how to make dogs more bulkier

[red_light]

:confused:
i have a dog which was given to me by a friend. but the problem is the dog is very thin (as in very thin) so can you please post things which i can do to improve her condition. thanks

[Redtail74]

If you mean thin as in you can see ribs, then she probably just needs to be feed more or change her food. If she is that thin you want to put some fat on her first before you start working her out on a mill or anything because she will loose more weight by doing that.

[red_light]

thank for the info. i greatly appreciate it. other than adding food and changing her feed. how can i add some fat? thanks

PS

yes your right, i can see her ribs and spinal columns.

[Bubba]

I'd worm out the dog good first if I were you, just to make sure there are no parasites taking away from the dog. What kinda of feed are you feeding? Feed a good food, and you'll be suprised at the change in your dog. Be careful adding fat, as fat cells don't go away once you have them. We keep all of our dogs somewhat lean, as a fat dog can be lost due to heat stroke and heat exhaustion and it gets hot and humid out here. Good luck...
BB

[gator]

First of all how old is the dog? I would start with a good worming and if the dog is over a year old I would ask the person that you got it from if he had the dog on heart worm prevention. Once I got the dog wormed out put a little weight on and happy I then would ease into a conditioning program. One thing you have to keep in mind though is not all bulldogs have the body structure of being thick there are alot of them that are just streamlined. Good luck with your new bulldog and keep us up on the progress.If you mean thin as in you can see ribs, then she probably just needs to be feed more or change her food. If she is that thin you want to put some fat on her first before you start working her out on a mill or anything because she will loose more weight by doing that.

[LA_Headhunters]

A good way to ad weight to your dog is to give 1-2 raw eggs every 2 days and use a B vitamin complex( best to go with injectible). It may take a while before you really notice the weight being put on but using this with regular feeding and worming is a good way to add on weight.

[KnOck]

Along with what LA said, I've also used Karo's Corn Syrup (dark); and mix that in with your dog's feed.

Knock 'Em Out

[BONE]

Here's a good wormer you can use and most feed store's carry it....

ZIMECTRIN OR ZIMECTRIN GOLD...

There around 12 13 dollors....It also takes care of heart worm's...You can also mix in a table spoon of corn oil along with 2 egg's an a cup of rice in her feed and you will see her put some weight on fairly quickly...Mixed with a good puppy food would be ideal.....Or feed her CANIDATE....Thats one of the best dog foods out there right now...Hope this helps you.....

[MMK]

if all that fails to put on wieght after worming and high carb diet as most have suggested and the change isnt happening. just dont worry about it i have have dogs that looked like they were amaciated and the city threatened to take them away cause of there thin body structure. but a letter from the vet saved me, from him stating all the stuff we went through to try to put wieght on the dog but it would not gain wieght and was 100% parisite free and healthy that it was his expert oppinion that it was just the dogs body structure.

like someone mentioned some dogs are just thin no mater what. it is like the skin and bones kid in school who no matter what he tried he couldnt put on a lb of wieght wether it be fat or muscle. sometimes there is just nothing u can do and things are the way they are.

[BONE]

if all that fails to put on wieght after worming and high carb diet as most have suggested and the change isnt happening. just dont worry about it i have have dogs that looked like they were amaciated and the city threatened to take them away cause of there thin body structure. but a letter from the vet saved me, from him stating all the stuff we went through to try to put wieght on the dog but it would not gain wieght and was 100% parisite free and healthy that it was his expert oppinion that it was just the dogs body structure.

like someone mentioned some dogs are just thin no mater what. it is like the skin and bones kid in school who no matter what he tried he couldnt put on a lb of wieght wether it be fat or muscle. sometimes there is just nothing u can do and things are the way they are.

Yeah thats true,

I have one similar to that also. I took her to the vet and the vet gave her a clean bill of health also, but I was still concerned about people seeing her and causing problems for me and my other dogs, so I put her in a kennel and started her on 8 to 12 cups of feed a day :D ...Well she is fat now!! :D lol...I droped her feed down to 4 cups now and she stays in the kennel. If I put her back on the chain the weight will come right off, do to her high metabolism and her non stop running....

