Feeding suggestions for underweight dog.

[tmbcole]

First of all, bless your heart for rescuing an animal. My golden retriever is a rescue. We fed our first golden Sensible Choice. It was high in protein and fat. It looks and sounds like what you're doing is working. Your pup looks great. Adding puppy food to his regular food is probably for the protein.

Good job. He looks great.

 

[JessicaR]

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.

Wanted to add - puppy kibble is holistic with high omega's added to the wolf (giant breed) kibble. So about a cup of puppy to 2 cups solid gold. The caloric content is just a bit higher than the solid gold. Protein not much different. What is the issue?

 

[doxdogy]

I am assuming that since he was so malnourished, he has loss some muscle mass. That would be the reason for the high protein puppy food. Sadly my experience is weight gain in small breeds. One of our doxies was a picky eater. Her weight would go up, then it would go down. When she was in her picky periods, I would sometimes mix in some scrambled eggs with her dinner. Sometimes I would also do a mixture of brown rice and chicken too

 

[JessicaR]

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.

Thank you.

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.

Sounds great except that I have another Mastiff that as of last week looks a lot like a walrus! She has the pitiful feed me look when we feed the new boy. So I have one on a diet and the other on a weigh gain regimen.

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

Aww thanks!

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!

Thank you. I will be happy with filled out not looking to chunk him out. I have a few kongs will give the PB a try!

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!!!

I hear you, I cried too. How sad that these precious animals are so neglected. So glad you're girl found you too.

First of all, bless your heart for rescuing an animal. My golden retriever is a rescue. We fed our first golden Sensible Choice. It was high in protein and fat. It looks and sounds like what you're doing is working. Your pup looks great. Adding puppy food to his regular food is probably for the protein.

Good job. He looks great.

Thanks. I love to hear all the rescue stories. There are so many out there.


Thank you all for the comments and suggestions I truly appreciate them.

 

[JessicaR]

I am assuming that since he was so malnourished, he has loss some muscle mass. That would be the reason for the high protein puppy food. Sadly my experience is weight gain in small breeds. One of our doxies was a picky eater. Her weight would go up, then it would go down. When she was in her picky periods, I would sometimes mix in some scrambled eggs with her dinner. Sometimes I would also do a mixture of brown rice and chicken too

My husband scrambled him eggs and added to his kibble at breakfast yesterday. He also made bacon and wanted to add that and the fat! I said NO bacon or fat. I figure it isnt good for us it cant be good for him either.

 

[doxdogy]

My husband scrambled him eggs and added to his kibble at breakfast yesterday. He also made bacon and wanted to add that and the fat! I said NO bacon or fat. I figure it isnt good for us it cant be good for him either.

I had a friend that use to pour bacon grease over her dogs food. She swore up and down it helped their coats. But I am too afraid it would give mine the runs.

 

[JessicaR]

I had a friend that use to pour bacon grease over her dogs food. She swore up and down it helped their coats. But I am too afraid it would give mine the runs.

I bet the dogs didnt object. I agree with you though!

 

[dumboiu]

You touched my heart by taking in that sweet dog. You are truly a wonderful person. I am so happy he found you.

 

[daisax]

Wanted to add - puppy kibble is holistic with high omega's added to the wolf (giant breed) kibble. So about a cup of puppy to 2 cups solid gold. The caloric content is just a bit higher than the solid gold. Protein not much different. What is the issue?

Generally speaking, you want to SLOW growth of giant breed dogs, because high protein, high fat diets typical of puppy foods cause too-rapid growth during critical bone growth periods which can result in orthopedic issues later. I don't have a giant breed, so I'm not sure whether at a year old the dog is considered fully grown, but in a Mastiff I certainly would assume not.

That said, given the malnutrition already suffered, the vet may have decided that putting the weight on as soon as possible to counteract damage already done may be worth theoretical future orthopedic issues.

He's already progressed wonderfully. You should be really proud.