Severly underweight rescue dog

Padstow

My concern about a lot of these foods is the main ingredient is rice. Should be called Rice and Duck. I don't think they would sell much if they changed to a more truthful name.
I've never been aware of rice being a nutritious food, not for humans, let alone dogs, it's a filler.

foreign_correspondent

Working dog food and puppy food both have more calories than normal food, and tripe, oily fish and cooked egg can all help put weight on too... introduce gradually though, as you don't want to upset the poor thing's tummy!

virgin_moneysaver

Bargain, bargain! - went to Countrywide today, they has 10% off everything, & it wasn't until I got home & checked the receipt to let my sister know how much she owed me for her stuff, that I realised that they had charged for the Skinners muesli mix instead of the Duck & Rice, so instead of 21.99, which was still cheaper than the internet, they charged me 15.99 - so 14.40 for 15kg bag of the Duck & Rice - things must be looking up in my rescues life!!

hethmar

What have you called him by the way?

virgin_moneysaver

hethmar wrote: »

What have you called him by the way?

Shankly - my husband is a red (liverpool) & so is Shanks (Red Setter), so he's Shankly, Shanks or Bill as my Dad calls him!

OnAndUp

Nice to get a bargain!

Hope it suits "shankly" ok!

virgin_moneysaver

weighed Shankly today as its a fortnight since we had him - he's put on 9lb in 2 weeks (follows his mother!) - he's on skinners & his walks have been gradually increased day by day, in fact, he done the local 3 miler last night for the 1st time, so it could be muscle he's gaining as well. Do you think he's gaining too quickly?

rising_from_the_ashes

Wow, that's incredible. Glad the Duck & Rice seems to be suiting him (and that you got such a great deal on it!) 9lbs is a lot in that period of time but I guess it depends on how underweight he was to start with - as soon as he was put onto a good nutritious diet and fed enough, he's going to put it on fairly quickly. It's good that his exercise/stamina is increasing too - well done:D!

I know your vet advised 4kg minimum (which you've probably reached now) so I'd maybe take him back for a quick check up and see how much more the vet things he needs to put on.

Obviously once you've reached the correct weight, you can start to reduce the amount of feedings per day to 2 "proper" sized meals but it may be worth reducing it to say 3 meals and seeing how he gets on. Does he still look like he needs to put on more? (I find that sometimes vets can be blinded by the "ideal" weight of a breed and loose track that some dogs can be on the small/large size of the breed etc).


Padstow I know what you mean about rice being a filler but IMHO it's better than the carp some manufacturers put in their foods (and a filler of some sort has to be used) - I'd still buy it if it was called Rice & Duck!

virgin_moneysaver

TBH I wouldn't have said he'd have put on that much as he still feels really bony on his spine & hips, but he does seem to have filled out a bit on his neck & chest, & flanks - unless my scales are out - thinking on, what the vet weighed him on his scales he's maybe put on around 5lb. I feed him 3 times a day & his stomach still rumbles after the meal, & we've learnt to put any food up really high as he's had cold potatoes, rhuburb crumble & crunchy nut cornflakes on the sligh!

OnAndUp

Glad he's doing well on the skinners!

I was thinking of you - Alan Carr has a red setter called Bev aka Beverley Callard (Liz Mcdonald from coronation street) because it has bid red curly hair!! Tickled me!! :rotfl:

http://shop.cafepress.co.uk/beverley-callard

ps.not sure who buys that merchandise?!?!