[red_light]

thanks for the info guys. i truly appreciate it, your a lot of help for a 15 yr old kid like me. by the way i have already tried worming her but i haven't tried the egg thing. what egg will i feed her?(boiled, scrambled or what?) thank again.

[MMK]

this dog never ate a whole lot and we even kept him inside for about 8-10 months and still was a twig. i normally only take my dogs to the vet for rabbies shots and do my own vacination and worming but this dog had us worried. he is no longer on my yard i gave him away to a friend of the family and he is still skin and bones
MM

[J M A N]

I've got a dog like Bone's......on the chain he stays lean and mean. I put him inside a kennel pen (10 x 10) and within 4 days he gain 10 pounds. This dog loves to jump at the end of his chain and to test it's strength. He's already broke two horse snaps. When he's on the chain he can't sit still. Put him in the kennel and he just gets lazy.

[gator]

Hey Red, raw egg will do just fine and if you really want to take the time boiled chicken is great. thanks for the info guys. i truly appreciate it, your a lot of help for a 15 yr old kid like me. by the way i have already tried worming her but i haven't tried the egg thing. what egg will i feed her?(boiled, scrambled or what?) thank again.

[J M A N]

As moderator of this forum I want to thank all the staff as well as our junior members for their contributions to this forum. I feel this forum helps us to all better our dogs and ourselves.....

Thanks for all the input!

JMAN

[Bubba]

Hey Red, raw egg will do just fine and if you really want to take the time boiled chicken is great.
When you boil up meat, you are killing alot of the nutrients and the beneficial stuff for the dog. Dogs cannot get salomenila (or however you spell it). Alot of the nutrients from the chicken will be in the bone marrow. We fed the BARF diet for about 1.5yrs, and LOVED it. We are feeding kibble at the moment due to some problems we had run into out here, but hope to be back on BARF by winter. Good luck wtih the dog...
BB

[J M A N]

Enlighten me...what do you mean by the BARF diet?

JMAN

When you boil up meat, you are killing alot of the nutrients and the beneficial stuff for the dog. Dogs cannot get salomenila (or however you spell it). Alot of the nutrients from the chicken will be in the bone marrow. We fed the BARF diet for about 1.5yrs, and LOVED it. We are feeding kibble at the moment due to some problems we had run into out here, but hope to be back on BARF by winter. Good luck wtih the dog...
BB

[Bubba]

Enlighten me...what do you mean by the BARF diet?

JMAN The BARF diet stands for Bones and Raw Food. Its a diet based on how the dog would live in the wild. Monday-Friday, we would feed meat, deer or cattle mostly, occassionally chicken. Saturdays we would feed what basically looked like slop, but was a combo of greens, some fruits, and tune fish. Every other Sunday we would fast, and then start the cycle up again on Monday. No dog kibble was added to our diet. Basically, its turning the dogs diet back to nature, and how the would eat in nature. Our dogs never looked better, IMO....
BB

[LA_Headhunters]

That's a good way to feed , but the chicken bones I cannot see. Chickens,as with all other birds, Have hollow bones. When a dog bites into one of the bones it can splintter causing serious damage to the interior digestive system of your dog. I would suggest the if you feed chicken you de-bone it first.

[Bubba]

That's a good way to feed , but the chicken bones I cannot see. Chickens,as with all other birds, Have hollow bones. When a dog bites into one of the bones it can splintter causing serious damage to the interior digestive system of your dog. I would suggest the if you feed chicken you de-bone it first. Boiled or cooked chicken bones WILL splinter, raw chicken bones will not and won't hurt the dog. Think about a dog, wolf, coyote, or anything else like that, they hit a chicken farm and kill the farmers birds...the chicken won't hurt em. This is coming from someone that has fed the BARF diet with much luck...
BB

[MMK]

i have always given my dogs 2-3 raw chicken quarters a week for the same reason BBK mentioned about the positive bacteria. i swear u will notice the difference in a dog in 2 weeks just from the sheen on the dogs coat and its stool. i dont thaw mine out i take it right from the freezer and give it to them. during the summer i usually give them almost 1 quater a day frozen. its kinda like buying your kid a popsicle on those hot summer days. also once a week i go out and buy a couple heads of lettuce and a few tomatos and make my dogs a salad basically and mix it with there dog food. hell they even get bannanas, apples and oranges regularly. granted they arent food they would find in the wild but they like it and they are very healthy so i just give them it. especially bannanas after a long 2hr walk in the evenings just for general exercise.
MMK

