Food to help your dog GAIN weight.

[DaisyM]

Hello,
We are adopting a rescue dog who is extremely thin. He is an adult Treeing Walker Coonhound. We know that he had a collar on when he was picked up, but his owners did not want him. The poor guy has been so freaked out by being at a shelter that he is just wasting away. His ribs are clearly visible in his photos. The rescue group said he is depressed and doesn't wag his tail. He has been checked by a vet and is considered otherwise healthy.

We will be meeting him for the first time and want to do everything I can to get him healthy and happy ASAP. I'm planning on cooking some ground beef so that he smells that as soon as he walks in the house. (I was thinking that is the doggy equivalent of us smelling cinnamon buns or chocolate chip cookies)

I know from reading about this breed that they like to graze. So, I was thinking to try starting him off with dog food plus rice and lean ground beef in small quantities several times a day.

I'm wondering if you have any suggestions of how to add calories without upsetting his stomach. He is coming from the South and I can only imagine that the stress has had a big impact on his digestive system.

Thank you for any suggestions and Happy New Year

[ninrn]

I don't know if this thread has already overloaded you with info, but a couple of things that helped when I was taking care of my sister's very emotional great dane - live culture yogurt, as someone else recommended, but add a half teaspoon of turmeric powder to it and a teaspoon of fish oil to his regular food. If your dog has been and will be eating grain-based kibble anyway, add some white rice to the turmeric yogurt mixture. And, last, if you can get a bit of dulse seaweed from the health food store, drop a small piece (about the size of a postage stamp or two) on the ground and see if he eats it. (The smoked kind is what dogs like best) A dog will only eat seaweed if he really needs it, and I've noticed stressed out dogs will lap it up twice a day for about two days, then stop wanting it (probably once they've refreshed their thyroid glands.)

[DaisyM]

Henry update....he gained 1lb in the last 2 weeks. Doesn't sound like a lot, but I can see how much better he looks. I'm sure he's also better hydrated.

[ninrn]

Thanks for the update. A pound is lot for a dog. So glad to hear he's doing better. If you can, please try the turmeric+live culture yogurt some time. You'll be amazed at how much dogs love it and how much it helps with digestion. Best to you and Henry, Ninrn

[DaisyM]

Thank you! Vet told me to add white rice and probiotics to his food. I'm also giving him meds for lung worms. I'm amazed that this guy happily eats all of it. The site of his first injection is very sore. We hope that he will continue to gain wait and get through the treatment for heartworms. We gave letters to all the neighbors with dogs telling them that Henry has to avoid them for the next two months.

[ronojo]

Thanks Heather. Sorry I left that out--she is on a low protein, low phosphorus diet.

[ronojo]

I am also trying to get some weight on my 13 year old cockapoo. She has lost weight due to kidney issues and is now on a low protein diet (Merricks Senior). The vet suggested adding some boiled chicken but I'm wondering if there is anything else we can give her.

[sunshine842]

with that sort of additional factor, your best bet is to work with your vet so that her diet can be managed in conjunction with the kidney issues.

[Heatherb]

ronojo, you may want to investigate this carefully. My best friend is a vet who has been researching animal nutrition quite a bit in the past few years. She said that often a vet prescribes a low-protein diet incorrectly, when they should be prescribing a low-phosphorous diet. When my 12-year-old dog had some irregular urine samples, we switched him to a home-cooked low-phosphorous diet that covered a range of meats and veggies, and the issues reversed themselves. My own vet said that she agreed with the approach we took.

I'm NOT saying a low-protein diet is necessarily incorrect, but depending on how recent your vet's knowledge is on this topic, you may want to consider a different approach. Low-protein diets have been the accepted wisdom with regard to kidney issues for a long time, but it's not necessarily the blanket solution. Depending on your dog's specific ailment, low-phosphorous may be the way to go.

[Heatherb]

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-do...

[pinehurst]

You must be tired from transitioning him in, but how is Henry?

