Feeding suggestions for underweight dog.

[JessicaR]

We recently rescued another Neo Mastiff. He is grossly underweight. I have managed to put weight on him but I was wondering if I am doing the right thing and if there is a quicker better way.

Right now I am feeling him Solid Gold Wolf and mixing it with puppy kibble. I was told to add the puppy kibble until he gained weight. He is by my vets approximation 60 pounds underweight. When we picked him up he was 106 pounds. He is about a year old.

He is eating 3 times a day. To the kibble I add - sweet potato and either roasted chicken or beef. I also give him plain yogurt at night. He gets healthy treats during the day.

He has another appointment this week and I cant wait to see how he has progressed. I was just thinking he still looks so thin to me and I want to see that meat on his bones. I have him three weeks today.

Any ideas would be great! Thanks.

This is what he looked like when we picked him up -

This is what he looks like today.

 

[epcotprincess]

First of all he looks A LOT better and you're doing a great job!

Secondly the only thing I have heard is that "wet" food packs the weight on pets like no other. I have found this to be true with my cats, but again, they are not dogs and I'm not sure. Mixing wet and dry together is something my friends who foster animals have done to get weight on pets. Be sure to check with your vet but it sounds like you're doing great!

 

[nathalee81]

I'm sorry, I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to tell you "thank you" for taking this pup in and helping him.

He looks immensely better in your updated photo, so you sure are doing something right .

 

[nhrenee]

He looks so much better already.

 

[walden]

That first picture is heart-breaking. The second shows that what you are already doing is working. Congratulations and thanks for what you are doing for that poor guy.

Have you tried satin balls?* I've used those for very sick dogs in desperate straights, but they are very high in fat and it might be better to have your guy gain weight more gradually. What does your vet say?

*ETA the recipe I use for satin balls:
1 lb raw ground beef
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese (full fat)
1 8 oz jar peanut butter
wheat germ (about 4 oz)
6 egg yolks
1 cup or so of flaked oats soaked in cream to bind.

Mix up thoroughly, form 1" balls, freeze, feed as food supplement.

 

[katesorad]

Try Nature's Variety frozen raw food. It's the best thing for dogs.

 

[hereyago]

I also don't have any suggestions, but also want to thank you for helping this handsome pup.

 

[simba928]

First off, he is so handsome! He looks much better now than before.

Definitely work with your vet and do whatever you guys decide together. The biggest thing, though, is not to overfeed him, regardless of how tempting it is. When we get skinny dogs coming into the shelter I work at it is SO hard not to just give them as much food as they want, but when they are used to either not eating or eating very little it is not healthy for them to be fed a lot. This is probably a moot point right now for you, but we also start off feeding them a much lower quality food, like Dog Chow or Ol' Roy, than what the rest of the dogs get and gradually mix it into the regular "kennel" food (the better quality stuff). That seems to help on the "clean-up" end and for their transition to getting fed everyday. They don't immediately get top quality food, like Solid Gold, they work up to that.

We had a pit bull named Kane shortly after I started at the shelter that was a neglect case. He was not being fed, had sludgey green water, chained to a dog house, with a hole dug next to him that was supposed to be his grave when we found him. He weighed about 30 pounds when he came into the shelter and several months later, when he finally got adopted he was at a healthy 65 pounds. Cases like that are so hard to see, they make me want to give the dog all the good treats and fatten them up right away and then go home and give all my dogs all the treats and food they want. You just have to remember that, like people, it's not healthy for them to gain (or lose, for that matter) a bunch of weight at once. And you especially have to watch that, once they get to a healthy weight, you cut back so they don't become overweight.

 

[MushyMushy]

Oh my, bless his heart! I have no advice, but I just wanted to say that you're doing such a great job with him already. Do you know what happened to him before you adopted him? Poor baby.

 

[JessicaR]

First of all he looks A LOT better and you're doing a great job!