[Bubba]

Greens & the bananas...gooooood stuff for them.
As far as meat goes, find you a butcher shop and haul scraps for him, all the meat you could need....and deer has the highest levels of natural creatine in it, make sure they have plenty of good clean water :D
BB

[bambamkennels]

How are you kepping the dog on chain or kennel ? You can get dog bloom if they still make it and it will help a dog gain weight . Now some dog's on a chain are so active that they will look like a condition dog. And have you tape worm the dog ? Also when worming you need to repeat it in about 10 day's to get the egg's that hatch after the first worming. Does the dog eat all it's food if not add can of dog food in with the dry feed.

[MMK]

BBK
pm me or email me in private i got a few questions regarding feed i would like to ask u.
MMK

[Bubba]

I PMed you back, if you'd like to talk further, email me (http://www.game-dog.com/forums/sendmessage.php?do=mailmember&u=108). I hope I was able to help some...and good luck with the boy...
BB

[J M A N]

Your hitting the whole food triangle! LOLi have always given my dogs 2-3 raw chicken quarters a week for the same reason BBK mentioned about the positive bacteria. i swear u will notice the difference in a dog in 2 weeks just from the sheen on the dogs coat and its stool. i dont thaw mine out i take it right from the freezer and give it to them. during the summer i usually give them almost 1 quater a day frozen. its kinda like buying your kid a popsicle on those hot summer days. also once a week i go out and buy a couple heads of lettuce and a few tomatos and make my dogs a salad basically and mix it with there dog food. hell they even get bannanas, apples and oranges regularly. granted they arent food they would find in the wild but they like it and they are very healthy so i just give them it. especially bannanas after a long 2hr walk in the evenings just for general exercise.
MMK

[MMK]

i try but there is always more to learn, sounds like bbk definetly has more knowledge when it comes to nutrition than i do, but i noticed the more opinions and the more experience u here from others helps u come up with your own feed plan that will work better on your own yard. not ever persons feed plan will work for you as well as it did for them so u got to experiment to find something that u personally like.
MMK

[red_light]

thank you very much guys!!! i placed her in a kennel and started feeding her with all the feed she could take. right now, she has gained about 3 pounds and still gaining some. it feels great everytime i look at her. i cant see her ribs anymore(almost). thanks again guys, i couldn't have thought(done) of it without your help.


more power to this site!!!

[gator]

Man it does make us feel good to know we were able to help you out still keep us posted....thank you very much guys!!! i placed her in a kennel and started feeding her with all the feed she could take. right now, she has gained about 3 pounds and still gaining some. it feels great everytime i look at her. i cant see her ribs anymore(almost). thanks again guys, i couldn't have thought(done) of it without your help.


more power to this site!!!

[Bubba]

I'm not sure how you like your dogs, be it fat, thin, in shape..yada yada...once you have a fat dog, you need to remember, fat cells do not go away...and it will be harder and harder for your dog to lose weight. Also remember, its not smart to have a FAT dog in the summer...extra weight can add to heat exhaustion or a heat stroke, we like our dogs somewhat lean...but not skin and bones either...
BB

[LA_Headhunters]

Glad we could help. Those are some good points BBK!!

[gator]

You must be consistent with your worming program also. I live in Florida and I worm twice a month.

[Bubba]

You must be consistent with your worming program also. I live in Florida and I worm twice a month.
Its a good idea to switch up wormers from time to time as well. Also remember, ivomectin is a heartworm PREVENTIVE...it does VERY little for other types of worms so even tho you ivomect once a month, its still a good idea to hit them up with a pyrantel or panacur or something like that....
BB

[gator]

I have used ivomectin for 15 years and found that it is very effective on all worms except for tape worms using a 10-1 mixture and 1 cc per 40lbs twice a month.Its a good idea to switch up wormers from time to time as well. Also remember, ivomectin is a heartworm PREVENTIVE...it does VERY little for other types of worms so even tho you ivomect once a month, its still a good idea to hit them up with a pyrantel or panacur or something like that....
BB