[DaisyM]

Thank you everyone! Henry arrived yesterday from South Carolina. He is absolutely adorable, but terribly underweight. His tail was between his legs until he met our dog and then he started to wag his tail like crazy. She had to growl at him a couple of times, but he walked right next to her and later cuddled up next to her and went to sleep.

We quickly figured out that he had never been in a home before. He doesn't know how to walk up steps and needed a lot of coaxing to touch his bed. Basically he's a 6 yo puppy.

His long hound ears are quite torn up. The shelter believes that he was a hunting dog that got lost and later got into a fight with an animal. When his owners were called they didn't bother to come for him.

So, Henry is off to the vet tomorrow. In the meantime, he is a man of leisure with two beds, many walks, a coat with his name embroidered on it and lots of love. I'm trying to give him 3 smaller meals....but he is gobbling them up. He is so hungry. Lots of wonderful suggestions and I'm going to discuss many with our vet tomorrow to make sure he is as healthy as can be.

[kengk]

Would love to see a picture of Henry.

From my experience hounds can be very bold with what they know, to the point of being willing and eager to fight a bear or hog, but timid of the unknown, shying away from a cardboard box in the floor that wasn't there yesterday.

[pinehurst]

Daisy! Hooray for your family and Henry!
Don't be surprised if he has stuff mentioned on the board (heartworm, kennel cough, etc)...nothing that some momma and daddy love and some meds won't cure. My heart broke when you described his strangeness with stairs. I *know* he will soon be curled up in every nook and cranny as comfy as can be.

[sunshine842]

it's interesting sorting out their issues...

We think our big boy was raised in an apartment and was chucked out on the street when he was no longer a fuzzy sweet ball of puppy fluff -- he had no idea what a leash was about (walking him was like being tied to the bumper of a Mac truck for a while -- he's still not great, but it's at least no longer a painful experience) -- and he had no idea how to go up or down stairs, either...

...but he had obviously been raised in a home, as he never once tried to jump on or chew the furniture, and knew to go to the door to be let out.

Good luck with Henry -- it's amazing how long it takes for them to get accustomed to a new home...but it's so rewarding.

[Violatp]

Oh, YAY to you. I'm tearing up reading about sweet Henry and everyone else's doggies.

His doggy dreams have come true!

[tcamp]

Lucky Henry! He sounds like a great dog and I hope he continues to settle in to your household.

One of my dogs came from a rescue org in Georgia and they'd had him for more than a year by the time I got him. He must have been a house dog at one point because the first night home, he marched straight up to the bedroom and stared at the bed til I lifted him up. He curled up and didn't budge for 12 hours.

[DaisyM]

The vet wants Henry to gain 6lbs and suggested puppy food. Retest on heartworm and stool. Lots of hunting injuries that are healing. Henry is already use to the good life and will not get out of bed. He literally has to be carried to get him out of the house. I'm shocked to report that he found a dead raccoon on our property this am. Lots of howling

[pinehurst]

SWOON!!!
That is one peaceful slumber.

What a good momma you are.
XO to Henry

PS Love the big houndie feets

[1sweetpea]

I have a Chihuahua that I got when he was 13 weeks old. He was tiny, only 1.9 lbs. There were 2 other puppies in the litter. One was quite large and the other a little bigger than he was. He was darling, but so tiny and fragile. I know Chihuahuas shake a lot, but his skin literally crawled and he'd let out these pitiful whimpers. I took him to the vet when I noticed him scooting his bum across the floor. The vet found nothing. A day and a half later I found a piece of tapeworm in his feces. I rushed him to the vet and he was given a shot and a deworming pill. That took care of the problem. I opted to find a new vet after that. He only picked at his puppy kibble, though. I tried to transition him to holistic kibble, but he wouldn't eat it. Being so tiny I think the kibble seemed huge for his little teeth and mouth. I started home cooking for him and he took to it immediately. His fur started to look shiny and became softer. The goopy tears that were staining around his eyes went away. Today, he is a happy, healthy guy, but he still only weighs 3.3 lbs. Based on the size of the other 2 in the litter (9 lbs and 4 lbs), I suspect that the tapeworm deprived him of nutrition during a crucial growth spurt.

