feedining my skinny dog

by Debroah
(South Africa)

We are battling to get him to pick up weight. We have tried different foods and supplements. He eats a little and then wonders around the garden, he nibbles. Will it help if we raise his bowl a
little?

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Apr 06, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Skinny dog
by: Donna

Poor guy. Do you have access to raw food? Kibble can be pretty tedious for some dogs since it is so processed. I think you'll find he will chow down on raw food quite happily and gain weight.

In Canada, we have places that get these foods for a good price. They specialize in providing raw diet for dogs.

Or, try baked kibble or dehydrated food (although, some have trouble with that, too).

Give with introduction to raw food if dog having trouble with it (diarrhoea)
Milk Thistle (clean inside for 3 weeks)
Psyllium: 1 tsp. per 20lb

I feed once a day
• Raw meat (RMB-raw meaty bone) (Chicken leg quarters, necks, backs, venison, pork, beef, lamb, goat, rabbit, fish, turkey, duck, bison, tripe, liver, sardines) Do not cut up meats.
• 5-10% organs (1/2 of this amount is liver)
• 10-15% edible bones
• 80-85% muscle meat (and the rest of the critter) (bone in chicken breast to start for raw)
Additives (once a day - optional but fun to add)
• 1/2 tsp. Salmon/sardine oil 
• 1/4 tsp. Egg (let shell dry overnight and grind in coffee grinder)
• Vitamin E (400 IU)
• 3/4 tsp. Berte’s Ultra Probiotic Powder if dog has trouble digesting raw food
• 1 tsp. fibre
 
Occasionally (optional but fun to add)
• Cottage cheese or yogurt occasionally
• 1/4 cup pure pumpkin (not filling) for fibre
• Vegetables not necessary but if fed (for fibre), make sure they are thoroughly cooked
• Alphalpha, kelp
• powered vitamin C
• Dried dandelion leaves: 1 tsp/20 lb dog
Feed one kind of meat for a few days, then switch to another etc. Once the dog is used to eating various meats then start veggies (cooked only) if you want. 
 
The rule of thumb for healthy adult dogs is 2-3% of their optimal body weight. If they are overweight, aim for the DESIRED weight, not their current weight. Same for an underweight dog, take their desired weight to figure your starting amount for each meal.
• Take your dog’s weight (or desired weight)  e.g. 100 pounds = 453.59 grams 
• Multiply his weight in grams x 2% (or 3 %)   therefore 907.18 grams of food
• 90.71 grams organ meat
• 90.71 bone
• 725.74 gram of muscle meat
• You don't need to be exact but that's what you try to aim for.
Dr. Karen Becker talks about dog diets. This is a three part series and very information. Here is part I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx2YIIpF4cc
•
Book
Natural Nutrition For Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet" by Kymythy R Schultz
Apr 20, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Food idea
by: Wendy

My friend rescued an adult small female Great Pyr years ago that was 35 pounds and couldn't get weight on her no matter what she tried. A suggestion of BilJac puppy food was taken and she got the dog to a healthier 50 pounds. Not sure if it will work for you, but she swears by it and it may be worth checking into. The food isn't a kibble, but pressed like rabbit pellets, so it doesn't extend in the gut and make the dog feel full like most dry food does.

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