[Bubba]

I have used ivomectin for 15 years and found that it is very effective on all worms except for tape worms using a 10-1 mixture and 1 cc per 40lbs twice a month. I used to believe it was allright for all worms myself, but a fella that I am close to that has been in the dogs for 31+yrs told me otherwise....Ivomect will get SOME of the other worms, but not all, as it is only a heartworm preventive...
BB

[gator]

I have been around dogs for so many years I cant remember and I cant imagine life without it.I used to believe it was allright for all worms myself, but a fella that I am close to that has been in the dogs for 31+yrs told me otherwise....Ivomect will get SOME of the other worms, but not all, as it is only a heartworm preventive...
BB

[Crash97]

A good way to ad weight to your dog is to give 1-2 raw eggs every 2 days and use a B vitamin complex( best to go with injectible). It may take a while before you really notice the weight being put on but using this with regular feeding and worming is a good way to add on weight.I'm not sure raw eggs are the best due to possible Salmonella or other bacteria, maybe scrambled?

[Bubba]

I'm not sure raw eggs are the best due to possible Salmonella or other bacteria, maybe scrambled?Dogs won't get salomenela (or however you spell it). Remember, dogs at one time were wild, therefore they could eat stuff we wouldn't think about eating and their stomachs and such aren't the same as ours. They were built to withstand stuff like that, thats also why you can safely feed a dog raw chicken. Eggs is a good source of protein for the mutts...
BB

[BBKsSassyLady]

Awhile back I had a dog that wouldnt gain weight for anything.. Well a person I know told me to try a mixture of 3 things and it actually worked.. It was cottage cheese, corn flakes and eggs.. The dog actually gained weight in no time and when he got to the weight I wanted I gave him that mixture one a week for a month or so and after that he just kept it on.. I dont know if it was the mixture or luck but it worked.. LOL Dogs won't get salomenela (or however you spell it). Remember, dogs at one time were wild, therefore they could eat stuff we wouldn't think about eating and their stomachs and such aren't the same as ours. They were built to withstand stuff like that, thats also why you can safely feed a dog raw chicken. Eggs is a good source of protein for the mutts...
BB

[Crash97]

Thank-you, BBK. I never knew dogs can't get Salmonella. I had been told only cooked eggs. This why this site is awesome!!

[AC]

A good way to add weight to your dog is by adding these ingredients to his feed. Mayonaise, sardines or tuna in oil, (Jack Mack is awesome), egg yolks, butter, and a cap full of corn oil. It will make your dog gain weight and their skin and coat will be in extremely good condition. Not too much of each thing but once a day is good.

[True_Outlaw]

Here's a good wormer you can use and most feed store's carry it....

ZIMECTRIN OR ZIMECTRIN GOLD...

There around 12 13 dollors....It also takes care of heart worm's... Thats what I worm my dogs with and it works miracles.

[Red2dbonekennels]

I have one of the more bulky boys from that old cali red line and he has been a constant problem in the "keeping the bulk on" department.....My dogs never see chains they have seperate fenced in yards and enclosures.....what I have found is best to keep him right where he is not to fat or thin I feed a high quality food....no pedigree ect. for dry Iams at the lowest ........they get a can of meat with it one can junk dog food in this case pedigree will do....Some times he would hit bad growth spirts and I'd give him puppy formula 2nd stage PMR....(Puppy Milk Replacement) I have experimented with weight lifters protein drink and all produce astounding results.....be warned though some of this may not agree with his system be on the look out for gastric disturbances.......LOL Just what I have tried....also for rescues the PMR for severe starvation cases is fantastic.....alittle at a time though!!!.....The Raven http://red2dbonekennels.tripod.com

[ROK QUARRI]

I use panacure as a wormer, but be careful it's a horse wormer. Your dosage goes by the weight of your dog. My dog also looks smaller at times because I run him a lot. Sometimes I'll mix rice or
mashed potatoes with eggs or veg. beans with his food. Just keep your dog very active and feed him
2-3 times a day . I also give my dog green tea[no sugar] when he's feelin` a little sick.

[Red Stripe]

Hello all!