I don't know what kind of kibble you're planning to feed your dog, but I personally would mix the puppy and adult kibble together during the weight gain phase, rather than feed only puppy food. It will be easier to lower and eventually eliminate the amounts of puppy kibble once he's gained the 6 lbs and no longer needs the high fat fare.

I can't say enough about the benefits of kefir. My guy enjoys it immensely. I feed him a pretty varied diet and he handles most of it very well, despite being a finicky purebred Chihuahua. In the winter when it is cold outside, my guy doesn't go out for walks. The drop in exercise means he self regulates his food intake and eats very little. He will always take a bit of kefir, though, which satisfies me that his stomach is fine and that his blood sugar is stable. The billions of active cultures help promote healthy intestinal flora and can even stimulate a sluggish appetite, in my experience.

Good luck with your newest child!

[Violatp]

He's beautiful! What a sweetheart. You're both lucky!

[DaisyM]

Thank you so much! Can you even imagine being called by a shelter that they have your dog and then not coming for him? I have no doubt that he has left his awful past behind him and just loving life. Wouldn't it be great if we could live in the moment like dogs?

[Violatp]

There are definitely people who should never have pets. Never, ever, ever.

[Ruth Lafler]

Aw, what a sweetie. Thanks for sharing!

[sunshine842]

ours did the same thing -- slept nonstop for the first week or so -- I just have to make myself not think very hard about what they've been through.

Unfortunately, Henry's former owner saw him as a hunting dog, not a pet....and unfortunately not a great hunting dog, or he would have gone to get him.

Your gain.(and Henry's)

[Heatherb]

If he's a hunting dog, I think a good game to play with him would be to hid a kong stuffed with peanut butter and frozen somewhere in the house. (Teach him the words "Find it.") Peanut butter is a great way to put weight on a dog and keep it entertained. I might also suggest "nosework" (a fairly new type of dog competition) as a way to keep him entertained. I have a dog from hunting lines and he LOVES it.

[DaisyM]

Excellent idea! He will love it. I had just read about taking an article of clothing that a member of the family has worn and hiding it. He's a major sniffer!

[Violatp]

http://www.dogshaming.com/

There's a coonhound named Hugh on here who has almost the same story as your Henry down to turning into a giant couch potato!

[DaisyM]

Turns out it is a love match for Henry and Lucky. I can tell he is gaining weight. He is so happy. I've mixed in a little origin's puppy chow into his dog food.

[Ruth Lafler]

Awwwwwww!!!!! What happy pups!

[sunangelmb]

Congrats. I'm kind of in love with Henry and Lucky.

[DaisyM]

We've had Henry for less than a week and Lucky is so much happier. Henry thinks that Heaven is located in the Philly burbs. Nothing like having lots of paws in your life. I wish they would live forever.

[DaisyM]

Our vet re tested Henry for heartworms and it came back positive. The treatment begins on Friday. I feel so awful for him. This is going to be very unpleasant for him. He was just gaining weight and really enjoying life.

[sunshine842]

Hopefully they've caught it early enough that there hasn't been any significant damage.

Hugs all round.

[onrushpam]

You might want to discuss the alternative long-term heartworm treatment with your vet. We've done it successfully with several dogs that had other health issues (including very low weight). It can take a long time (months) to clear the heartworm, but it has the advantage of not requiring a period of very low/no activity. I don't recall the exact timing/dosages, but you essentially give Ivermectin frequently over an extended period of time. OTOH, the more typical treatment may have less impact on his weight/appetite. Give him some extra goodies from me!

[Ruth Lafler]

It's nice to have an alternative. I'd say, though, that low activity does not seem to be a problem for this dog. <g>

[pinehurst]

Lucky is a lovely dog, and I love how Henry is touching her gently with his paw. They're beautiful!

