Healthy way to put weight on a dog?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Healthy way to put weight on a dog?

Posted: 12/1/2014 1:09:41 AM EDT

Have a friend with a 2yo female GSD, she's healthy as far as exercise and activity goes, but looks very thin.
He gives her food at will (dry) feeds her canned as a treat, and table scraps on occasion.
She has been tested for worms (negative), but she just doesn't seem to put on weight.
Is there anything he should do to try and increase her weight, or is it something that age and time will cure?

Posted: 12/1/2014 1:26:48 AM EDT

[#1]

I won't pretend to be an expert but is he feeding her grocery store food like Purina crap or is he using a quality food? I noticed a huge difference in my dog from switching to "real" dog food. Check out brands like A Taste of the Wild, Acana, Orijen, etc. Even the higher end stuff at a pet store isn't usually that great. I have to go to non chain pet stores to find Acana for my dog, but Tractor Supply sells TOTW which is an excellent food and not ridiculous priced.

I would have him ask the vet what they think, it could just be the way the dog is wired.

Also don't feed a dog table scraps.

Posted: 12/1/2014 3:41:56 PM EDT

[#2]

Higher protein and fat. Switch to a Puppy or small dog food. They are more nutrient dense.

Posted: 12/2/2014 1:03:25 PM EDT

[#3]

Do you have any pics of the dog? What many people consider too thin is a healthy weight for dogs.
I've had dogs that where difficult to put weight on until they reached the age of 4 or so.

Posted: 12/2/2014 11:11:27 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Do you have any pics of the dog? What many people consider too thin is a healthy weight for dogs.
I've had dogs that where difficult to put weight on until they reached the age of 4 or so.

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This. The uninitiated frequently thing a healthy dog is too thin.

Posted: 12/3/2014 2:20:30 AM EDT

[#5]

No I don't.
I'll try and get a few tomorrow.

Posted: 12/12/2014 8:06:47 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:

Do you have any pics of the dog? What many people consider too thin is a healthy weight for dogs.

I've had dogs that where difficult to put weight on until they reached the age of 4 or so.

View Quote

I was going to post this.

Dogs should be 'lean'. You should be able to easily see the ribs.

Dogs bodies should generally remind you of a Kenyan Marathon Runner...extremely lean, thin, muscular, and not an ounce of extra fat. Don't get me wrong, it shouldn't look like someone just liberated from a Nazi Death Camp, a walking skeleton where the body burning it's own muscle to survive.

Posted: 12/12/2014 2:38:22 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
I was going to post this.

Dogs should be 'lean'. You should be able to easily see the ribs.

Dogs bodies should generally remind you of a Kenyan Marathon Runner...extremely lean, thin, muscular, and not an ounce of extra fat. Don't get me wrong, it shouldn't look like someone just liberated from a Nazi Death Camp, a walking skeleton where the body burning it's own muscle to survive.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Do you have any pics of the dog? What many people consider too thin is a healthy weight for dogs.
I've had dogs that where difficult to put weight on until they reached the age of 4 or so.

I was going to post this.

Dogs should be 'lean'. You should be able to easily see the ribs.

Dogs bodies should generally remind you of a Kenyan Marathon Runner...extremely lean, thin, muscular, and not an ounce of extra fat. Don't get me wrong, it shouldn't look like someone just liberated from a Nazi Death Camp, a walking skeleton where the body burning it's own muscle to survive.

"Ideal weight" may vary from breed to breed and by owner and purpose. e.g. I don't like to easily see ribs in most breeds like Akoda does. My guide is touch. If I place my hand gently and flat on a dog's side I don't want to feel ribs. Gently move my hand back and forth and feel ribs? Perfect. If I have to curve my hand to feel ribs wih my finger tips? Fat. Is it an English Pointer? Yeah, you'll see ribs. Cold weather retriever with a long coat? Not so much. One thing seems to hold true, a dog that is 1-2 pounds under weight will live longer and healthier than one that is over weight.

Posted: 12/12/2014 4:58:59 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
"Ideal weight" may vary from breed to breed and by owner and purpose. e.g. I don't like to easily see ribs in most breeds like Akoda does. My guide is touch. If I place my hand gently and flat on a dog's side I don't want to feel ribs. Gently move my hand back and forth and feel ribs? Perfect. If I have to curve my hand to feel ribs wih my finger tips? Fat. Is it an English Pointer? Yeah, you'll see ribs. Cold weather retriever with a long coat? Not so much. One thing seems to hold true, a dog that is 1-2 pounds under weight will live longer and healthier than one that is over weight.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Do you have any pics of the dog? What many people consider too thin is a healthy weight for dogs.

I've had dogs that where difficult to put weight on until they reached the age of 4 or so.

I was going to post this.

Dogs should be 'lean'. You should be able to easily see the ribs.

Dogs bodies should generally remind you of a Kenyan Marathon Runner...extremely lean, thin, muscular, and not an ounce of extra fat. Don't get me wrong, it shouldn't look like someone just liberated from a Nazi Death Camp, a walking skeleton where the body burning it's own muscle to survive.

"Ideal weight" may vary from breed to breed and by owner and purpose. e.g. I don't like to easily see ribs in most breeds like Akoda does. My guide is touch. If I place my hand gently and flat on a dog's side I don't want to feel ribs. Gently move my hand back and forth and feel ribs? Perfect. If I have to curve my hand to feel ribs wih my finger tips? Fat. Is it an English Pointer? Yeah, you'll see ribs. Cold weather retriever with a long coat? Not so much. One thing seems to hold true, a dog that is 1-2 pounds under weight will live longer and healthier than one that is over weight.

you are correct.

I was being a bit aggressive with my definition to make a point. It was a combination of hoping that when you post a 55 MPH speed limit most people drive around 60, and also to assure people who DO see ribs that seeing ribs is often normal and not a red flag, not without a lot of other things coming into play.