it's getting colder

Will its getting colder here in the Midwest and I notice my dog is getting skinnier. I'm feeding her more than usual 3-4 cups a day and she is still skinny. I usually feed her 2-3 cups. Does the cold weather have any affect on their wieght or is my dog sick? Its weird this has never happen to my other dogs before.

 

Do you use a rotational deworming schedule?

 

start cooking up some white rice put it in the dogs feed

 

What does the white rice do?

 

white rice adds starch

but I would worm your dog out real good

for tapeworms

If she eats good but still isnt putting on weight?

thats the way I would go

 

Adds fat dade

and do worm good first but i would figure you have that taken care of already

 

i don't do deworming on a schedule but i did it when i receive her a couple of months ago. I'll look into it again and work on the rice part cause I have plenty.

 

yeah and its cheap but really works for mine

 

You may have to double her food. Buy one with a higher fat content. And add fresh fat -- grease drippings from cooking, etc. Feed her fatty meat scraps as you can.

Be sure she has a draft-free house with plenty of GOOD straw (it's been hard to find lately as a lot of it is too chopped up -- in my area at least!) or some other bedding. Check to be sure the inside of the house is not getting wet at all-- wet robs a lot of heat..

If you doing the worming still results in a skinny dog, have the stool checked by a vet to determine exact kind of worms; and probably get the dog a check-up. Any illness will weaken her if she has to deal with cold as well.

Dreamer

 

my dogs eat twice as much in the winter and im in fl.

 

Oh yeah they are not due for wormings yet.But I do add whit rice to there kibble a couple time's a week just cause winter is coming and im trying to add some fat.Besides im cuban white rice is a staple of our diet I just leave the black beans out LOL.

 

Rice itself doesn't add fat. It will add some carbohydrate calories is all.

Dreamer

 

thats a lot of food for 1 dog. definitely worm her and have her checked if she doesn't improve.

 

Most have touched all the important points, especially about checking the parasite situation, and making sure her house is in proper cold-weather order. It's getting cold and rainy here also, so I just moved summer kennels and barrel houses into the shed for use at night, and winterized, plywood covered barrels onto sunny spots in the yard to take advantage of what little light and warmth there is for the next few months. So, perhaps if possible, relocating her house to a sunnier/less windy spot might save her a few calories a day.

Well cooked and cooled white rice helps keep weight during the winter months. But, you have to have balance rice with good fats and protein or your dog's coat will suffer in the short term, and overall health will suffer in the long run. Some folks I know get slightly stale (that's how you want it) bread from bakeries, open the bags and put the bread to air out/dry up or dry in the oven for a few minutes, and use as a feed supplement to help keep weight. As always, common sense and moderation are key.

Also, consider making a batch of satin balls. They really can help put on weight. But, just keep an eye on "skinny" especially in dogs that have kept good weight up to now.
Something could be wrong.

 

thanks people I'll do what I can.

 

That's all anyone can realistically expect. Good luck, keep us posted. Cold weather strategies for our dogs is something I'm always interested in hearing about.