hard keeper foster dog

[horsenut_8700]

I have recently acquired a new foster dog. He’s a little over a year and appears to be a field bred springer spaniel. At 36# he is on the very lean side, and I’d prefer to see him in the 40-42# range. He was treated for whipworm in July and has been on interceptor since.

In his previous foster home he was eating a Purina food; I have switched him over to Earthborn Holistics Primitive that I feed my girls. He is currently getting about 3.5 cups/day, which is about twice what my larger Labs get!

I did treat him with Panacur again when I took him, and he is getting various treats and frozen Kongs throughout the day. Do these dogs just have insane calorie requirements? Or is there something more calorie dense any of you recommend?

[S1969]

No, they don’t have insane caloric requirements, but I wouldn’t expect to see massive results in only a few days, either. It should take a few months to put 6 lbs on him safely.

That said, my dogs would eat 3.5 cups of food a day also, if I would let them. They would not appear full or anything other than starving, and they are not.

So I’m not sure what your question is – is he getting enough? I don’t know…because I don’t know the food. Is he hungry? Probably not, if the food amount is appropriate, but he might still act like he is…because of his history, and maybe his breed.

How thin is he? Some field dogs are just lean; and that’s not a bad thing. (Pictures just for fun, too!)

[horsenut_8700]

He’s been in foster since November with no weight gain. The amount the previous foster was feeding and what I am is equivalent calorie wise and should have been more than adequate for weight gain, it’s almost twice as much as the recommended amount for his weight.

He’s an enthusiastic eater, but nothing like the Labs. It just amazes me that much 60# dog is eating half as much to maintain good bodyweight and he’s a 4/9.

[Nezzy]

teaspoon of Cocnut oil in the meal. my terrier female was skinny for 3 years. vet suggested coconut oil and it has helped a lot.

[JBD]

Can you add a mid day meal?

[horsenut_8700]

I’d have to have my dog walker (my sister) add in a 3rd meal, which may be difficult. He does get an xl Kong stuffed with wet food mid day

[S1969]

Well, just like all the horse feeding threads - it’s really impossible to know if that’s a lot or a little of that food unless you are familiar with it…and comparing a growing rescue dog with adult labs isn’t really a fair comparison…they might be the type you have to work to keep food off, rather than the other way around.

I have a friend with a hard-keeper Brittany and he is also picky. He has done best on Purine Pro Plan Sport - he did not do well at all on any of the grain-free foods, and wouldn’t even eat many of them. So, just because this food is good for your labs; it might not be for him.

But I would also reevaluate the necessary weight gain - it’s possible that 42lbs is just more than he would need and it would be hard to get to that amount.

I’d probably have a fecal run on him just to double check as well.

[LauraKY]

Whip worms can be tough to get rid of. I agree with S1969, I would rerun the fecal.

I have three dogs, They all get the same amount of food…a little over 3 cups a day. One is an 85 lb lab, a 62 lb. collie and a 59 lb coonhound. They all get the same amount of exercise. Go figure. He may need more because he’s still young.

[S1969]

PS would love to see the picture - liver colored dogs of my breed (Brittany) are often confused with “field bred” Springers.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=horsenut_8700;8507081]
I have recently acquired a new foster dog. He’s a little over a year and appears to be a field bred springer spaniel. At 36# he is on the very lean side, and I’d prefer to see him in the 40-42# range. He was treated for whipworm in July and has been on interceptor since.
…Or is there something more calorie dense any of you recommend?[/QUOTE]

I’ve gone through a few rounds of this recently with adolescent Border Collies from various rescue-type backgrounds.

1. It takes time to add weight correctly. You want to add muscle, not fat.

2. Are you SURE he needs to gain 6lbs?

2b) Everyone gasped after laying hands on the dog I adopted. My vet was completely non-nonchalant and, after a couple months, thought his weight was fine for his specs.

To answer your question about something more calorie dense: satin balls. This recipe has floated around in the show world for years and years. Most show dogs need more weight to do well in the confo ring. Think show hunters. <ducking and running>

[Bicoastal]

A fun read about showing fat dogs, from Praire Dobe Companion blog two years ago after the glaringly obese Lab took Westminster.

