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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

ddog is a bit too thin

12 replies

basildonbond · 18/05/2015 08:10

Ddog has always been on the lean side (which is good for his joints as he has mild hip dysplasia on one side) but in the last few weeks he's been looking thin rather than just lean

My vet said he'd be happier if he were at least a kilo heavier - currently 16.5 kg, the 'ideal' for an adult dog of his height is apparently 19kg but his frame is slighter than average.

I asked the trainer at our gundog class what she thought and she agreed he is a bit too bony especially around his hips and spine

I've been giving him a bit more food but all that's happened is that he's pooing more than usual and it's horrible and sloppy

What are the best ways of putting a bit of weight on without upsetting his stomach?

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LetThereBeCupcakes · 18/05/2015 08:18

What are you feeding him? TBH if he's pooing more and it's loose it might be that he's a bit intollerant to it?

We have similar problems with our DDog 2 - she's very slight and has joint problems so we're happy with that, but we do get comments sometimes. If we feed her more she just bounces around more and burns it off!

needastrongone · 18/05/2015 08:49

What do you feed him? Ddog2 has a tendency to be too lean.

Tripe is notoriously good for weight gain.

I also changed the Millie's food that I fed the dogs to one with a higher ratio of protein, specifically for dogs that struggle with weight.

And, at Christmas, when I had a pot of goose fat in for my roasties, I made a gravy for ddog2 using a teaspoon of this. I am aware that probably changes the balance of the food given, but he was extremely lean then.

Also, extra kongs etc (frozen tripe good here)

Original poster
basildonbond · 18/05/2015 09:04

He's on angell dry food (same type of food as fish4dogs) which has a high protein content and no grain with half a sachet of james wellbeloved wet food mixed in with the kibble for his tea

Up till now his poo has always been small, dark and v easy to pick up - I've upped the amount of kibble and kept the amount of wet food the same

He does have quite a sensitive tummy - marrow bones have hideous effects on his poo and bread makes him do room-clearing farts ...

Is tripe ok for 'sensitive' dogs?

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Original poster
basildonbond · 18/05/2015 09:05

oh, and he's a real 'calorie-burner' - he's v fast and active and zooms around on walks

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SinclairSpectrum · 18/05/2015 09:08

Got my dog on csj No Grainer for exactly this issue.
The main source of protein is tripe, his poos are good and firm and he is steadily filling out.
Its £36 for 15kg.

SinclairSpectrum · 18/05/2015 09:09

Oh and yes, my dog is sensitive too - he gets a runny tummy at the drop of a hat.

onedogatoddlerandababy · 18/05/2015 09:23

We have the same issue with our springer. She is spayed, almost 7 yrs old and is about 17kg. She was I royal canin and piled on the weight, about 7 mths ago she was 23.8kg.

Anyway, she still has tons of energy, belting around the woods/fields so we're pretty sure it's the food (currently natural dog food company). I've checking on allaboutdogfood.co.uk and looking at the protein & fat content, we're not surprised.

Have just bought a 2kg bag of canagan to try as it's higher in protein and fat.

EasyToEatTiger · 18/05/2015 12:45

We've moved some dogs onto CSJ to keep the weight on. The rumble strip dog is at last more like a rumble strip and less like a cattle grid. And our very oldie has put on some weight too.

needastrongone · 18/05/2015 15:15

I would think raw tripe would need to be introduced gradually. How about oily fish?

onedog That's really interesting. We have a Springer and a Cocker. The Springer is male, 2.5 years old and weighs about 16kg. I have no issues with his weight, he's lean and fit as a fiddle, but admittedly doesn't look like most Springers, who are not so lean. The vet is very happy with him.

The cocker is about 12kg, and the thinner of the two dogs.

nellieellie · 19/05/2015 23:06

Tripe is pretty digestible. I have given it to mine after operations when he's a bit delicate. He is raw fed though, and Im talking raw tripe.

onedogatoddlerandababy · 25/05/2015 08:26

needastrongone only just come back to this thread, she is pretty tall, long and lean for a springer, not that typical barrel-ly look some have Smile, but she was seriously bony (especially round the rump, could feel every bone, even in her face)

Does yours feel really bony?!
We took her to be weighed and she'd lost another 1.2kg in two months despite increasing her food, her scavenging had also gone crazy.

Her weight at 2 yrs when she was spayed was 18.8kg so the vet nurses felt that she should be nearer that.

Original poster
basildonbond · 25/05/2015 09:01

Ddog was weighed on Saturday and he's gone up to just over 17kg and is looking a bit less fragile! I can still feel his ribs, hips and spine but he's got a little bit more covering them. I think his 'fighting' weight should be between 17.5 and 18.5kg so will hopefully get him to stabilise around there

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