at wits end on wieght issues - Page 1

Ok I have a problem one way or another. My dogs are kept thin due to a lot of running (playing), training and hips. Everytime I turn around "someone" is telling me that I need to add more wieght. Is it just me or are Americans used to seeing fat dogs? . You can see the last two ribs on my 22 month old and my 3 6 months olds. (yes they have been wormed and eat 6 cups a day) So should I increase food or should I tell these people to shut up! Thanks Barbara

Americans are used to seeing dogs fat. I personally do not like to see two ribs on any dog unless they are actually working hard. But certainly being able to see a faint outline of ribs when looking at the dog, especially when working, would be my ideal of weight. The bottom line is that your dogs sound a wee bit thin, but if they are not spayed or neutered, and get lots of exercise, and their stools are firm, then they are probably just fine. Without seeing them or knowing them however, it is just a hunch. I will also say that feeding that many cups per day does concern me. My GSDs, 25 of them, are able to maintain their correct weights with 4 or 5 cups, depending on whether male or female and level of activity for the day. I wonder what you feed? It may not be the best food for your two if they remain that thin on 6 cups a day. Certainly keeping them lean is a good idea and is far from what is considered normal in our society. However, based on what you say, I would guess if I saw them I might also say they were a bit on the thin side.

A question along these lines. I have a two year old male out of Dux de Cuatro Flores and my male is slim, but okay. My other dogs are all "just right". My problem is that my male usually has runny feces and "goes" quite often. Not liquid, just soft. I have tried several different types of kibble, including the ones stated for "sensitive" digestive systems. My vet can find nothing wrong with my dog. I am thinking of trying the "raw" diet for the male. I am happy with how my two females are doing on their regular diet. Any ideas out there? Thanks much in advance.

Just tell them to shut up! I have a dog that eats as much as he wants and has always been very thin. I asked my vet for advice on how to build weight just so he didn't look 1/2 starved. I too got tired of people looking at me funny. One day I came out to my truck to find a note on my windshield saying they took my name and # off of my dogs tags and were calling animal control on me because I OBVIOUSLY wasn't feeding my dog. They didn't bother to notice the fat bitch sitting right next to him I guess and I just so happened to be iside buying dog food of all things...lol. I never could put weight on Trick, he is now 7 and finally filling out. Vet says he is in the best shape and to not worry what he "looks" like. I have no doubt this in my one dog that will live to 16. Americans are used to obese dogs these days. How many home pets get regular runs?

Doright, I had a female with this same issue you ask about, I started giving her 2 tablespoons of pumpkin every day and after about 3-4 days all was good, firm stools finally and she seemed to go a little less often. She also had to be fed 3 small meals a day instead of 1 large meal, this really made a difference in her weight as welll. Ek, If you can see ribs, the dog is too thin, also feeding more than 4-5 cups is too much even for a 6month old pup. The food you may be feeding might not be formulated for your dogs, not all dog foods work for every dog, they are individuals as we are. Also giving them baked potatoes or pasta will help them bulk up without getting fat. Good luck to you!

The majority of people I've seen have over weight dogs. If your dogs are healthy and happy, shrug it off. You're not likely to hear this from the people you train with, unless your dogs are truly underweight. Jeff

I feed Nutro Natural Choice. I tried a few different brands thinking my dog was a picky eatter or had a possible sensitive tummy. All of my dogs love it and do very well on it. They eat about 4-5 cups a day depending on work and dog size.

EK check the ingredients on your dogs food and when was the last time they have been wormed? If you have a thumbs up from your vet, I wouldn't worry about what any Joe off the street has to comment. Try to find a food without corn and wheat in it and that should be good enough for most healty dogs to thrive on. If the skin and coat are healthy, chances are so is the rest of your dog.

I too had some problems with the weight issue too. I was feeding raw and still a little loose. I thought it was calcium phosphourus level. It was suggested to try Eagle Pack and the "Holistic Transition" powder. It has worked wonders! The powder is really dries yogurt cultures. I am pleased with it and you can go to the Eagle Pack website and get a free coupon too! Hope it helps

Do right, you might want to try supplementing your dog with Prozyme. It helps some dogs digest their food more efficiently. Pumpkin is a good sugeestion too. Blitz weighs 96.7 lbs, he's very tall, around 28", and small boned, so I think he's about right for his structure. He one of those long GSD's, 4 people could eat a full course meal off his back LOL. I can feel his ribs and spine just under his skin and a slight layer of fat. He only eats a total of 3 cups of Royal Canin per day and gets a few treats like raw carrots. However, his only exercise is chasing tennis balls a few times a day. I'm sure he'd need an increase in his food if his owner weren't so lazy. I don't think it's a good idea too keep a dog too heavy.