Skinny dog

[adoptashelterpettoday]

I adopted Nico, a GSD/greyhound (that is my guess, he looks more like a GSD but is skinny like a greyhound) mix about a year ago. He hasnt filled out the way I would like for him to. He is only about 50 lbs. I feed him 5 cups of Canidae a day (which is a lot more than the vet suggested), and still I can see his hip bones. Everyone looks at me like I abuse the poor dog, but I feed him a lot more then I should. Is there any way to make him bulk up a little?

I think it is the greyhound in him that makes him look so skinny. This dog eats PLENTY, but I dont take him anywhere because people stare at him and act like I am a horrible person who is starving my dog.

I wormed him about a month and a half ago. I did it with wormer I got from the vet. So I really dont think that he is wormy, although another dose wouldnt hurt becasue well he likes to eat the other dogs' excrement.

Any suggestions? Someone told me to give him an egg a day but the vet said that wouldnt help that I should just wait for him to fill out, but I am unable to take him anywhere because I feel like a horrible person even though I know I feed him a LOT of food every day.

Thanks ahead of time. I wish I had pics. He really isnt skinny through his midsection. He is but it looks like a greyhounds body shape--you cant see his ribs, if it wernt for his hip bones sticking out, he would be in good shape.

 

[dogsarebetter]

i think its just the grey hound in him. some pics would help.

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

Okay, these are from when he was a puppy (he is almost a year now), but his body shape hasnt changed.

--see how his hips just stick out?

Hopefully I will remember to bring some more pics tomorrow.

 

[dogsarebetter]

hmm, i dont see any grey hound in there. but really, i still cant tell with the pics at all.

 

[whatszmatter]

looks just fine in those pictures even though they are old. If you have a thin dog, you need thick skin because people will love to put you down, so they can feel better about their obese dog. Its just how it is. New pics would be nice and a bigger help in offering an opinion. Plus I wouldn't worm my dogs unless I had a positive fecal test from the vet, no need tryin to kill something that isn't there.

 

[dogsarebetter]

however, from what i gather worming is harmless. if there isnt any worms and you wormed, no big deal.
of course i am no vet though

 

[BostonBanker]

however, from what i gather worming is harmless. if there isnt any worms and you wormed, no big deal.
of course i am no vet though

Keep in mind, wormer is a poison. Small amounts, for sure, but why give any to your dog if they don't need it? I agree with whatszmatter, have a fecal done first to see what, if anything, you are dealing with.

My friend spent the first couple years of her life dealing with the same problem you are having. Her shepherd cross was very, very lean as a young dog (and still is, though not as much). She once had a stranger hand her cash and tell her to buy her dog some food.

I can't imagine that an egg a day would hurt things; it's a good source of high quality protein. But your vet may be right that it may just take time.

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

She once had a stranger hand her cash and tell her to buy her dog some food.

Hey, I wouldnt mind a stranger handing me cash. *lol* j/k.

Thanks for the encouragement. People just make me feel so bad and I cant take him anywhere because I know people look at me like I am a horrible person.

I will try to get some new pics today & get them posted tomorrow.

I worm my dogs once every 3 months or so because I constantly have foster dogs coming & going, and most of them do have worms. I have heard it is okay to (according to my vet) as long as it isnt done that often.

My vet didnt say the egg a day would hurt, they said that it wouldnt help a lot, that I should just give him time. But like I said, it isnt any fun not being able to take your dog anywhere. Like when I took him to Pet smart, people wont say anything but they will give you that "look" that makes you feel 1 inch tall, even though you know you are trying & feeding super quality food, it still makes you feel bad. I just want to ask them "why would I bring my dog to Pet Smart if I was starving him?". I guess it's a good lesson to not be so judgemental. Cant tell you how hard I have tried to put weight on this dog.

Guess I will just learn to grow thick skin. I will try to get some pics of him on here tomorrow.


ETA-in the 2nd pic, you can see what I am talking about better.

 

[skyeboxer]

So is he just about a year and a half then? Or slightly younger maybe. He looks very GSD to me, I don't see greyhound either but my old GSD Max was the same way till past the 18 month mark, then he just starting filling out. At one point he seemed to be all legs and ears.

You know your feeding him, you know you've had him checked by the vet, you've wormed him and you've done everything you can think of to speed up the filling out process. While you are worrying about how others are looking at him, you are letting great socialisation experiences slip by. If it bothers you so much you have to have an answer for people who look askance then get him a bandana that says - no I'm not underfed, I'm overexersised - or some dumb thing.

