skinny lurcher

[steve0146 0]

I have a two year old deerhound cross. He has never been the stockiest build and we always thought as he got older he would put on weight and bulk up. He looks really skinny now, I can feel all his spine and ribs and can see his hips clearly. He has a lovely glossy coat and loads of energy but just looks so skinny. He is fed a mix of veg, bones, raw meat, chicken etc and Doctor Johns dry food.

 

Any ideas how to bulk him up?

[sh 08 17]

keep him off the doctor johns mate (jmo) when was the last time he was wormed and what is he x with

[steve0146 0]

He was wormed last month but not for a few months before that. He dad was pure deerhound and mum a collie cross. She was a broad dog though. Why not Doc Johns?

[rebel2009 20]

he isnt in any pain in any way his he as weight will drop off him if the injury is nigling him only other thing is worms or have you got a bitch that is broke down atb with the dog

[sandymere 8,263]

Do you find the dog empties the bowl each meal or is it a picky eater?

If there are no underlying health problems then it's a matter of calories in against energy used. Basically it it eats more calories than it burns then the extra will be stored and add bulk. Protein and carbs are around the same calories pound for pound but fat is about double so you can increase the fat/oil in the diet and it won't add to much bulk to the meal while giving extra calories that will add bulk to the body, a piece of lard or a little veg oil daily for a few weeks if it's fussy or if its a pig just increase the total amount.

[dave a 24]

I have a two year old deerhound cross. He has never been the stockiest build and we always thought as he got older he would put on weight and bulk up. He looks really skinny now, I can feel all his spine and ribs and can see his hips clearly. He has a lovely glossy coat and loads of energy but just looks so skinny. He is fed a mix of veg, bones, raw meat, chicken etc and Doctor Johns dry food.

 

Any ideas how to bulk him up?

if the dog is wormed and eating well but still losing weight and skinny might be worth a trip to the vet,i had a lurcher bitch with the same problem a few years ago and it was a kidney problem was the cause.

[waidmann 105]

is he a nervous dog in general? anxiety can cause the dog to expend energy at an alarming rate.

 

otherwise as above,if wormed then lots of meat and fat while keeping exercise the same should increase the body/fat ratio untill he has a little in reserve and then start increasing exercise and calorie intake.

 

atb

 

waidmann

[Born Hunter 17,841]

Might he have some saluki in you dont know of???