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by ladyhaze on 30 August 2012 - 04:08
I swear i've changed his food a million times. I've gotten a million different answers (friends, family, vet...etc) I'm beating myself up over it. My Luca just turned three Aug 20th. I don't have an exact weight on him right now...he hates the vets office and i have to take him out in public with a muzzle. (not fun).
He just seems so skinny. Right now he and Leila (my two yr old) are eating Peruina Puppy Chow...it's been the only thing affordable that has helped a little with his weight but it doesn't seem to be enough. He is very high energy while he is outside in the yard...constantly running and hardly stands still. It was like his weight was great until he hit about 1yr then it just went down and hasn't ever gotten back up to where he was before. I've had him looked at and the vet said that he is just a "skinny" shepherd. I got him nutered too.
Any thoughts?
Here is a pic of him at his best weight: 7/29/10 this was right before he started to change. He was still young, almost 1yr old, but he looked his best here.
Here is a pic i took of him in the kitchen (he never stands still!) 8/28/12 He is 3yrs old here
I am looking for an affordable way to get him to a healthy weight. My Leila is a little chunky, eats the same food as he does too. He is allowed to eat as much as he likes to in a days time, every day. What might i be doing wrong? I'm not exactly a "dog expert" and He is my first GSD. I love the breed and they fit into my family and home perfectly. I'm open to suggestions!
He just seems so skinny. Right now he and Leila (my two yr old) are eating Peruina Puppy Chow...it's been the only thing affordable that has helped a little with his weight but it doesn't seem to be enough. He is very high energy while he is outside in the yard...constantly running and hardly stands still. It was like his weight was great until he hit about 1yr then it just went down and hasn't ever gotten back up to where he was before. I've had him looked at and the vet said that he is just a "skinny" shepherd. I got him nutered too.
Any thoughts?
Here is a pic of him at his best weight: 7/29/10 this was right before he started to change. He was still young, almost 1yr old, but he looked his best here.
Here is a pic i took of him in the kitchen (he never stands still!) 8/28/12 He is 3yrs old here
I am looking for an affordable way to get him to a healthy weight. My Leila is a little chunky, eats the same food as he does too. He is allowed to eat as much as he likes to in a days time, every day. What might i be doing wrong? I'm not exactly a "dog expert" and He is my first GSD. I love the breed and they fit into my family and home perfectly. I'm open to suggestions!
by EuroShepherd on 30 August 2012 - 04:08
The pics you posted he looks fairly lean but still appropriate weight, you say he's skinnier now?
How do his stools look? How much stool does he pass each day? How much water does he drink? Does he ever throw his food up? Has the vet tested him for EPI?
Have you tried feeding a purely raw food diet?
by TingiesandTails on 30 August 2012 - 16:08
He is not too skinny for his size!
He seems to be of the long and lean type and you got him neutred, so lack of hormones will prevent him from filling out into an average male size. And you say he is very energetic, which will prevent fat deposits, no matter what you feed. Think about hyper-active kids. Better to play a lot and be skinny than lay on the couch and get fat and lazy.
Wouldn't worry about it, as long as he is healthy otherwise.
He seems to be of the long and lean type and you got him neutred, so lack of hormones will prevent him from filling out into an average male size. And you say he is very energetic, which will prevent fat deposits, no matter what you feed. Think about hyper-active kids. Better to play a lot and be skinny than lay on the couch and get fat and lazy.
Wouldn't worry about it, as long as he is healthy otherwise.
by Conspicuous on 30 August 2012 - 17:08
Puppy Chow is an extremely low grade food, full of fillers that aren't going to do anything for your dog. They dont' even list the ingredients on their website!
I would try something more nutrient dense, so you don't have to feed as much to keep weight on. It will be more expensive, but you'll get more bang for your buck.
I would also look into testing your dog for EPI. (I can't see the pictures on this BB anymore, just going by your description)
I would try something more nutrient dense, so you don't have to feed as much to keep weight on. It will be more expensive, but you'll get more bang for your buck.
I would also look into testing your dog for EPI. (I can't see the pictures on this BB anymore, just going by your description)
by BlackthornGSD on 30 August 2012 - 17:08
How much are you feeding? How many calories per day is he getting?
You can estimate how much you should be feeding him by using a metabolic calculator, like this one: http://mycockerspaniel.com/mer.htm
Puppy Chow has 399 calories per cup--so you'd need to feed him at least 4.5 cups a day if he is moderately active.
I think he does look somewhat too thin in your 2nd picture--if you are feeding him more than 5 cups a food a day and he is still that thin, I'd look at whether he has EPI--and you might see if he does better on another type of dog food.
You can estimate how much you should be feeding him by using a metabolic calculator, like this one: http://mycockerspaniel.com/mer.htm
Puppy Chow has 399 calories per cup--so you'd need to feed him at least 4.5 cups a day if he is moderately active.