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

He will be a year at the end of this month (of course it is a guess). But he was about 8 weeks when I adopted him June 1st of last year.

I socialize him with people at my house and always take him to mom's when I go to visit, but that's not nearly enough.

I know I shouldnt let it get to me, but even after I tell people that he eats good quality food and plenty of it, they still look at me like "yeah right". It's like hello people, if I were starving my dog, why would I bring him out in public? Why would I take him to the dog park and to Pet Smart?

He does need to be socialized more. He is a very sweet dog, would never hurt a fly, but he is a bit timid. I feel like a horrible "mom" but what am I supposed to do? I guess just take the stares and rude comments and know that I am trying my best.

 

[showpug]

I honestly think I see Saluki in your dog's face. The Saluki is a greyhound-like breed and is a sight hound as well. It is very natural and normal to see the hip bones and rib in these dogs when they are a healthy weight. Here is a picture of a Saluki at normal weight: http://www.saluki.net/images/rebel/scrapbook.rebel.backyard.jpg

Just a thought anyway...

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

He does have that face but Saluki's arent very common though are they?

His face sort of reminds me of like a coyote or wolf or something, it doesnt look very greyhoundish to me. Greyhound was the guess because of the body shape.

I know it is his body build why his hips stick out, but I was hoping there was some vitamin or something I could give him to fill out.

Okay, okay now I have to get pictures tomorrow.

You cant see his ribs or anything, like the Saluki in the picture, but he does have that lean body.

I just wish people would stop being so judgemental and realize that no one in their right mind would bring a dog they are abusing to Pet smart or to the park. Even one of my friends acted like I abused him and she is my FRIEND and knows I wouldnt do that. I guess it would be hard for me too if I saw a dog whose hip bones stuck out like Nico. I point out to everyone you cant see his ribs though, so he obviously isnt malnourished..

I talked to another friend about switching to Eukanuba, because I have heard quite a few people say their dogs gain weight on that, but she said it would be stupid if it is just full of empty fillers and I should stick with Canidae.

 

[Sweet72947]

Another thing you can point out is that if a dog has good muscle tone, they aren't malnourished. A starving body will break down the muscle to feed itself.

 

[showpug]

I can totally feel for you and how frusterated it must be to take good care of your dog, feed him plenty and have people assume the worst.

More pictures would help a lot so we could judge if he's under weight or just built that way. What does your vet say?

Don't feed Eukanuba that's for sure. Canidae is a terrific choice. Which formula do you feed? Do you have access to any other super-premium foods? You may want to give the regular Innova a try too as it has more calories per cup than Canidae. Some dogs hold weight better on different foods...

 

[Zoom]

My mentor has the same issue with her GSD, but he has a diagnosed malabsorption issue. He just can't put on weight and she's constantly having to fend off questions and accusations. But on Dreden you can see both hips and ribs...I had convinced her to try EVO there for awhile and it seemed to be doing well for him, but she felt the cost was too much for as much as she had to feed him and she's got four other dogs as well. He's back on Iams puppy now.

 

[BostonBanker]

http://www.horseworks.com/inc/sdetail/181

Just a thought - why don't you put some sort of coat on him if you don't want people commenting? You could always just get a nice lightweight one that would cover up his ribs and hips. Perhaps it would just make your life easier until he starts to fill out on his own?

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

The only food around here is Canidae. I looked for that Innova because it is supposed to be better & the same price, but the only way I can get it is to have it shipped and of course shipping alone is outrageous. The only other foods I have access to are the ones they sell at Pet Smart/Pet Co....

My vet says just be patient, he will put on weight.

I am really going to get some pics tomorrow. I am just having computer problems at home.

 

[lanasmom]

I am also facing the same problem. My 16 month old GSD - Lana is losing weight. Took her to the vet today to have her spayed and had her blood work done, everythin was normal except for the glucose. Which was higher than normal. The vet didnt mention anything about my Lana being diabetic. She said it might be due to Lana's nerves being in a new clinic and new people touching her etc. She recommended a PURINA (in a can) dog food. She said that it can be bought only from a vet clinic. Can anyone here recommend which dog foods I can try giving/feeding to my Lana?

 

[Zoom]

Go take a turn around the Food forum, there have been a number of lists just like you're looking for made in the past two days.

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

I finally got some pics.
I tried to get ones to show off what he looks like, it's hard to see through a picture..