He will be okay, Daisy. He just can't do a lot of aerobic stuff, so keep him from running around (I am sure the vet told you this, you awesome Dog Momma). The heartworms have to clear outta there and not get stuck in the lungs, so easy does it!. The good thing about the intensive treatment is that it nips the heartworm activity in the bud, before there's more damage. He will be okay! How very very very lucky for him (no pun) that you found him.

Hang in there, and when he's snoozing, give him a kiss and a belly rub from me.

[Violatp]

There's a foster doggie in Dallas named Lovie (I follow her story on FB ever since she was rescued from the streets about a week from giving birth!) that just finished up her month of no-fun on heartworm treatment.

She was mopey and sad at not being able to play with her best friend, Henry (the other dog in the household) but came through it with flying colors! It'll just be a long month.

[DaisyM]

Thank you so much for your kind words. It was rather heartbreaking to have him go through this today. The poor guy has been through so much. He is now sleeping on his bed with my husband massaging his leg and Lucky is right next to him. I'm writing a note to our neighbors so they understand that he can't play for the next two months and we need to avoid their dogs. Shame on his previous owners for how they treated this sweet soul.

[wyogal]

Talk to your vet when you take him in for the first time. We adopted, and one of the first things we did was to take him to the vet. I know he's been seen by a vet already, but, you will need to take to to your vet right away anyway. Your vet will be able to recommend the right food for that particular animal.
And, thanks so much for adopting a pet! Enjoy your new family member!

[Ruth Lafler]

I hate to say it, but most vets are not good sources of advice on what to feed your pets. Just like human doctors, nutrition is not emphasized in their training, and most of their training and training materials are sponsored by large petfood manufacturers. I've seen some terrible products advertised in vet offices and informational pamphlets specifically designed by companies like Hills to counter the movements towards grain-free and raw diets. It's a telling comment on foods like Hills "Science Diet" that they are now being reformulated (Hills website: "Very soon, even more Hill's® Science Diet® dog foods will feature quality protein as the first ingredient and will be made with natural ingredients, no chicken by-product and no artificial colors or flavors.") to compete with the better brands out there. If they were so good and "scientific" in the first place, why do they need to be reformulated?

You'll have to judge for yourself whether you think your vet is really knowledgeable and unbiased in the nutrition information s/he gives you.

[Scoutmaster]

I have to echo everything you've said regarding nutritional education and the promotion of "certain" foods. I know three different vets very well and when it comes to nutrition, the diet discussion has been an uphill battle (also in terms of human nutrition). Hills donates food to the vet school, sponsors and provides their nutritional education. What does that tell you! If it's being sold at your vet's office, they are receiving a HEFTY kickback!

[Vetter]

Tons of great ideas here. My addition is that you could slip him little bits of unrefined coconut oil for lower fat meals. SMALL amounts at first - it can upset tummies of humans and pups if not used to it - but it's a great healthy fat, and has antifungal properties. You'd want to clear extra fats with your vet so you don't inadvertently lead to pancreatitis. I read about it in Whole Dog Journal (great mag) well before I ever started eating it myself as a primal/paleo eater. My pooch is an easy keeper but I think she looks best when she's getting plenty of healthy fats (salmon, other oily fish, coconut oil).

[EWSflash]

Whatever else you do, give your doggie some active-culture yogurt every day forever. It will quiet the rabid gas that rescue dogs (all dogs?) tend to have. The probiotics are good for the digestive system of a dog that hasn't had the best nutrition for however long, and I must say- I had three dogs at one point, they all got yogurt every day with their food, and NONE of them had gas. Yes, this is a brag, and a couple of times a year it happened, but I would never again have a pet that didn't get some kind of probiotic in their food. I gave them the yogurt for the health benefits, and the atmospheric benefits were quite a lovely aside. 8^D

[Vetter]

My dog practically wept with joy when I was still making plain homemade kefir every day. She ate the sourest batches with utter joy. And any soured raw milk.

