Charlie has just been to the Vet for his annual health check and booster, the Vet was concerned that Charlie has lost 2 kilos since last year. Charlie is on 400g per day for his meals which is 100 g over the recommendations for his weight, but she told us to up it by another 1/2 scoop or so to build him up, we cannot seem to maintain his weight and his ribs/hips are visible. The Vet said if he loses any more weight he needs to go in for some blood tests. He is wormed regularly, exercised well etc. Does anyone have any ideas what could be wrong? I am really worried. Thank you :'( Helen x :'(
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Is he on a high protein food if he's particularly active? Like an active or working breed food. That's what we've got Harry on as he's never still, and could never maintain weight on other foods. Don't do internet searches for a diagnosis. It'll be pointless. Your own vet knows Charlie, and she's aware of it. Try not to worry - says me, I'm the worst.
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy I was wondering about the protein levels too , might be worth asking the Vet if a lower protein diet might slow him up a little and promote weight gain ? I agree , dont google things , there are some useful veterinary written papers on there but also a lot of rubbish too , written by those who havent got a clue and this can be dangerous , stick to the Vet Helen but do have a chat about his diet . If its any comfort , I had a rescue GSD many years ago , at times I was ashamed to take him out because he was so skinny, he also had colitis and so it was a low protein high carb diet for him , lots of rice and potatoes , but it was the devils own job to maintain his weight , sorry you have this worry x
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Thank you, sometime ago we took him off a high protein (26%) food because he was so hyper and it was suggested to us the food could be the cause so he is now on 18% protein Burns Alert and he has been fine. The Vet said the food is a good brand with no rubbish in it so unlikely to be that. I won't google promise. He eats more than my friends Great Dane plus his treats. Worried :'( Helen xx
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy I struggle to get Riley to eat extra kibble if his weight is a little low for any reason. I put a sardine in with it and he'll eat an extra 50% of kibble no worries. I got his weight up this way and then reduced his kibble again to maintain it. I think they fluctuate for all sorts of reasons and I certainly wouldn't worry about what's recommended on the packet - every dog is different and we all know Charlie is special !
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy I wouldn't worry too much, Helen. Ziggy is the only one of my dogs on kibble (salmon and potato), and to be honest I have never before looked at the feeding recommendations on the bag. I just feed the dog in front of me. If it looks skinny I feed a bit more and vice versa. Out of sheer interest I just had a look at the recommended amount for a dog of Ziggy's weight. According to the packet he should have about 400g a day. I then measured out the amount I roughly feed every day and it is more like 600g. He looks perfect at the moment. Come the shooting season I will up the amount even more. I would simply feed Charlie more food!
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Thank you so much, more food for Charlie boy, now won't he be pleased I will give him an extra 100g per day and see if I can put some fat on those ribs. He is a tall boy so he doesn't carry the thin look very well! Oh thank you so very much, I will try not to worry so much. Helen xx
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy I dont take much notice of the feeding guide either Helen , Sam sometimes looks skinny in cooler weather when he exercises a lot more , I tend to add some boiled potatoes or rice to his meal, easy on the tummy but helps keep weight on
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy poor charlie x...........hope he manages to put a bit of weight on,
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Wouldn't mind losing a couple of kilos myself... but sorry to hear you are worried about Charlie. Since he was hyper before I wouldn't try to put him back on the high-protein diet. Just up his food, as you already decided to do. I'm sure he's fine and you'll get him back to tip-top condition!
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Kate I thought potatoes were poisonous to dogs? ??? Gave him some rice with his meal tonight, yum yum ;D Karen, Charlie was ever so happy to get extra food today Someone told my to give full fat milk and yoghurt too, what kind of yoghurt though? Thank you everyone for your very helpful suggestions about fattening up this boy of ours - here's hoping Helen x
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Helen I can't add anything to the replies you have had from experienced members but wanted to say I'm sorry you have the worry of this.If you don't see any improvement,pack Charlie's lead and bowl and send him to stay with me for 2 weeks when Im in the UK ....I'll show him how to pack on a few inches of covering fat :-\ Trip to Cadburys world in the Midlands this morning has really not improved the chances of my fastening my jeans before the flight back next Tuesday (yay,yayaa,yay!4 days until I see my boy!) x
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Angela, I have had a word with Charlie he is packing his lead and bowl and will be on his way, and as he doesn't wear jeans ...... ;D ;D I bet you can't wait to see Dexter We took the children to the beach today and I just wanted to GET HOME to my pooches, how sad we have become ;D Helen xx
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Now Charlie and I are on our hols together, I'm getting worried that neither of us will ever adjust to being apart. Confession time - he even snuck his mattress into my bedroom last night.... (Ok, I'm on my own, until OH and friends arrive, and it's a big old rattley house....) But it is ridiculous to be spending 24/7 with a puppy and being blissfully happy about it! I am resolved to leave him for a bit tomorrow, and will be firm about him going back to sleeping in the hall tonight...otherwise, he won't cope when I go back to work (and neither will I...). Helen - I worry constantly about Charlie's weight and food, but in the opposite direction! Much sympathy...I don't have even a smidge of Heidrun's confidence (which probably comes from years of experience that i just don't have), I find it difficult.
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Julie, not ridiculous at all to want to be with your Charlie. OK if it's confession time I have had Hattie and Charlie sleep on my bed when David has been away, there it's out Sounds to me that you are both blissfully happy and what could possibly be wrong with that? I was a little worried about Charlie's weight but more so when the Vet mentioned it, now worried . We will worry together about our Charlie's. I doubt anyone has Heidrun's confidence, if we did we wouldn't need to be on the wonderful forum Helen x
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Helen, I'm not sure about giving milk, as that doesn't agree with a lot of dogs. But any natural yogurt, or an egg or a tin of sardines mixed in with his food will all add good healthy extra calories. As Kate says, any cooked potatoes you have left over are fine. Poppy gets lots of our leftovers - rice, pasta, potatoes, veggies, fish and meat scraps - she loves it! Just obviously make sure it's not too spicy.
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy Thank you so much, will do all that has been suggested. No spicy Helen x
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy bless. Its great spending so much time with them isn't it... I just spent four days at my sisters and had my two (and my sister's two labs as she was on hols) around all day...was lovely not to have to go to work and leave them. They loved it too, but I think they have also been quite happy to get back to the Boss-Mum-takes-us-for-a-huge-walk- then-goes-to-work-and-we-get-nice-long-sleeps routine. (PS my two both sleep on my bed with me every night. I had four on the bed at one point when I was at my sisters. that was a squash ;D)
Re: Really worried about Charlie boy It is lovely to be spending lots of time with Charlie. Although think we need to do some more structured training instead of just wandering round all day looking at new countryside things and calling it socialisation (we are having so much fun though - and learning to swim is important...). Tomorrow, we'll start tomorrow.... Charlie is out of my bedroom! I gave in last night when he climbed my temporary stair barrier and got stuck (had visions of him being stuck all night if I left him to sleep in the hall). The darling little puppy sicked up a load of chewed bark at 3am - new lock on the log store is now in place - then needed a little drink, then a cuddle because he'd been sick...then had to circle round 1013 times, claws clacking on the wooden floor, to get comfy again. I'm sleep deprived... he is snoring on the sofa.
