around, and asked at the behaviourists and the vets.
Burns Potato and Pork was suggested. I introduced it very gradually, 5 weeks ago, over 10 days. He seemed to like it and is still very enthusiastic about it. However, he has lost 2.5 kg in weight.
I contacted Burns today, and they said that he's probably getting used to the lower fat content of Burns. They suggested adding an egg or two in with his meals, and/or some vegetable oil.
I told her how thin he'd become, and that I could see his ribs, but she said that she thought perhaps I'm overthinking his shape, because her dogs ribs can be seen when lying down.
BUT he's led next to me. I can see each and every rib. I can see each vertebra of his spine. His hips feel bony. In fact, my DD's carer came in today and said 'he looks like a concentration camp dog'.
I've done my best to provide him with a good quality food. His bowels seems so much better, but the weight loss is a worry. He's almost 1, and now weighs 15kg, down from 17.5kg 5 weeks ago.
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
I could do with some weight gain advice, please
Lougle · 05/11/2012 21:59
Scuttlebutter, all the photos bar the first one, were taken before he lost weight.
The top photo (upside down 
) is the one which doesn't do a particularly good job of showing his contours.
To clarify, when he's led beside me, I can see 6 ribs, and count all his vertebrae on his back end. His hip bones are also visible and quite angular.
The 4th and 6th photos are how I think he should look - sleek and covered, but no excess fat. He looks quite angular and scrappy at the moment.
Only saw the first pics the first time I looked. Having seen more, he's a gorgeous little chap 
. What you are describing is a bit too thin, but not by very much. I'd not be too worried about that weight. Quite a lot of people find their dogs are lean on Burns, but I think that's because it's not full of cereal/fillers. You often find dogs are a bit leaner on raw/BARF diets too but I don't think that's a bad thing.
How about giving him a small extra meal once a day - say a chicken wing (raw) or giving him some nice hi calorie treats like a Kong wiht peanut butter or cream cheese or pate?
Also, do you think he has finished growing? And sometimes the feeding guidelines aren't helpful if your dog is doing a lot more than average - with being a busy little terrier, I imagine he's always on the go?
Useful advice, thank you he's like a 4th child, such a worry!
Some yummy treats will go down well, I'm sure. He'll be very grateful to you, he loves his food 
I think he's probably finished growing upwards - I haven't noticed any increase in height for a while. Whether he's finished outwards, who knows?
4 meals per day is doable also.
I've been looking at photos of Whippets since you mentioned sighthounds...remarkable similarities in the shape and the way they carry themselves. I'm almost sure he's not pure Staff, whatever the breeders said.
Pure Staff!!! 
Erm, no. Not that there is anything wrong with pure Staffie, but if your pup is a pure Staff then my greyhound is a Labrador 
My sighthound comment was based on purely looking at his back end rather than the front. I think there is definitely some pointy in there at some stage.
I might pop over to the pointy thread and have a nose
He is the most beautiful boy. If we can only sort out his fear (and his reaction to the Westie who has had to go and live at Mum and Dad's 
) then he'd be the perfect dog.
His poo is perfect now - small, firm, dark, but not constipated. His wind is non-existent now, too. Before, it almost burned my eyes, it was that acrid.
Since Scuttle said that he looks quite 'sighthoundy' I've been googling and I have to say he does!! When he is outside, if he's wanting to come in, he puts his paws on the window sill and stares at us - his neck is so long and his head so small that we've always joked he looks like a little gopher
I'll have to put a more recent photo up, but he's long and lean, with a sweeping chest which goes high under the hips, if that makes sense. Not stocky at all. His face doesn't have a 'stop' that I can see, which Staffs normally have. He can run so fast, but then when we get home he's quite happy to flop all day on the sofa. Very, very people orientated (not good with other dogs, unfortunately, at the moment. Too afraid of all dogs, but then aggressive with our Westie, who has had to move to Mum and Dad's for his own safety). He's also very sensitive to discipline, and responds much, much better to clicker training. Food is his God.
He's loving the egg with his food, lucky boy.
No feeding advice but just come on to say what a beautiful boy he is. As scuttle says, a very lovely "sturcher" by the looks of things
Ahh thanks, Spicy He is beautiful. He's laid beside me, huffing away in his sleep
How about a "whiffie" - combo of whippet and Staffie - it's a really nice name.
Whiffie - would have been a great name before we changed to a food that doesn't give him wind
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Haha. I have a staffie and a jack russell x whippet. No need to tell you which one he looks most like
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