Secondly the only thing I have heard is that "wet" food packs the weight on pets like no other. I have found this to be true with my cats, but again, they are not dogs and I'm not sure. Mixing wet and dry together is something my friends who foster animals have done to get weight on pets. Be sure to check with your vet but it sounds like you're doing great!

Thank you! It helped me to see his weight gain with the two pics side by side. I am going to get some good wet food and see how that goes adding it to the kibble for one meal. My other dogs never ate wet food for some reason they prefer the roasted chicken and steak I make them!

I'm sorry, I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to tell you "thank you" for taking this pup in and helping him.

He looks immensely better in your updated photo, so you sure are doing something right .

Thanks for the support!

He looks so much better already.

Thanks Renee! Been to Universal lately? I am in need badly! lol

That first picture is heart-breaking. The second shows that what you are already doing is working. Congratulations and thanks for what you are doing for that poor guy.

Have you tried satin balls?* I've used those for very sick dogs in desperate straights, but they are very high in fat and it might be better to have your guy gain weight more gradually. What does your vet say?

*ETA the recipe I use for satin balls:
1 lb raw ground beef
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese (full fat)
1 8 oz jar peanut butter
wheat germ (about 4 oz)
6 egg yolks
1 cup or so of flaked oats soaked in cream to bind.

Mix up thoroughly, form 1" balls, freeze, feed as food supplement.

It was heartbreaking when I went to meet him. He had no sparkle in his eyes and he was so weak. He has come a long way in a short while and he is just an amazing dog.

That is a great recipe and I am going to make that for sure. It will be a good alternative to the treats he gets now. Love the idea of making lots and freezing them. My Vet only saw him once so far we go back this week. He told me to feed him what I feed my female just to add a meal.

First off, he is so handsome! He looks much better now than before.

Definitely work with your vet and do whatever you guys decide together. The biggest thing, though, is not to overfeed him, regardless of how tempting it is. When we get skinny dogs coming into the shelter I work at it is SO hard not to just give them as much food as they want, but when they are used to either not eating or eating very little it is not healthy for them to be fed a lot. This is probably a moot point right now for you, but we also start off feeding them a much lower quality food, like Dog Chow or Ol' Roy, than what the rest of the dogs get and gradually mix it into the regular "kennel" food (the better quality stuff). That seems to help on the "clean-up" end and for their transition to getting fed everyday. They don't immediately get top quality food, like Solid Gold, they work up to that.

We had a pit bull named Kane shortly after I started at the shelter that was a neglect case. He was not being fed, had sludgey green water, chained to a dog house, with a hole dug next to him that was supposed to be his grave when we found him. He weighed about 30 pounds when he came into the shelter and several months later, when he finally got adopted he was at a healthy 65 pounds. Cases like that are so hard to see, they make me want to give the dog all the good treats and fatten them up right away and then go home and give all my dogs all the treats and food they want. You just have to remember that, like people, it's not healthy for them to gain (or lose, for that matter) a bunch of weight at once. And you especially have to watch that, once they get to a healthy weight, you cut back so they don't become overweight.

Thanks for your feedback! I learned the hard way on day 2 after we got him that I had over-fed him. It broke my heart to have him bring his meal back up. My desire to fatten him up was greater than my common sense. We have found a happy balance on portions.

Kane's story is so sad. He was so fortunate to be saved by your shelter. That poor boy. The world is a better place because of people like you! Thank you.

Oh my, bless his heart! I have no advice, but I just wanted to say that you're doing such a great job with him already. Do you know what happened to him before you adopted him? Poor baby.

The only back story I have is that he was picked up by a high kill shelter after they found him walking the streets of Bridgeport CT. A shelter, Halfway Home Rescue, in New Haven picked him up the next day by pure chance! He was scheduled to be put down the very next day. His picture appeared on Petfinder and I called the same day! 2 days later we were on the ferry to meet him and went home with him the same day!

He was a mess when they picked him up totally neglected and covered in feces and wounds. I am pretty sure he is blind in one eye.

