Thin mutt

[L-E_Fault]

I'm trying to put a bit of meat on my dog but with no success, she is about 20 months and quite thin. I feed her 3 tins of butchers a day 1 of the meals with fat coated biscuit. I take her obedience training once a week and they say shes is just naturally thin and not to worry about it. What do reckon?

 

[Apache]

What breed is she?

Is she spayed?

What exercise do you do with her?

Is she otherwise well?

 

[L-E_Fault]

She's a German shepherd, spayed about 4 months ago, she has about 45 minuets - 1hour a day off the lead walking (running) over cannock chase.

 

[L-E_Fault]

She sometimes eats grass which makes her sick.

 

[Apache]

It is generally more healthy to be on the thin side than on the fat side. If she is fit and well in herself then what I suggest you do is to feed her up. Wet (tinned) food is more palatable but dry food has a much higher concentration of calories and protein.

I would be tempted to switch onto a dry food. The dog will drink more and this is normal. If she CAN put on weight then it is unlikely that there is something worth worrying going on.

GSD's can suffer with a number of weird conditions and they do get sensitivity issues with their guts, which may affect her absorption of her food.

Does she suffer from diarrhoea?

 

[green-hornet]

I feed all my dogs on dry, complete foods they are easier to control with protein intake and vitamins.

Tinned food I find too rich in the gravy and the amounts to feed are very hard to control.

When I met my wife she had a gsd and she was thin but very healthy, apart from the usual hip problems associated with the breed.

If you do change the food I would recommend doing it gradually, sudden changes can have adverse effects.

Apache can fill you in on the health side, and give you better advise but from a dog owners veiw I would suggest changing the food and monitor the protein intake.

 

[Apache]

I feed all my dogs on dry, complete foods they are easier to control with protein intake and vitamins.Tinned food I find too rich in the gravy and the amounts to feed are very hard to control.

When I met my wife she had a gsd and she was thin but very healthy, apart from the usual hip problems associated with the breed.

If you do change the food I would recommend doing it gradually, sudden changes can have adverse effects.

Apache can fill you in on the health side, and give you better advise but from a dog owners veiw I would suggest changing the food and monitor the protein intake.

Spot on GH!Applaud Smiley

My reply was rather short @ 1.22am Blushing

Always swap the food over gradually and don't make the dog fat as it exacerbates joint problems.

 

[L-E_Fault]

Shes a fussy eater if I give her biscuit she will just leave it at least with the Butchers she eats it. People have told me in the past to put the food down give her 10 minuets and if she hasn't eaten it take it back up, I've tried this method but it didn't work she just didn't eat.

Any ideas why she eats grass sometimes?

When I get chance I'll stick a photo of her on this thread.

Cheers

 

[a2]

Patch, i think your gonna have to put a pets gallery on here now.

 

[Apache]

Patch, i think your gonna have to put a pets gallery on here now.

not a new idea

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4545&page=2

 

[Apache]

Shes a fussy eater if I give her biscuit she will just leave it at least with the Butchers she eats it. People have told me in the past to put the food down give her 10 minuets and if she hasn't eaten it take it back up, I've tried this method but it didn't work she just didn't eat.Any ideas why she eats grass sometimes?

When I get chance I'll stick a photo of her on this thread.

Cheers

Eating grass in normal. It makes them sick, but in nature they would use it to purge the stomach of undigestable things - like bones.

Leave the food down. Make some instant gravy (Bisto) or try a raw egg to tempt her to eat the dry food.

 

[a2]

not a new ideahttp://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4545&page=2

I know that.

 

[green-hornet]

My dogs will eat grass, my terrior ate a yukka plant, this is a normal in built condition.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

My dogs will eat grass, my terrior ate a yukka plant, this is a normal in built condition.

Guinea pigs like grass.

and it don't make them vomit it back up! ; )

:coat