I have a 3 1/2 month puppy. He is a little on the thin side as well. I feed him dry in the morning and mix some cooked ground beef and the fat with his dry in the evening. Is it better to feed twice a day, morning and night, or only once a day? Also, if I'm reading you correctly, all raw food is okay? Beef & chicken. Would it be better to give him raw beef in the evening instead of the cooked?

Thank you for all the information.

[Crash97]

For pups it's better to feed twice, if ya can. They get better absorbtion of nutrients that way. Yes, the way I understand the BARF diet is that raw is better than cooked, although I'm still not real confident in raw pork. Raw better than cooked, more natural enzymes and nutrients. IMO Hello all!

I have a 3 1/2 month puppy. He is a little on the thin side as well. I feed him dry in the morning and mix some cooked ground beef and the fat with his dry in the evening. Is it better to feed twice a day, morning and night, or only once a day? Also, if I'm reading you correctly, all raw food is okay? Beef & chicken. Would it be better to give him raw beef in the evening instead of the cooked?

Thank you for all the information.

[kimbel2392]

Yes to what GATOR said. Some dogs are just streamlined. If after worming and feeding- about 1-3 months- she is still thin then she will be that way

Ask your buddy about the parent dogs weights

[Big River Kennels]

if all that fails to put on wieght after worming and high carb diet as most have suggested and the change isnt happening. just dont worry about it i have have dogs that looked like they were amaciated and the city threatened to take them away cause of there thin body structure. but a letter from the vet saved me, from him stating all the stuff we went through to try to put wieght on the dog but it would not gain wieght and was 100% parisite free and healthy that it was his expert oppinion that it was just the dogs body structure.

like someone mentioned some dogs are just thin no mater what. it is like the skin and bones kid in school who no matter what he tried he couldnt put on a lb of wieght wether it be fat or muscle. sometimes there is just nothing u can do and things are the way they are.well i would try putting nondairy creamer in some milk and mix that in with their food. or heavy cream.

[YOKEL]

apart from being "thin",what is the dogs overall condition like? i.e coat,muscle definition etc. could be it's just the way he's put together,tho the fact the spinal column is sticking up don't sound good to me. theres some sound advice above,worming out and good food.get this sorted then start feeding up while gently working the dog (road work) couple of miles a day to start ,then slowly build this up and increase food accordingly,you should see a marked improvement in muscle and overall condition within a few weeks...
YOKEL.

[Stands Alone]

I found a supplement called "Pounds Plus" that works great. It puts good weight on the dog, supplies alot of needed vitamins, gives the dog an out of this world coat shine and alot of energy. As stated an another reply, do a good worming of the dog, then add this supplement once a day with a good qulity dog food. I feed my pits NUTRO. I also walk each of my dogs 2 miles a day. Once a week I also mix some natural organic apple cider vinagar to their water (it gives them a good inside flush). Hope this helps out!

[chi]

I had a dog like that once and now he is one of the healtiest dogs on the yard. 1st you should worm him. Once you have wormed your dog you could start by making sure it is on the best dog food or by gettin a dog food rich in protein and fat. Another thing you could do is add rice, brewers yeast, mashed potatoes to act as a supplement, and your will more than lickely eat more. Increaseing the food intake is a good start also. Like feeding your dog twice a day instead of once. Another dog supplement is red blood cell. Try this and you will see a difference within 2-3 weeks.

[Calhoun]

Leave the feed at 12 cups and put her on her chain. I would add some kind of meat to her diet 3 times a week..... at night after her feed.
Clean water always helps.

[Bubba]

Leave the feed at 12 cups and put her on her chain. I would add some kind of meat to her diet 3 times a week..... at night after her feed.
Clean water always helps.
Let me see if I am reading this correctly, 12 cups PER DAY???? Thats alot of food. What size dog is this being fed to? I'd worm that dog out good and have a vet do a check up, as to me, that seems outrageous.
BB

[carson3535]

sorry missed up an sending

[carson3535]

I have two pups, 1 male @ 4.5 monthsand 1 female @ 4 months I feed them Canidae and bil-jak daily.
They get two big meals morning and night and I just keep the dry Canidae food out for them threw the day so they can eat alittle threw the day. I mix what is recomended for the Bil-jak with what is recomended for the Canidae. And plenty of clean water.
Also give them a raw egg about two times a week and they get pig ears once or twice a week . In December I will start mixing raw deer meat in their food. Done this with dogs in the past so I know it works good.
But you want to make sure a pup gets good food better then it would in the wild so it will be even more healthy. Thinking about trying the Barf diet. I do walk and play hard with them to develope muscles and to get them in shape remember a pup will look all kind of differant ways until a 1.5 or 2 years.

