small pup update - Page 1

Again would like to thank the people that gave me advise.Right after my first post she got real sick So took her to vet she was dehydrated and a temp. couldn't keep anything down. they did blood work said her electrolites down.She said seems like a bad virus.So off to other vet samething.They both said she might have had it when sent to me. So they stuck her on IV And gave me baytril,amforol for her.within 2 days started perking up.So i figured she hadn't eaten for awhile so took her off that iams and now she is on canidae feeding her like the bag says for 5 months old 2 to 4 cups so im giving her 3 to 4 cups weight is up to 45 lbs now. she weighed 32 when at vets 3/17/07. not growing to fast i hope.Probably tired of hearing from me but another quick question my male <6 1/2 months weight 76 lbs > I'm feeding him a tad less cuz of his size but he seems hungry all the time.Should i be feeding him what the bag recomends or just keep feeding him what i have been? and if so anything i can give him to supplement his hunger without him growing so fast? Thanks again

You might just have a really food motivated dog. Sounds like he is a bit over weight for his age. Canidae is a good food so I wouldn't feed him more. Try giving him something to chew on like a marrow bone to take his mind off food. My dogs always are looking like they want something to eat and would eat everything I threw at them. I just ignore some of it... JMO

I don't think I ever owned a dog that needed to eat the amount recommended on the side of the bag.

Yea, they sell the dog food after all! I tend to go by how my dogs are looking, how much activity/training they are getting, and what the scale says and adjust from there. I add green beans sometimes to my girls who absolutel think that I am starving them! :) Marrow bones are a good idea for your "hungry" pup. Is it a puppy food or an adult food?

zigzag, without seeing your dog it is impossible to say if he is over wieght. 76 lbs. is large for 61/2 mos. for sure, but again one needs to look at the dog. Some bloodlines grow fast, others grow slow. I would take him to some Schutzhund clubs or somewhere that you can get an honest appraisal of how he looks. This is more the issue. Some dogs have a very high food drive. Will eat themselves sick if you let them. My male always acts starved. He would be great for a dog food commercial. I wouldn't worry as much about under feeding as over feeding. Again though, much is on how he looks. As far as your girl, it is good to hear she is doing better. Personally I do not worry about fast gain after some trauma. Illness etc. that has set her behind the growth chart will be made up by her. Dogs often grow like crazy after being under wieght. Just watch and see how she looks. Personally, I would not be afraid to let her eat at the upper level of the package recommendations. I think nature would have her make up for lost time. Just my opinion though, others may have different views.