GSD rescued - advice needed - Page 2

Itchy skin and double ear infections screams allergies. What do you mean by the dog is not taking well to certain foods? Diarrhea? Vomiting? It is also possible the dog could have digestive issues like EPI, which would also contribute to poor condition. This can be tested for at the vet office. I have been happy with the Abady food for dogs that need to gain weight and dogs that have skin/allergy issues. I give that in addition to raw food since I worry that my raw may not be balanced enough.

The State. Of the Art and Elevated Stress formulas from Abady's are specifically meant for dogs that are convalescent.

The lowest quote I was able to get for the elevated was $113 for 35 lbs and  $127 (35 lbs ) for the state of the art.

Forgot to add that as the dog recovers you can begin to increase duration and intensity of exercise , and this is a piece of cake if the dog has high ball drive. High intensity exercise keeps the dog very fit , so the resting heart rate is really efficient. The high intensity exercises also tightens and strongly couples the dogs body so the dog entire body looks firmly put together , even while moving. And a " shredded appearance" ( in the body building sense ) can be seen on the legs and the waist area.

The do 30-40 flat out 200 m sprints with a very short ( 2-3 secs ) interval between sprints. I know the dog has had enough when she begin to slow up on the retrieve. The chase is always flat out, no matter how tired the dog is.
But this type of exercising with a good diet is very good way to bring this dog back to peak health and conditioning.

To OP:. The honest kitchen is an excellent product with many formulas to choose from.

@mithuna

200 meters is about 660 feet-where do you find facilities like that? Also, 40 reps of the above is around 5 miles of high intensity, high impact exercise. Is there a recovery period? Are you not worried about the joints? Just curious as I'm looking into conditioning.

NYC has many large open baseball, soccer, and cricket fields; There are certain ones where there are no persons at certain times of the day ( very early morning, mid to early afternoon ), and the ground is kept relatively soft by natural and artificial means.
The dog has quite high ball drive and has been doing this for quite a while without any compulsion and no adverse effects no adverse effects. The interval between each run is about 2-3 secs and the dog goes flat out ( her driven pace ) on every chase. We quit when she begins to slow on the retrieves ( i can tell she is getting tired ). We do this about 3-4 days in a week;other days we take 1 he walks in the forest or some other place ). Each time we go out on the field she is revved up and whining to start ( and will take grab the ball ( 11 fluorescent inch baseballs ) from the bag or my hand if Im not careful ).

So the dog chooses the pace at which it runs and the dog also indicates when it is tired.  I dont think 5 miles is any biggy... I was just reading where working border collies can run up to more than 100 miles a day, even in difficult terrain. Thats a  1900% plus increase  above a 5 miles. 

 

What I like about the high intensity exercise is that it builds incredible fitness in the dog and it really tightens the whole body. As the dog is about to overtake the moving ball the front of the dog's body stops first and the rear continues to moves. Those muscles along side the spinal column between the last rib and the hip is forced to absorb/dampen the momentum of the rear and those muscles become developed and very firm/hard to the touch. Then at normal walking or trotting pace the entire body looks tightly knitted together. Also with all that thrust the rear legs develop significant muscularity making jumping a breeze ( we jump fallen trees on the forest paths ) and ligament above the hock joint also becomes very firm and strengthened.

Good diet is very important ,but Im not concerned about wieght because I formly believe that  effort and body mass will always find its own natural equilibrium.So once the dog  is maintaining the exercise level that weight it at is ideal. I have seen dogs at the  clubs being wilfully kept at the  " so called working weight ", bu their is no observervable difference in their fitness levels. 

Mike, did you have to turn this thred into yet another plug for your theories about Anna's weight ? Puh-leeeeze, its a Rescue topic ...

I would stay away from high and rich proteins and Orijen is extremely rich. I have had good luck with Petcurean single proteins: I have used their Turkey, I have also had good luck with Vension actually better luck with Venison grain free limited ingredients single protein, their "GO" formula; I also have a sensitive boy gut wise, occasionally itchy, and goopy ears. Do believe it is allergies as sometimes his face also itches.

Bathe this dog in a gentle medicated shampoo; I mix with gallon of water if they have skin issues and you could add a 1/2 cup white or apple cider vinager to gallon of shampoo.

Back to food(s) NO luck with Acana or Orijen for my guy too rich but what did work is a good kibble and top it with The Honest Kitchen. Should help him put some weight on also. All grain free formulas which sometimes causes the itch. Also my older male Samoyed (almost 11 now) had to be taken off any chicken products; there is pork, beef, venison which I use; several fish formulas of various brands. By the way all can be bought and shipped to you free through Chewy.com and you can call and order over phone or order on internet once you get established with them. They ship (usually as soon as you order and you usually get it within 2 days). Direct to your doorstep. Wonderful customer service fantastic prices also. Cheapest I have found.

I just have to say 'THANK YOU' for saving this boy. He really needed to be saved. If I can help in any other way please just PM me or e-mail me. Nan

I agree with most of what is being said about going slowly. I feed the yellow bag of Taste of the Wild but the puppy formula will probably be better as it is less rich.
Organic plain kefir will help with the gut flora or just sprinkle some probiotics over his food.
Yes on the coconut oil.
Raw eggs a couple times a week.
I feed cooked chicken quarters-and remove the bones. Cooked chicken livers.
Once he is well enough, raw burger balls consisting of 75% fat beef, raw eggs with the shells chopped up, unflavored gelatin, wheat germ, molasses and oat meal-can be fed raw or boiled and chop in food and save the water to pour over. Bet this guy gets well in no time!

Dr Dodds has two food panels based on the dog's saliva. Dr Rosenkrantz (I only trust his opinion for reading skin problems) reads skin tests for allergery testing of the dog's reaction to the environment.

What I am wondering is why coconut oil caps should not be used with fish oil caps?

Years ago I used wheat germ oil to put a good coat on my non dog stock and then with my first GSDs.

A vet tech in reproduction told me some years ago when I was no longer breeding that no Rosemary, flax, and something else if wanting to breed the dog.