This dog is SO happy and appreciates all the love and care so much. We joke that he looks like he is smiling now. He is just such a good boy and I am so thankful we found him. He is living a very cushy life and we are so happy to provide it! He is our 3rd Mastiff rescue. For me they are like potato chips and I would love MORE! lol

Thanks again for the input everyone! I will update after the vet and add more pictures as he puts weight on.

 

[Disney Doll]

What a beautiful boy and how lucky to have been found by you!

It sounds like what you're doing is working great...I'd keep doingit. As a PP said, you don't want to fatten him up too fast....give his body a chance to get used to the changes.

 

[FredinFL]

With my guy, I'd just throw a handful of food into the bowl everytime I saw it was empty, up to whatever his normal serving is. It helped him put on his weight and he's never had a food issue either. He was so underfed you could count his little ribs and see his hip bones.

 

[daisax]

The satin balls recipe is tried and true, though obviously THIS dog needs to put on massive amounts of weight, so they won't do the trick alone.

I'm surprised that the vet recommended puppy food. That's the last thing I'd give a giant breed dog of ANY age.

 

[happygirl]

What a lucky puppy to have such a great mommy!!!

 

[roscoepc1]

Peanut butter is a great high-fat food for dogs. My fave way of "serving" it is to fill a Kong with it....then they get the "play" factor as well as the nourishment...

He's looking awesome compared to your original pic! Remember, he isn't meant to be "chunky" though, either!

 

[sue_gowin]

Bless your heart. Not many people would bring in a sweetheart with such high needs because of busy lifestyles....you're a SAINT! Our rescue had a ton going on when we got her, including being underweight at 3 months (i cried!)....we gave her a ton of peanut butter as snacks (along with other things the vet suggested which have already been suggested here) and not only did she love the peanut butter but she ended up being a tad overweight in the end (which we fixed right away). She still loves peanut butter to this day!!!

 

[walden]

JessicaR, you are the best! Thanks again for your care for this sweet guy. He is looking good.

Just so everyone knows: my satin ball recipe above is a never-IMO-fail for a very sick dog very much off its food, who needs tempting to eat.

I warned Jessica that it was very high fat. I only feed that recipe cautiously, with my vet's approval, and as a supplement. High fat can = pancreatitis. Not a good thing. Potentially fatal.

Jessica is doing all the right things.

 

[sparks19]

That first picture is heart-breaking. The second shows that what you are already doing is working. Congratulations and thanks for what you are doing for that poor guy.

Have you tried satin balls?* I've used those for very sick dogs in desperate straights, but they are very high in fat and it might be better to have your guy gain weight more gradually. What does your vet say?

*ETA the recipe I use for satin balls:
1 lb raw ground beef
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese (full fat)
1 8 oz jar peanut butter
wheat germ (about 4 oz)
6 egg yolks
1 cup or so of flaked oats soaked in cream to bind.

Mix up thoroughly, form 1" balls, freeze, feed as food supplement.

I second this post. this is exactly what I was going to recommend

 

[airhead]

That first picture is heart-breaking. The second shows that what you are already doing is working. Congratulations and thanks for what you are doing for that poor guy.

Have you tried satin balls?* I've used those for very sick dogs in desperate straights, but they are very high in fat and it might be better to have your guy gain weight more gradually. What does your vet say?

*ETA the recipe I use for satin balls:
1 lb raw ground beef
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese (full fat)
1 8 oz jar peanut butter
wheat germ (about 4 oz)
6 egg yolks
1 cup or so of flaked oats soaked in cream to bind.

Mix up thoroughly, form 1" balls, freeze, feed as food supplement.

This works wonders! Have used it and recommended to others always with good results!

 

[JessicaR]

The satin balls recipe is tried and true, though obviously THIS dog needs to put on massive amounts of weight, so they won't do the trick alone.

I'm surprised that the vet recommended puppy food. That's the last thing I'd give a giant breed dog of ANY age.

This is why I posted here! Can you please tell me why and what you would suggest? I love my Vet but he isnt a giant breed specialist.