I think he does look somewhat too thin in your 2nd picture--if you are feeding him more than 5 cups a food a day and he is still that thin, I'd look at whether he has EPI--and you might see if he does better on another type of dog food.
by Eldee on 30 August 2012 - 18:08
Hi there:
please refer to the section just below yours called 9 month old GSD with weak hind legs
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/forum.read?mnr=651080
where we have just had a discussion about what you are talking about. Please start from the beginning and read to the end. It goes off topic a bit regarding hind legs and discusses weight issues.
I hope this will help you.
please refer to the section just below yours called 9 month old GSD with weak hind legs
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/forum.read?mnr=651080
where we have just had a discussion about what you are talking about. Please start from the beginning and read to the end. It goes off topic a bit regarding hind legs and discusses weight issues.
I hope this will help you.
by Eldee on 30 August 2012 - 18:08
It really is all about the poops. If your dog's poops are dark and firm then it probably boils down to feeding him a bit more of a good quality grain free dog food. As stated above, puppy chow contains corn filler and corn by products and alot of german shepherds have a really hard time digesting that food. Costco carries a kirkland brand grain free dog food kibble that alot of people use and swear by.
i would try soaking the kibble for a while in warm water first ( 10 minutes or so ) and for the next little while until there is a bit of weight gain, add some canned and mix it in. Try to find a corn and wheat free canned food to mix in. I live in Canada and our Loblaws stores carry a Presidents Choice canned puppy food that is corn wheat and soy free called chicken and carrots and apples. it is not too expensive. Also Presidents choice carries a grain free salmon and sweet potato kibble that looks like it might be good as well and not too expensive.
Remember when you buy inexpensive dog foods you end up spending lots of money on vet bills. ( not all the time because all dogs are different but alot of the time )
being new to the breed you should know that German Shepherds have very sensitive digestive systems. Not all german shepherds ( can you see here I am trying not to get in trouble by generalizing ) but quite a few. When you read the ingredients on a dog food package try to think if a wolf would eat what you are feeding your shepherd. Wolves don't eat corn or soy or grain, however, they will eat apples and blueberries apparently, but they don't eat rice or corn on the cob or soybean. They are meat eaters and so are dogs. Their pancreas does not secrete enough of the enzyme, amylase, to digest grains properly. This causes all kinds of digestive issues.
EPI is a possibility, not a probability, just a possibility. Go with your gut. If you think something is wrong then it probably is. I doubt you would be on here asking for help if you thought everything was just fine. Make sure that your vet understands your concerns and is familiar with digestive issues in dogs. Some vets ( not all vets but some vets ) are not familiar with alot of nutrition and digestion issues in, most particularily, the german shepherd.
Just remember to go with your gut.
i would try soaking the kibble for a while in warm water first ( 10 minutes or so ) and for the next little while until there is a bit of weight gain, add some canned and mix it in. Try to find a corn and wheat free canned food to mix in. I live in Canada and our Loblaws stores carry a Presidents Choice canned puppy food that is corn wheat and soy free called chicken and carrots and apples. it is not too expensive. Also Presidents choice carries a grain free salmon and sweet potato kibble that looks like it might be good as well and not too expensive.
Remember when you buy inexpensive dog foods you end up spending lots of money on vet bills. ( not all the time because all dogs are different but alot of the time )
being new to the breed you should know that German Shepherds have very sensitive digestive systems. Not all german shepherds ( can you see here I am trying not to get in trouble by generalizing ) but quite a few. When you read the ingredients on a dog food package try to think if a wolf would eat what you are feeding your shepherd. Wolves don't eat corn or soy or grain, however, they will eat apples and blueberries apparently, but they don't eat rice or corn on the cob or soybean. They are meat eaters and so are dogs. Their pancreas does not secrete enough of the enzyme, amylase, to digest grains properly. This causes all kinds of digestive issues.
EPI is a possibility, not a probability, just a possibility. Go with your gut. If you think something is wrong then it probably is. I doubt you would be on here asking for help if you thought everything was just fine. Make sure that your vet understands your concerns and is familiar with digestive issues in dogs. Some vets ( not all vets but some vets ) are not familiar with alot of nutrition and digestion issues in, most particularily, the german shepherd.
Just remember to go with your gut.
by CMills on 31 August 2012 - 00:08
YOU CAN ALWAYS TRY SOME SATIN BALLS TILL YOU GET HIS WEIGHT UP. I THINK HE'S TOO THIN MYSELF, BUT MY OPINION. SATIN BALLS RECIPE CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET, AND MANY PEOPLE SWEAR BY IT FOR WEIGHT GAIN.
by Jenni78 on 31 August 2012 - 00:08
Have you dewormed him with praziquantal lately? He looks worse to me in the second pic, and a bit duller in coat, too, so I wonder about parasites. Also, EPI is a concern. How are his stools? Color? Consistency? I'd get him off the Purina- you are having to feed waaaaay too much of that crap to keep weight on an active dog.
by hexe on 31 August 2012 - 04:08
How old was your boy when he was neutered?
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