~ Keeping Weight On Pups ~

[beemerchef]

I am pasting a copy of a "pm" Hoyden send me for Spirit to gain weight after he got sick... he lost some weight... I am sure and hope that she won't mind, it is very good info...

[quote]


I worked with a vet for several years and later fostered dogs, so I know how to put weight back on them.

If his stools are soft still, you can add a bit of pumpkin to his food, about two LARGE tablespoons worth. Not the pie filler pumpkin, the other kind in a can.

If his stomache can handle it, I'd put two to three large tablespoons of organic plain yogurt, the kind with active yogurt cultures, into his food. This will help restore the good bacteria to his gut. Start with one tablespoon to see if he can take it though. I'd just feed it to him off the spoon for the first few days, like a treat. Don't get the low fat or no fat kind because he needs the fat right now.

I've enclosed the recipe for satin balls below. These put weight on quite well, but you may be limited by your ability to store them or the ingredients while you are traveling. If you can make small batches, that would work out well.

The other thing is to consider is that the recalls on pet food right now are pretty scary. Anything with wheat, corn or rice should be avoided. Check his treats, dog food and anything else you feed him that is not made by you.

The best dog food around is called Timberwolf Organics. http://timberwolforganics.com/ You can locate a store near where you are or you are going to be. This is probably a good way to bring along food that will keep his weight up and keep him healthy.

It has several formulas, the best for Spirit right now would be the Lamb, Apple and Barley (28% Protein/ 18% Fat) or better yet, with your activity level, you should probably feed him the Wild & Natural Dry (36% Protein/18% Fat) which has NO grains at all in it.

It is on the expensive side, in CT, I pay $55.00 for a 33 lb. bag which lasts my two dogs 4 - 6 weeks depending on time of year and how much other stuff we feed them. You feed LESS kibble with Timberwolf because there are less fillers and junk in the food, so he won't get as much food as, say Iams, Eukanuba, Pedigree etc. I used to feed 4 to 6 cups to each dog with the other dog foods, with Timberwolf, they get 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups daily.

I can not say enough good things about Timberwolf. Birdie had horrible allergies, especially to corn, they are gone now and she looks like a show dog with her beautiful fur. Petey had several fatty tumors bigger than quarters on his legs that the vet was going to remove, they disappeared after 6 months on Timberwolf, never to return. All the "bully bumps" or dog pimple rashes that he has ALWAYS had his entire life also disappeared and have not come back. Petey is 9 years old now and he is very very healthy. He's been on TW for the past two years. Our new vet wouldn't have believed he was nine unless she saw his records with his date of birth, she thought he was 4 or 5 years old.

If Timberwolf is hard to find, the next best kibble is Merrick http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/.
I would only feed him the Wildness Blend Dry food though, the others don't have enough protein & fat for him. The canned food is good too for supplementing him to put on weight or to just mix in. My dogs love it, it's like dog crack to them.

Here's the recipe for Satin Balls. There are others, but this one has been the best for pit bulls that I've fostered that needed to put on weight. It can be found on the Holistic Dog site, lots of good info there, so bookmark it for future reference. http://www.holisticdog.org/Nutritio...satinballs.html


SATIN BALLS

5 pounds ground meat
5 cups Total whole grain cereal
5 cups oats (slow cooking type)
2½ cups raw wheat germ
¾ cup oil
¾ cup molasses
6 egg yolks
5 packets gelatin
2 ½ tablespoons Solid Gold Seameal supplement

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly like you would a meatloaf.
Roll into balls no larger than 1 inch diameter.
Divide into at least 6 separate containers or bags. Freeze. Thaw as needed for feeding.

Their directions say to feed 1 pack per day, half in the AM & half in the PM as a meal. But to put on weight, I would feed the normal amount of kibble to the dog (TW 2 cups) PLUS two satin balls. Putting the weight back on too fast is not good. Gradually adding it is healthier.


Okay - I hope that helps you. Give Spirit some extra loves for us, we'll keep him in our thoughts and prayers. [quote]



Be well...

Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Blog...

[badkarma]

i have always kept it simple and used peanut butter (start @ 3 weeks of age)- and it has always kept weight on my pups, they love it

[AYJR]

I have never personally tried eggs but I have tried some warm chicken stock over a good puppy kibble like diamond or nutro max, worked pretty good for me. a soft jell capsule of fish oil per feeding keeps the coat nice and shiny as well.

[bukskin.banks]

i dont use any fancy supplements but i've just used nitrisource food and feed him what its recommended and he's stayed nice a plump. very satisfied with the food. i feed it with water just enough so the food floats.

[inkdogg]

I have never personally tried eggs but I have tried some warm chicken stock over a good puppy kibble like diamond or nutro max, worked pretty good for me. a soft jell capsule of fish oil per feeding keeps the coat nice and shiny as well.

Is fish oil and COD liver oil the same ?? Is it ok using COD liver oil capsules for a 10 week old pup... @ capsules per day...

[benthere]

Cod Liver oil is very high in Vitamin A which is a fat soluble vitamin. So it can be toxic if too much is consumed. I wouldn't use it on a pup. I would use Salmon Oil or some other generic fish oil made from herring or some other fish.

[inkdogg]

Thanks..... Benthere

[Blackpoison]

http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/bre...lefeeding2.htm

http://www.bovidr.com/pets.html

[Blackpoison]

http://leerburg.com/bottlefeeding.htm

[killadev300]

I see alot of people use and suggest goat's milk.What is the difference besides prices between goat's milk and cow's milk? Is it more nutritious for the pups or is digested easier? Just never got any real reasons behind the wide spread use over cow's milk. Thanks for replies

[bgblok68]

http://www.healthnews-nz.com/goatcow.html

[killadev300]

Thanks bgblok68 appreciate it

[Geraldinefaye]

I feed them with milk.. so far the pups are all good and healthy.. do you provide vitamins for the pups? I heard lots of buzz about it..

[Chute Boxe]

good tips guys. i feed my pup twice a day and he does'nt put weight(fat) on at all. i have heard it is best to keep a good waist not too over fatten up pups or dogs.

[Botswana Kennels]

First step is starting at 2 weeks worm your pups, until 4 months of age.
Nextmake sure you feed your puppies twice daily, and use a high-grade puppy food, for at least the FIRST YEAR of their lives. People only use the best feed possible on their dogs “in keep,” yet the amount of muscle tissue, ligament growth, and bone growth a puppy experiences during the first year of its life is way beyond anything a show dog experiences in a 6-8 week keep. So make sure you provide your pups with the very best feed you can afford, because this is the most critical time to make sure they get the best nutrition possible, when they are growing and developing

[Botswana Kennels]

Note that the more you feed your pup does not mean that your pup is going to be healthy and have weight. Pups empty around every1h when being fed due to the digestive system as pups. So the best thing to do is to make sure you pup has all shots, and wormed, then healthy food

[skratchr81]

i use goats milk with a good dog food. i also let the pups eat seperately so none get strongarmed out of their meal

[Botswana Kennels]

mix milk with there food in a bowl..

[BackWoods]

this routine works, i never reccoment feeding a dog BJ unless they really need weight

mix milk with there food in a bowl..

[NGK]

Up their fat.

NGK