Bulking up a thin GSD - Page 1

Hey gang!  Wondering if I could get some feedback of what works for you all with putting weight on.  I just purchased my 5th dog, an intact 2 year old male GSD.  He is quite thin, as in I can feel his spine and hip bones.  I want to put some weight on him, but obviously want to do it the healthy way.  Can I get some suggestions?  Thanks in advance!

Put him on a 3-4 meals a day and a cup or so of whole goat's milk at bedtime schedule like a puppy, rather than increasing his two main meals a day. Then down to 3 then back to 2 meals a day as he gets to the weight he needs. We did this with competition TB horses (not the milk...) and dogs all the time, works great.

Goat's milk, raw from a local dairy if you can find it; work up to 2 TBSP coconut oil a day, can spread it out over the meals, back down to 1 TBSP when you are happy with his weight. If you use raw, chicken backs and turkey tails are good, mutton tends to be a little fattier as well (so nice dogs don't have cholesterol issues like we do!). Been awhile since have fed just kibble if that is what you prefer, sure someone else can jump in on that.

You might see some diarrhea as he grows healthier and puts on weight, detoxing out old systemic issues, that is actually normal. Chicken wings or pumpkin added to meals will help with that. He will heal from the inside organs out, so you will probably see a shinier coat first and then he will add the muscle layers.

Best of luck with your new boy!

Satin balls, recipes on the net.

Are Satin Balls healthy?  Or is that just putting fat on a dog?  

If you feed kibble, try Orijen... As above feed several small meals a day.  High quality grain free kibble usual can be introduced slowly, as he fills in cut back to 2 meals a day. Of course I'm assuming you've already vetted him, checked for parasites etc.. If he's not filling out a little 3 months out, recheck for parasites. Some of those little pests are cyclic, & may not show up on just 1 test. After 6 months, if he's still having palpable hips & spinal processes, revet...our GSD suffer from several metabolic disorders, you'll want to rule those out.

And some bloodlines, especially DDR type dogs, mature very slowly, & may retain that puppy-like lankiness until 3+ years old, but still you should not be feeling hip bones or spinal processes.

Good luck!

jackie harris

Satin balls do a great job with a skinny dog. Good luck with your new boy!

I wouldn't suggest you feed them to your dog if they weren't healthy. There are 3, 4 different recipes you can choose from. You can use all natural ingredients from a health food store if you want and use only beef from free range cattle. Steel cut oatmeal and unsulfurated molasses is readily available. Satin balls are very high in calories, that's what most show people like about using them for weight gain. Many dogs, especially GSD's will get diarrhea if you try to put weight on them just by increasing their food intake. Satins balls and a good quality high calorie kibble, Jackie suggest Origen, should put at least 3, 4 lbs a week on the average healthy male GSD.

  I assume this is your new dog? How do you like him?

I didn't mean to come across as doubting you....just want what is best for my dogs, but don't we all.  :)   Thanks for the explanation of their usage and nutrition.  I have only heard of satin balls for emaciated dogs and for people showing their dogs to get their perfect weight day of, etc.  So, I am glad to hear it's a useful, and a healthy, tool. 

Striker is great.  I've had him for 5 days now and we have already started with a strong bond.  He is very alert and eager to please, yet has a great on/off switch.  He just needs to have some weight put on him, but otherwise he is beautiful to boot.  :)

we had a girl who just wasn't much of an eater.  If she could get attention, she preferred that over eating.  And if you had a ball in your hand, It wouldn't have made any difference what was going on. She prefers any kind of work,   She still is that way occasionally but we just had to pamper her appetite occasionally.  Which usually meant feeding raw.  If you feed her raw she will eat faster then you can cut.  Put the red juices on dry and she will devour that too. And we are able to maintain her weight pretty very well.

It's great that you like him so much. Buying a dog sight unseen is taking a chance, but you did your homework and it worked out.