I’m not immune to the fat show dog issue. When I show my dogs at a healthy weight, they lose. My time and money is wasted, and in no way does that help me improve my breed or reputation. I follow orders; I put 5-10 extra pounds on my show dogs during the show season. But that weight comes off when we’re done showing, because we have better things to do than be fat.

[Altermyne]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;8510126]
I’ve gone through a few rounds of this recently with adolescent Border Collies from various rescue-type backgrounds.

1. It takes time to add weight correctly. You want to add muscle, not fat.

2. Are you SURE he needs to gain 6lbs?

2b) Everyone gasped after laying hands on the dog I adopted. My vet was completely non-nonchalant and, after a couple months, thought his weight was fine for his specs.

To answer your question about something more calorie dense: satin balls. This recipe has floated around in the show world for years and years. Most show dogs need more weight to do well in the confo ring. Think show hunters. <ducking and running>[/QUOTE]

just be careful of the satin balls. They are extremely high in fat and can cause pancreatitis (?sp). Start slowly.

[cswoodlandfairy]

Random question, but what is his stool like?

My dog lost a lot of weight and was getting an insane amount of food. However she had very soft stool or #3 problems. She ate like it was going out of style!! We found out that she had EPI, which basically means her body does not make the enzymes needed to absorb and digest the food. Once we got her on some enzymes and a specific diet she gained 30+ lbs in nearly 3 weeks! She now eats a normal amount of food, weighs great and no longer have stool issues.

[horsenut_8700]

His fecal is negative. I had the vet I work with calculate what should be maintenance calories for me this weekend. According to our math he should need ~1000kcal/day to maintain. He’s been getting 1500kcal/day or more since November.
S1969- I am comparing him to my Lab of similar age and size (she’s actually MUCH higher in energy level than he is)

I do think a lot of his issue is a lack of muscle, and I am basing the amount of weight needed off what my vet told me. He is too lean for my tastes and I keep my dogs lean and fit. I can feel/see all his ribs and hip bones.

I think we’ve made a little progress. I was petting him while we were laying in bed this morning and I think there seems to be a little more of a fat layer over his bones. Hopefully once he fills out I won’t have to feed him so much!

I’ll try to find some pictures/videos. He moves a lot so photography is difficult and his head is all black so he often blends into the background.

https://www.facebook.com/amy.chickering.7/videos/10153877703714715/

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153883436364715&set=pb.651714714.-2207520000.1454362278.&type=3&size=540%2C960

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153883660274715&set=pb.651714714.-2207520000.1454362278.&type=3&size=960%2C540

[S1969]

It’s really hard to tell from those pics; my first impression of the video was that he was fat! But then I could see his ribs which looked lean but not skinny…so I thought it looked ok. The other pictures are cute though.

I will say that I don’t think he’s a springer. I’d say he’s a pointer or pointer mix Pointers are often colored with a solid head and different body…possibly pointer and setter? A point-setter? :winkgrin: Not that it really matters, of course.

[horsenut_8700]

S1969 are you in the market for a cute little dude like him?
He is very bouncy like Tigger, but very sweet and cuddly too if anyone is looking in the New England region! He’s certainly keeping my girls on their toes. The old lady has even given in and plays with him on occasion.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=horsenut_8700;8511129]
S1969 are you in the market for a cute little dude like him?
He is very bouncy like Tigger, but very sweet and cuddly too if anyone is looking in the New England region! He’s certainly keeping my girls on their toes. The old lady has even given in and plays with him on occasion.[/QUOTE]

No, sorry - I have 4 dogs including a 6 month old puppy! No room for any more. But, if you have a website I would share it on my Facebook page. Have you tried to cross-list him with breed rescues? Most of them will list mixes too.

[horsenut_8700]

I don’t have a website, it was more of an impulse situation to take him in. I will be looking for breed rescues to list him with soon. I also have some feelers out with various people, including my daycare/training facility. And if no one wants him, at least he’s not too big of a pain in the butt! We do have to work on our doggie zen and impulse control however

[stargzng386]

I would try a good couple of weeks on a good probiotic. His system might just need some help getting back to normal from wherever he came from.

[horsenut_8700]

He’s been on a good probiotic since I got him. Everyone else all ready gets it, so what was one more? lol