But I really think the gas is usually due to food dogs didn't evolve to eat. Grains in particular.

[EWSflash]

Part of it is breed-related, some breeds have touchier digestive systems. Geman Shepherds are the one I'm most familiar with.
My dogs get premium dog foods and rarely if ever get people food. Probiotics are a form of health insurance to me.

I just thought of something else- add a little food-grade diatomaceous earth to your dog's food. It acts as a benign antiparasitic. I mixed it with my chickens' feed and also my dog's food when we adopted a stray Shepherd that had almost every GI parasite on earth. Of course we had her wormed too, but I didn't know if she was prone to parasites. She seemed to gain weight a little faster with it and never had GI parasites again.

[lstormont]

Google "satin balls" -- they are an easy tasty weight gain.

[rasputina]

I've owned one, along with a few other breeds of coonhound and they tend to be pretty svelt naturally. Having said that, I'm a huge advocate of raw food for dogs, specifically raw meaty bones. I'd start reading up on prey model raw feeding. Has he been checked for heartworm? It's rampant down here.

[Scoutmaster]

For commercial kibble, check (Google) Whole Dog Journal's Top 10. Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul and Fromms works well for mine supplemented occasionally with eggs, pumpkin, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, sweet potato. 1 fish oil cap per day. Avoid wheat, wheat gluten, corn, & corn gluten in the ingredient list of any food. When introducing a new food, do it over the course of a few of days to avoid digestive distress ~ 1/4 - 1/3 -1/2 - 3/4...

Toxic foods:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts (ONE nut can take a large dog down)
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol

Also, feeding more than 2X per day isn't recommended unless it's a puppy. Their digestive systems are different than ours. No exercise AT LEAST 45 min. after eating as it can have deadly consequences.

[tcamp]

I've never heard that about exercise. Do you mean real exertion or just normal walking? We often walk the dogs after they eat breakfast, including some running off leash time.

[Scoutmaster]

It is called gastric dilatation volvulus and it is and extremely painful way to go. It happened to my last dog. Unfortunately there was no clear cut reason for it to happen, but it did, The only saving grace was the fact that she was 19 and lived a good, long life.

[Scoutmaster]

This also happened to Marley in Marley and Me :'(

[rasputina]

We don't exercise the dogs right after eating we have a German Shepherd and that breed is prone to bloat.

[Vetter]

Great idea to check for heartworm. Can't mess around with that. Prior to Katrina, it was rarely seen in my area - I'm in the Pacific NW!

[kengk]

Here is a blurry picture of our two dogs. They had been boarded for a week and the look on my boy's face says " take me home". Daisy could give a shit. Both are Walker/Bulldog mixes we took in as strays. Found out where they came from after we had grown attached.

[tcamp]

Cute. Your little one could be related to my mutts.

[DaisyM]

So sweet....I had a dog named Daisy. My husband always said that he married me because he wanted Daisy. Such a loyal friend.

[onrushpam]

This advice is based on my experience of 10 years running a greyhound adoption program at a low-end track, where we got LOTS of dogs in bad shape. We placed more than 3,000 dogs in those 10 years, including nursing a bunch back to health.

If the dog is not a senior, is otherwise healthy and you plan to feed a kibble-based diet, it's probably best to just feed a high calorie kibble and do 3-4 small meals a day to start. The Blue Buffalo salmon food is one of the highest calorie foods out there and I've had really good luck with it. I've also used the Kirkland salmon grain-free food from Costco with good results (it is very similar to the Blue formula).

