Shannon Pedroni wrote 07/19/2011 08:16 PM underweight GSD #339109 - 07/19/2011 08:16 PM
Shannon Pedroni Webboard User Reg: 07-16-2011 Posts: 10 Loc: Offline	About 2 months ago I adopted a 2yo female GSD. I'm having a problem getting her to gain weight. I have her on a raw diet and feed her almost 2 lb. a day (that's almost 3% for an ideal body weight of 65lb). But she only weighs 50lbs and that number will not go up no matter how much I feed her. I know it's good for dogs to stay fairly thin/lean, but her hip bones are sticking out and I can feel all the ridges on her spine, as well as see/feel all of her ribs. Is this something I should be worried about? Other than her weight, she's healthy. She has a ton of energy, eyes are bright, etc.
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Betty Waldron wrote 07/19/2011 08:23 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Shannon Pedroni ] #339110 - 07/19/2011 08:23 PM
Betty Waldron Webboard User Reg: 07-11-2002 Posts: 2679 Loc: North Florida (Live Oak area) Offline	If she does not have loose stools or anything similar I would just adjust her food up. Some dogs need more food then others. Raw feeding can be tricky, if you are relatively new to it you might want to post a typical menu and some of the experts here may be able to give you suggestions. Betty (Waldron) Mathena http://www.littlerivercanine.com
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Melissa Hoyer wrote 07/19/2011 08:33 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Betty Waldron ] #339111 - 07/19/2011 08:33 PM
Melissa Hoyer Webboard User Reg: 05-09-2005 Posts: 1340 Loc: SE Michigan Offline	Give this link a quick scan: http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjepi.html Anything jump out at you?
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Connie Sutherland wrote 07/19/2011 09:08 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Shannon Pedroni ] #339115 - 07/19/2011 09:08 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Shannon Pedroni About 2 months ago I adopted a 2yo female GSD. I'm having a problem getting her to gain weight. I have her on a raw diet and feed her almost 2 lb. a day (that's almost 3% for an ideal body weight of 65lb). But she only weighs 50lbs and that number will not go up no matter how much I feed her. I know it's good for dogs to stay fairly thin/lean, but her hip bones are sticking out and I can feel all the ridges on her spine, as well as see/feel all of her ribs. Is this something I should be worried about? Other than her weight, she's healthy. She has a ton of energy, eyes are bright, etc. Please post a typical day's food, with weights and types of RMBs. Also, can we see photos (like at a Photobucket-type site), one from the side at her level and one from above with her standing? Just to give us an idea .... Was she the same weight when you adopted her? Or has it gone down? Does she have normal log poops?
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Debbie Bruce wrote 07/19/2011 10:21 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #339122 - 07/19/2011 10:21 PM
Debbie Bruce Webboard User Reg: 08-23-2007 Posts: 1196 Loc: Centralia, Missouri Offline	How much will she eat if you offer her all she wants? Are you including fat as part of her diet? They gain much better with some fat in the diet, rather than just a whole lot of protein.
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Shannon Pedroni wrote 07/20/2011 01:36 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Debbie Bruce ] #339149 - 07/20/2011 01:36 PM
Shannon Pedroni Webboard User Reg: 07-16-2011 Posts: 10 Loc: Offline	I'll see about getting the pictures. She was this weight when I adopted her - her weight hasn't gone down at all. Typically her meals look like this: 60% RMB (chicken necks & chicken backs) 20% grount turkey 10 - 15% organ meat 5% veggie mix Her poops are weird. Most days she has normal log poop, but then randomly she poops VERY soft, light colored logs that barely hold a shape to them (if at all). I had some diahhrea issues with her when I first switched her over to raw, but most of that has gone away since I started adding probiotics to her food. Melissa, thanks for that link. She doesn't look as bad as those dogs in the pictures, and she hasn't actually lost any weight. Debbie, I don't ever offer her all she wants. Like I said, I feed her about 2 pounds a day, aprox 1 pound per meal. I don't have a lot of fat her diet right now ... I'll try adding a little.
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Betty Waldron wrote 07/20/2011 01:44 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Shannon Pedroni ] #339151 - 07/20/2011 01:44 PM
Betty Waldron Webboard User Reg: 07-11-2002 Posts: 2679 Loc: North Florida (Live Oak area) Offline	I think I read that you have only had her for a couple of months and that she is a rescue? Has she been to the vet for a fecal to rule out parasites? Betty (Waldron) Mathena http://www.littlerivercanine.com
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Connie Sutherland wrote 07/20/2011 02:30 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Betty Waldron ] #339157 - 07/20/2011 02:30 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Betty Waldron I think I read that you have only had her for a couple of months and that she is a rescue? Has she been to the vet for a fecal to rule out parasites? Ditto. Giardia?
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Melissa Hoyer wrote 07/20/2011 02:32 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Betty Waldron ] #339158 - 07/20/2011 02:32 PM
Melissa Hoyer Webboard User Reg: 05-09-2005 Posts: 1340 Loc: SE Michigan Offline	Your diet is too bone heavy IMO. Maybe try adding some additional muscle meat. I prefer a 40-50% RMB (with about 10% of the *whole* diet being bone), 10% OM, and the rest being muscle meats. I also feed a lot of chickens as RMB, but try to add lots of variety in other areas. Here is some more good info: http://dogaware.com/diet/homemade.html#raw She doesn't have gas, stomach noises, etc? Just occasional soft, light stool?
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Shannon Pedroni wrote 07/20/2011 04:17 PM Re: underweight GSD [Re: Melissa Hoyer ] #339165 - 07/20/2011 04:17 PM
Shannon Pedroni Webboard User Reg: 07-16-2011 Posts: 10 Loc: Offline	Yes, she's been to the vet and they did a fecal test and said she came out clean ... I don't know what kinds of parasites they normally check for, though. Not to sound stupid, but what is Giardia? Melissa, thanks for the info. I'll reduce the amount of bone & add more muscle meat. No, she doesn't have any gas or stomach noises, etc. She seems perfectly healthy except that she's too skinny and her occasional soft, light poops.
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