Pasta for skinny dog

[sharvs]

I just picked up my dog from a boarding kennel where she has been for the last month. She has lost alot of weight & is very lathargic. Any suggestions on what I can give her to help her gain weight again? I'm thinking pasta & rice??

[kea's mum]

if he is happy in himself then just being home again and small regular feeds should see the weight come back on quickly. Pasta and rice is ok, but dont over-do it as you dont want him to bloat.You would be better feeding him a good brand of dog biscuit (one of the better brands) 2 - 3 times a day (again,not in large amounts)as good biscuits will have more nutrition in them than just carbs in pasta or rice.If you think he is actually unwell (lethargic, vomiting, diarrhoea, drinking more than normal etc etc ) it is better to get a vet check done to rule out other problems.If he hasnt been wormed in the past few months,get an allwormer from your vet - take him to the vet to be weighed so you can get the right dose of wormer,also you can keep a check on how his weight gain is progressing if you take him back for regular weigh ins.Weigh ins should not cost you, just the price of the wormer, unless you want a vet to physically assess him then you will need to pay for a consult.Hopefully he was just pining for you and went off his food a bit. Good luck !!!:o

[rynosmum]

As Kea's Mum says, look for a supplementary dry food with a higher fat content. Bonnie Working Dog formula is one we have used when ours have been a little too lean.

Remember that you should always be able to feel your dogs ribs if you rub your hands down their side. They should never stick out or protrude but you should be able to feel their frame when they are a healthy weight.:thumbsup:

I agree that if your dog's energy levels are obviously different than they used to be then definitely take him to the vet for a complete checkup to rule out other issues.

[Squiggles]

Our dogs always loose weight at the kennel as they feed them less meat than we do - they give them a mixture of rice and meat whereas we feed them chicken necks and dry food.

I would suggest giving your dog some more meat - prehaps a couple of chicken necks along with its normal food or some pork mince - works for us and the dogs are happier.

[mum2bubba]

I give my dog pasta and rice and vegies sometimes and he loves it.

[aardvark]

Puppy food. It is more calorie dense than regular dog food, which is why they also use it for pregnant and lactating b!tches.

[OM]

I would suggest giving your dog some more meat - prehaps a couple of chicken necks along with its normal food


When our dog lost alot of weight we were told to give him lot's of chicken wings and necks;)

[lovinmybub]

I have to agree with feeding Bonnie Working Dog (I've only seen it at produce stores or large pet supply stores). I got my last dog through great dane rescue and he looked so terrible and skinny i was surprised he was alive. I put him straight on to bonnie and he quickly became a beautiful healthy dog. If you want to see the before and after pics you can go to http://www.geocities.com/greatdane_rehoming_rescue/ (think thats it!!) and click on "Vladimir". I hope your dog feels better soon!!

[Mum2Tyla]

Hi,
alot of dgos lose weight in boarding kennels as they miss there owners and don't eat well, if he was on a good quality food prior to entering the kennel keep him on it and he should slowly regain his condition, if the lethargy continues I would suggest getting him checked out
Kelly:)

[Bron]

Wow waiting4bub, what a handsome dog Vladimir is!!! Just beautiful.

Our staffy is also a rescue dog, and he was skinny when we got him, but just being happy and safe made a huge difference to his weight. If he ever goes to the kennels for a weekend or something he does get a bit skinnier, but as soon as he comes home, he bulks up again. For him it is all about being happy.

[Katie79]

Our Nelly is the opposite, very over weight.We have been told to cut back with meals and no pasta..

So may be a good idea to give to your pooch.
I hope he is better and fatter soon.:chef:

[sharvs]

Thanks for your help, everyone.

She is relaxing at home again now. I've made a bit of pasta to mix in with her regular food, she is also having a better quality dry food too. She is happy now, eating fine. She just needs to chunk up! I think she was just recovering from a month spent trapped in a concrete cage - I will NEVER send her back to that kennel again.