Skinny dog

[sparklemom]

I just adopted a 4-year-old female Rottie from the pound about a month ago. She was obviously quite malnourished. She looked like a greyhound when I first got her, only weighed 50 pounds. I've been feeding her Eukanuba Large Breed with a tiny bit of canned mixed in (otherwise she wouldn't eat at all when i first got her). Now she's up to 60 pounds, but is still very thin. Everybody thinks she's a Doberman, she has that sort of shape. She doesn't seem to be putting on any more weight. She is otherwise healthy and normal. Should I even worry?

[Carina43]

Daphne was very emaciated young adult when I got her from the pound a year ago. She weighed 48lbs, her spine & hipbones were very prominent. It took her several months to reach 70lbs, and she is still very slim - I can see her ribs slightly. And she eats a ton - more than my biggest boy! Vet concurs - she's healthy' just a slimly built Rottie. Maybe yours is the same build.

I'd give her a little more time...maybe add some sardines in oil to her food 1-2 times per week...some lightly scrambled eggs, cooked ground beef, etc. There's much better kibbles you can be feeding too, check other discussions. ;)

[Greg_1111]

Sparklemom, I agree with Carina, give it some more time, she has already gained 20 lbs. since you rescued her. Mine was losing wight on Eukanuba large breed puppy food, she just didn't like it. It was like pulling teeth to get her to eat it after about the first month. I switched her to Canidae, and she always gobbles it up. I have actually had to cut back on the amount I feed her now because she was getting a bit chubby lol. Also, the Canidae is a much better food. treats help add bulk too.

[sparklemom]

Thanks so much for your replies. I have been reading about other food types on the other boards and Canidae keeps coming up. Do you know where I can get it? I live in the 'burbs so PetSmart and PetCo are pretty much my only choices.

[Silver]

If you have a Pet Supplies Plus near you I know they carry it, at least in my area they just started stocking it. Before I had to special order it through them.

[JD102175]

We feed Nutro Natural Large Breed which can be found at Petsmart and Petco. Although it is not a Super Premium food like Canidae, Wellness, or Innova it is still better than Science Diet, IAMS, and Eukanuba. We pay about $32 for a 40lb bag(PetsMart is usually a little cheaper than Petco in my experience). Brodie is fed 2.5 cups twice a day. We are always getting compliments on how healthy he looks and how shiny his coat is.


Jaime

P.S. If you go to Canidae's website they do have a store locater function that will help you find a distributor in your area.

Canidae Web Page

[spidey]

I agree about switching foods - some dogs don't do well on some foods.

Are you sure that she's full Rottie? Is it possible that she's got Dobie or something lightly-built in her? Some dogs are just built that way - as I'm sure you know, you should feed to achieve a healthy look (ribs palpable, waist visible, etc), rather than a "Rottie look", if you know what I mean. Good for you for adopting her, enjoy her. :)

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by sparklemom
Thanks so much for your replies. I have been reading about other food types on the other boards and Canidae keeps coming up. Do you know where I can get it? I live in the 'burbs so PetSmart and PetCo are pretty much my only choices.

PetCo sells Royal Canin Sensible Choice Natural Blend, which is what I feed. Coats look good, all five dogs love it, and there are petCo's everywhere so finding it isn't an issue ;). Natures Recipe is a decent food, as is Nutro Natural Choice.

Eukaneuba and Iams are now commercially available (grocery stores) so ingredient quality has declined bigtime...and Science Diet...ugh! My vet SELLS Science Diet and told me he wouldn't even donate the food to the rescue!!

[spidey]

I thought Eukanuba and Iams (same company) had declined because Iams was bought out by a bigger company (Procter & Gamble?) which wanted to sell in grocery stores, and not because the Iams company itself decided to go commerical, no?

The Iams brands used to be great (when they were made by Iams), now, not so much. But I think Iams is still preferable to most Purina brands and Science Diet - if those were my only choices I'd pick an Iams brand or the higher-end Purina ones.

[Greg_1111]

If you can't get Canidae,, Royal Canin is also a very good food. I haave been told this by many people. I had mine on Sensible choice from 6 weeks to four months then switched to Royal Canin. She didn't like the taste of Royal Canin so I switched her to Eukanuba (still don't know why I did it, was trying to find a food that she would eat). Then I finally ended up on Canidae which she just love. So Sensible choice and Royal Canin which are both made by the same company are both good choices (Royal Canin is the more premium food of the two)

[sparklemom]

She had purebred papers when I adopted her. But then, she also came from people who didn't feed her and kept her chained up in the backyard, so who knows how real those papers are. I personally couldn't care less if she's was half Chihuahua, I just want to make sure she's healthy.

I tried Nutro, but she wouldn't touch it. Ended up with a 40 pound paperweight.

[JD102175]

I thought Eukanuba and Iams (same company) had declined because Iams was bought out by a bigger company (Procter & Gamble?) which wanted to sell in grocery stores, and not because the Iams company itself decided to go commerical, no?

IAMS and Eukanuba was bought by P&G(Procter & Gamble) a few years ago. They have since changed the original formula.


Jaime

[spidey]

Thanks Jaime, that's what I thought. :) What a shame, it used to be one of the best foods on the market. :(

[Greg_1111]

SOme places will let you bring the food back and give you a refund if your dog doesn't like it.

[Major]

Originally posted by Greg_1111
SOme places will let you bring the food back and give you a refund if your dog doesn't like it.

Or you can give it (the remainder) to your local animal shelter. They are always in need of food donations and it doesn't matter what brand it is.