Getting a starving dog to gain weight

[Kato]

Ohhh my..... heartworm treatment alone can be dangerous, even to a healthy dog. The murmur is a worry too.

We just had the first heartworm positive dog in our area this year. So far it's always been a problem in other parts of the province, but those days are over. Our dogs have been on a prevention program for a couple of years, and this spring when I heard about the positive one, I was glad they were. I guess it was only a matter of time before it got here.

Being a German Shepherd owner myself, I'm sure hoping this works out for you. They are such wonderful dogs.

[hiptfarms]

Try nutracal or a similar high calorie supplement. It is available at Jeffers or other cataloga like valley vet. I worked for six months at a local animal shelter and we used it to help orphaned and malnourished animals.

[Katy]

I also have a German Shepherd. The best way to put on weight is to feed him raw meat balls, along with raw chicken quarters, bones and all about a pound each for 3 meals a day. After a couple of weeks you can add more beef, pork or fish to the diet. I also feed a fish oil cap daily, great for the heart muscle.

Recipe for meat balls:

5 lbs ground beef
3 lbs ground turkey
12 raw eggs, with shells crushed
1 lb organ meat, chopped chicken livers, gizzards and hearts
3 tbs of probiotic powder, from health food store or your vet.

Mix together, place a scoop full into cupcake pans and freeze. Pop out and feed frozen or thawed as a treat or with meals. I keep this mix in zip lock bags in my freezer.

Good luck with getting this guy on the road to health. The probibiotics will help his immune system. You also might want to add some digestive enzymes to his diet. Nzymes.com has some great products.

With a raw diet you will notice a huge difference in his health within a week. Shiny coat, smaller, formed stools, white teeth and more energy. All of our dogs are on a raw diet of 80% raw meat 10% organs and 10% bones. We also feed small amounts of fat and vegetables too. Google BARF or raw diets. It's what nature intended canines to eat.

If a raw diet seems out of the question for you, please feed a premium quality kibble without any grains. Most grocery store dog food is full of grain fillers. Eagle Pac makes an excellent kibble for large breed dogs.

[OldDog/NewTricks]

[MJ808]

Update: looked on some links and saw that about 30% fat is acceptable and recommended for debilitated dogs, since canines use fat for energy more than carbs, unlike humans. He will eat the chicken skin if I leave it on and hamburger. He is starting to pick up,.. brought him to the vet today, looks like he will make weight soon and we can get that worm out of him. Thanks all who contrubuted!

[cedardell]

If he was mine I'd try giving him raw liver treats. If he'll eat that mix a little raw meat and blood in his food. I'd also try to get him to eat some probiotic or youghart. You could also click on sled dog central and ask them. I think sled dog people know more about canine nutrition than the dog food companies. When they cook the food it takes some valuable nutrients out of it, especially enzymes. On the other hand heartworms are devestating, so good luck!!!