[pappasmurf]

Also once your sure the dog is parasite free and eating good get her some exercise. not so much condtioning as general activity this will boost the appetite.

[Whiskey Bay]

I have a blue male that is the same way.His sire is an 80 pounder but he has only maxxed out at 51 pounds when he was inside .I put him outside and he dropped his weight instantly.I had a problem putting it back on (trying everything since I was a vet tech) I finally started him with creatine powder mixed with his feed and a raw diet.

[Flavor4real]

whats' up...well i got a blue brindle 65 pounds male pit bull. I feed him high protein food, give him 8-10 chicken thights a week and i give him some pillsalled high potency vitamin pills. He is not really getting bulier, he show muscle. Means he jumps higher. I'm 5"9 and from sit he wil jump almost up my head. I walke dhim since he as 5 month old bout 2-3 miles.

I got a treat mill at home but he will not get on but i wil find a way for that. don't use any muscle powder crap. like i heard all it does it puts water around the muscle or so.

Vitamins u can give, anything u by in the store. make sure he/she got enought clean water. otherise i'm thinking aboutto put a light/heavy chain on the bottom on his harness. so that at day time he can pull a lil weight in the back yard. u kno, nothing heavy, just something small...

otherwise when i walk him, ..without gloves no chance. he pulls to much, to strong but i let him pull...a lil wotkout u know...

i got so,me pics but they were takin at wintertime and he look kinda fat on that pic....

[Chopper]

Also NuVet Plus has worked perfect for me. Gives dog lots of vitamins and is perfectly healthy.

[Zoe2003]

I have a female pit and shes a year a 2 months and shes only 55lbs, how can I get her to look buff. I want to add muscle definition to her, how would I go about that???

[Saiyagin]

Give them Fats like canola oil flax, fish, wheat germ,vegtable etc....

[tjpitbull]

You could put her on hormones thats what my vet did my dog was very thin. So he prescribed some hormone shots{steroids}.

[powder925]

You could put her on hormones thats what my vet did my dog was very thin. So he prescribed some hormone shots{steroids}. are you actually suggesting that this 15yo give his dog(a female dog) steriods?

[orthofix]

Yeah thats true,
I have one similar to that also. I took her to the vet and the vet gave her a clean bill of health also, but I was still concerned about people seeing her and causing problems for me and my other dogs, so I put her in a kennel and started her on 8 to 12 cups of feed a day :D ...Well she is fat now!! :D lol...I droped her feed down to 4 cups now and she stays in the kennel. If I put her back on the chain the weight will come right off, do to her high metabolism and her non stop running....
This is very much what I have in mind too. Gamedog by nature have small fat reserved compared to bulkier bully show dogs. Their lean and mean physique comes with a purpose that's why they are bred this way. If your purpose in keeping this dog is to see her in action in the the ring, I don't think you have to worry much and just keep up your routines in keeping her conditioned. However, if for breeding purposes only and retire her from all these things then putting her in the kennel will do her best.
Putting her in heavy chains, mills and heavy exercises is short of saying putting her in schooling, she won't take much fat coz it will be burned as source of energy. High carbo or glucose is also the first source of that much needed energy in heavy activities ( thats why athletes are being put in this diet while in training). Workouts burns much fat and our canine friend needs twice to thrice the needed protiens for the muscles to built up or else even the glycogen contents of these muscles will later be consumed too as energy.
Vitamins, protien rich drinks/supplements, good dry dog food can only do much if the dog is in the same activities day in and day out. . . .

[Rockstar]

"Dogs cannot get (salmonella)."

I just wanted to say thanks to BBK for pointing this out. This was something I was previously unaware of.

[Rockstar]

I certainly wouldn't put a dog on a steroid cycle just because it was too thin. While the use of synthetic hormones is definitely not without benefit, to "bulk up" a thin dog is not enough of a justification for the administration of such, IMO.