Skinny dog, what is a good way for her to win weight?

Question

Before you say anything, yes we’ve been to the vet! The vet gave me ideas to help my dog gain weight, such as adding canola oil, cottage cheese, fresh veggies and even eggs to her diet. She likes all of these things, as long as they aren’t added to dog food. I have tried all kinds of dog foods from raw, kibble, canned and freeze dried. I’ve even tried rotating them, warming them up, and adding toppers but nothing has helped. She doesn’t starve herself. She will eat but only a small portion a day, keeping her really skinny. I offer her 3cups of kibble for example, but she only eats a cup or less a day. She’s about 36lbs but for her height, should be about 45lbs. You can see her ribs and hip bones. She is a Siberian husky. She iis healthy, and is active, playful and very alert. She does have a daily stool that changes in colour (light to dark brown, not black so no blood) but is a normal consistency.

I am looking for anyone who may have or had similar issues and if you have found anything that has worked for you, or if this is just how she is and I shouldn’t worry too much. She’s a year old in February.

GllntKnight · Answer

Lean is healthier, however, has the vet done an exam on a fresh (less than two hours old) fecal specimen, that you provided, including Giardia, as well as blood work?  If not, I'd find another vet, because if you were already feeding it a quality grain free diet that was specifically formulated for a canines nutritional needs, and it is complete/balanced, there would be no need for all of these additives that may actually unbalance the existing diet.

Frequent/sudden diet changes may also reek havoc with the dogs intestines.  All diet changes should be done gradually mixing old with new over a period of ten days to two weeks.

What you've succeeded in doing is creating a spoiled/picky eater. A healthy dog will eat if fed properly, twice daily, am/pm, a total set amount according to body condition/activity split into those two meals, no free feeding, and nothing else other fresh water that should be accessible 24/7, free choice.  Place the food down for 5-10 minutes then pick it up whether shes eaten or not and offer it again at the next meal, if you don't cave in you should begin to see an appetite improvement in 3-4 days, if not find another vet.

CantHaveItBothWays · Answer

Puppy food is more nutrient dense than adult dog food.  If you can get her to eat it, she will get more nutrition when she eats the same amount.  There are various nutrient pastes that you can give her as a supplement.

PR · Answer

See another vet.

Adding these things to the diet shouldn't be necessary if the dog is healthy. She needs to be checked for worms, parasites, viruses, thyroid problems, etc.

Sometimes certain parasites don't show in the stool on the first exam, and another exam must be done.

Another question is whether your dog is spayed? An unspayed animal will gain less than a spayed animal.

Thyroid trouble can also cause low weight, but the appetite is usually higher. Most of our dogs have not eaten much more than 1 cup, 2x per day. Border Collie: 35-40 lbs., Malamute mix: 60 lbs.

Go to another vet. Your dog is not healthy if, indeed, you can see her hips and ribs. Do keep in mind, however, that your dog has not yet reached her adult size, and may not for a few months. Some dogs take longer to fill in. But, if not spayed, she's going to burn her weight off.

ragapple · Answer

satin balls are classic for dog show folk though the major problem is she is a coltish adolescent who will fill out with maturity

https://www.facebook.com/notes/pit-bull-chat/recipe-for-satin-balls/484836348218827

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Skinny dog, what is a good way for her to win weight?

4 Answers