For senior or health-compromised dogs, I supplement with what we call Isaac Stew (fed to a very elderly greyhound with heart problems who survived nearly 3 years longer than any vet thought he might and was happy and active until osteo got him)...
Cook 5-6 chicken leg quarters with just a little bit of water in a slow cooker for 24 hours. Pull out the bones and smush them up with a fork, potato masher or just your fingers. Put the smushed bones back in the pot and add:
5 lbs ground beef (the cheapest fattest you can get)
1 bag each of frozen sliced squash, carrots, spinach or other greens
Cook until the meat is no longer pink.
Freeze in several 1-2 quart sized containers
For a greyhound, I'd feed 2 cups, twice a day, or mix one cup with one cup high calorie kibble.
If you don't feed kibble with it, be sure to also give multivitamins every day.

Don't feed rice. It can be very hard on the digestive system.

With very compromised dogs, I grind high calorie kibble in my food processor and mix with water to make a gruel. You can grind up a bunch of food at one time and keep it in a storage container. Mix with water or Isaac stew at each meal.

Hope this helps!

[DaisyM]

Wow, so much great information! I did not know that white rice wasn't good. Is the salmon food something to use just until he gains weight or do you put your dogs on it long term?

[onrushpam]

You can feed it long-term, or switch to a lower calorie (and probably lower cost) food once the weight is gained. If I could afford it, I'd feed the Kirkland grain-free all the time. But, we have too many dogs to make that doable.

White rice isn't terrible, but some dogs have a hard time digesting it, so don't get much from it and it can irritate the digestive tract.

[DaisyM]

I'll speak to the vet. We belong to Costco. I had no idea that their dog food was so good!

[Ruth Lafler]

Yes, Kirkland dogfoods are all pretty good. The lamb and rice kibble is good quality and very inexpensive, and their canned foods (if you want to supplement the kibble) are good and reasonably priced as well. They also sell Beneful, which is garbage. I kills me to see people passing up the vastly superior Kirkland for the heavily advertised brand-name junk.

[sunangelmb]

I have a super skinny golden retriever we adopted about 10 months ago. She wants to eat nonstop, but has a very sensitive stomach, and has lost approximately 20 lbs. She's 10.5 years old though, so determining the cause of her weight loss has been a struggle. Recently we were advised to put her on puppy food. (4health) Apparently puppy food is very high in fat and protein and hopefully won't wreck her tummy like rice, pumpkin, and other people food has.

[DaisyM]

Good idea about the puppy food. I'll speak to the vet.

[sunangelmb]

Best of luck. Adopting doggies that need love and spoiling is the best.

[DaisyM]

Yes! We've recently lost our beloved dog and our other dog was so grief stricken that she became ill. We're adopting this boy as her new companion. I feel like it is an arranged marriage, because she is an older alpha dog. I think this boy is going to be just what she needs to feel real joy again. We're looking forward to having more paws in the house and another boy to spoil.

[DaisyM]

One more question....I'm going with the assumption that Henry (that's what we are naming him) has never had table food. I've never given my dogs cottage cheese. Is it easy on the stomach for dogs? Is full fat okay or is it too fatty and might cause GI upset?

[kengk]

"He is coming from the South and I can only imagine that the stress has had a big impact on his digestive system."

Most Southern dogs do quite well on dog food. I fear that you are going to have a mess on your hands if you stuff him with rich food too quickly.

[DaisyM]

Exactly what I want to avoid, while still making sure that he gets the nourishment he needs. He weighs 40 lb and should be about 50. I can see his ribs in the photos.

[pinehurst]

Full fat cottage cheese is okay as long as it's not a permanent meal substitute... when my friend's Sheltie was ill, it was recommended to her, not as a substitute for regular meals, but as a supplement. If you decide to give Henry dog food, do your homework and choose a quality one (which of course you will!). The puppy food recommendation below is really good. We leave a small bowl/saucer of dry treats (high quality kibble) in for him and he does nibble throughout the day. He'll be ship shape in no time.

[tcamp]

My dogs are not nibblers - they gobble up their meals quickly. See how Henry does. As for the cottage cheese, don't give him alot - a scant tablespoon mixed in with his food is fine. I wouldn't overload him with rich foods but he can probably tolerate a little bit to start if you want to put some pounds on him.

[coll]

Some brands of dog food sell what they call High Energy, it's formulated to keep weight on for active dogs but probably would work in your case too.

[DaisyM]

Thank you, everyone! I'm putting a shopping list together for him.

[sunshine842]

Good for you! Our rescue boy joins us in wishing you all much happiness and health.

Our boy (a black lab) was skin and bones when we adopted him -- and he'd been on double rations at the shelter for a couple of months (no, I don't really want to know what he looked like when they took him in). He'd been pitched out on the street in February (during a very harsh winter) and had a raging headcold (I had to wipe his poor drippy nose for days)...that, with the obligatory sterilisation, meant we had a really pathetic pooch for a while.

The vet told us to stick with the double rations...along with some egg, the odd bits of raw meat, and green beans (he loves his vegetables).

His appetite began to return as his health improved...and most importantly, as he began to realize that this home was his forever and there were people here who loved him. Some of it will just take time, as it will take him time to trust you and to learn that this is his safe, warm, dry home, and you are his loving people.

Today, that scrawny stray is a 52-kg (115-pound) hulk of a big black dog -- not fat, just a big, big boy -- with a thick silky coat, boundless energy, and an ornery streak a mile wide. We're not sure who's happier that he came into our lives.

[kengk]

I think your planned foods are good. Please don't go too far "fattening" him up. A Walker should be lean. The ones I had were extremely high drive dogs. i.e. when he gets back healthy he may roam a long, long, way if he gets loose.

[prima]

Scrambled eggs and rice.
Most dogs love carrots as treats, but too many carrots at once may give your dog the trots.

[sunshine842]

our vet said to be careful with carrots, as they are also extremely high in sugar, and can aggravate blood-sugar issues.

[mucho gordo]

Bruin loves them but, if given too many, they may come out the back end whole and undigested.

[pinehurst]

Daisy! We have a Treeing Walking Coonhound too--he's a senior citizen now and lovin' life! He too was from the South. If dogs are unwanted or "don't hunt", they're often disposed of/maltreated.

Walker Hounds have what our vet calls a "wasp waist" naturally, so they always look lean, even when the perfect weight (vet said she wanted Ben to be around 50 pounds, but individual builds vary, so yours might naturally run 5-10 lbs lighter or heavier).

Your new boy might also have kennel/canine cough...Walkers are particularly susceptible. Watch for that, because even if vaccinated, symptoms can present weeks later. That surpresses appetite. Also, when he first goes to the vet, get a thorough dental exam. Hounds get cavities more than other breeds, though Ben's been good!

Food: Ben is an omnivore. Introduce little bites to your guy. Ground beef/ rice is good for upset tummies or nervous tummies, but also try some plain chicken breast, too....they love it. Keep fresh water available in a place that will be "his" spot for water. Also, get some treats. No dog I've ever met doesn't love those freeze dried liver treats.

You'll find, as he gets comfy in his new home, that he'll get curious about what you're eating! Ben likes berries, yams, carrots, apple...all meats, too.

CONGRATULATIONS on the new baby! Walker hounds are cuddlers and lovers by nature, so if you have blankies/binkies he can burrow in, he'll like that, esp seeing as he's skin and bones now--a soft, warm surface will feel great!!!

THANK YOU for saving his life!

If you want to email me off the board, shoot me a line

[e-mail]

[tcamp]

Aw, how great that you're giving him a new chance. I have two rescue dogs. One has no issues gaining weight but the other was sick and needed to put on a few pounds. I incorporated a tablespoon of cottage cheese in his meals, along with mashed butternut squash, fish oil, and chopped chicken liver. These all appealed to his doggie taste buds and he gobbled up his food happily. He also got an occasional cube of cheese when we were cooking.

[pinehurst]

Yes! Full fat cottage cheese if he loves it---great not. And chicken liver, little treaties of that. Heck, I love those too. Cheese cubes are great for hiding pills, too.