blackstaff 488 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Now the season is coming up i'm about to start putting some decent time into the dogs to get them semi ready for fun and games. When my 3 start to have time put into them i find it very hard to keep the weight on so i give them more food ( Mainly a bit more barf with there kibble ) along with porridge to keep them up to scratch. I've heard people use all sorts of things to keep weight / put weight on a dog just wondered what if anything others use or even if they have this with there dogs ? Cheers blackstaff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BULLDOUG 199 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Why would you want weight on a dog? a well exercised dog thats on a good barf will look slim with good muscle defenition, i would be happy with that mate. I increase the the meat when working for obvious reasons, also i find chicken wings good to feed through the day as an extra as they are perfect meat to bone ratio with the fat for good measure. ATB D 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stabs 3 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Now the season is coming up i'm about to start putting some decent time into the dogs to get them semi ready for fun and games. When my 3 start to have time put into them i find it very hard to keep the weight on so i give them more food ( Mainly a bit more barf with there kibble ) along with porridge to keep them up to scratch. I've heard people use all sorts of things to keep weight / put weight on a dog just wondered what if anything others use or even if they have this with there dogs ? Cheers blackstaff I use beef neck or roo for a low fat diet Lamb for during the season with a lot of chicken too, sometimes a bit of pork Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blan89 159 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 porridge sounds like a way to put weight on a dog. some lurchers lose too much weight if they're not plied with food,my old lurcher was very nervous/anxious all the time and had a poor coat,so in winter he needed a lot of food. the missus used to give him all sorts when i wasnt there but he still looked too thin most mornings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
weasle 1,119 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 If you get scraps from the butchers,there will be a lot of fat on it,a handfull of it ill put weight back on over night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,173 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Why would you want to feed a dog porridge? The only reason I would add oats (porridge) to a dog's diet is if it was lacking in carbohydrates, which animals need for slow release energy, but dogs don't use carbs as well as humans do. If you are feeding a cheap kibble (complete) then the dog is already getting a lot of cereals, so adding porridge is pointless. Protein and fat are what is needed for a dog which is using a lot of energy. Meat and fat is where the dog should be getting the bulk of its food from. Meat as protein for building muscle (along with exercise obviously) and fat as the first and best energy source for dog. Lose the porridge, increase the meat and fat. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fieldsman 51 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 I get pork trotters from my butcher free they are full of fat and the dogs love em .Some times i cook them and add them to a complete food My dogs only put weight on in the close season.A dog I used to own looked like an add for the RSPCA I could never put a back on her but she could run all night I would"nt worry to much unless your dog seems to tire quickly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sirius 1,391 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) Certain food types will be more use than others and protein and fat are ideal. The bit to remember is that its al about volume eaten and how the dog uses that food, so feeding several small meals is far better to encourage weight as the dog will use this far more efficiently. Edited August 16, 2011 by Sirius Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graham4877 1,181 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Feed mine alpha racer with a bit butter and fat in! then meat off cuts! i have to split meals, as once a day was just no good for her, when we eat, we can only take so much Protein in, think it's only 24g at a time, the rest of it we just shit out! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sandymere 8,263 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Fat has around double the calories of protein or carbs so a little added will have a bigger effect and the addition of the extra oils may help the coat, vegetable oils are likely best for this. It comes down to calories burned against calories consumed. Oats have been mentioned, these are a good source of carbs, protein and fat, very useful if feeding a high meat diet and with a round 50/50 soluble to insoluble fibre will aid the digestive process, very useful if feeding a high meat diet. If feeding a complete without meat I’d not bother but for mixed feeders on high meat days there’re ideal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,173 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Sandy: why do you say that vegetable oil is better than animal fat when it comes to adding calories for dogs? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Attack Fell Terrier 864 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Vegetable oil? I give them Cod Liver Oil but never gave them Vegetable Oil. Not sure I would either? Unless I can be convinced. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blackstaff 488 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) Thanks everyone for your positive replies The reason i'm wanting to put some weight on is as soon as i work the dogs they start to look really thin, no matter what i feed them.I don't want to bulk them up, just stop them imo looking too thin. I have always fed twice a day as i feel the dogs get more out of it than just once a day. The reason i feed porridge is that a long while ago i spoke to my vet and he said feeding a couple of spoons every couple of days with their kibble will put weight on a dog without fail ? It has worked for me hence i know of this method. Plus i feed a very good kibble ( Barking Heads ) which has always been good and i've never had any probs with their coats / stools / energy etc. They do get Barf 3/4 times a week so tend to just top up their dinners then. On the plus side they never seem to get tired and always are ready to carry on. Maybe i'm just being a bit over fussy ? I'll take my camera out in a bit when i walk them and get some pics. Maybe you can see if i'm being over cautious. It could possibly be the fact that i'm used to looking at staffords / AM Bulldogs and the like that i feel mine look skinny. Thanks again, be back later with some pics Edited August 16, 2011 by blackstaff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mac 30 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Anyone that gives their dogs , cod liver oil etc give salmon oil a try, its got great properties and many positive's for your dog. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BULLDOUG 199 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Thanks everyone for your positive replies The reason i'm wanting to put some weight on is as soon as i work the dogs they start to look really thin, no matter what i feed them.I don't want to bulk them up, just stop them imo looking too thin. I have always fed twice a day as i feel the dogs get more out of it than just once a day. The reason i feed porridge is that a long while ago i spoke to my vet and he said feeding a couple of spoons every couple of days with their kibble will put weight on a dog without fail ? It has worked for me hence i know of this method. Plus i feed a very good kibble ( Barking Heads ) which has always been good and i've never had any probs with their coats / stools / energy etc. They do get Barf 3/4 times a week so tend to just top up their dinners then. On the plus side they never seem to get tired and always are ready to carry on. Maybe i'm just being a bit over fussy ? I'll take my camera out in a bit when i walk them and get some pics. Maybe you can see if i'm being over cautious. It could possibly be the fact that i'm used to looking at staffords / AM Bulldogs and the like that i feel mine look skinny. Thanks again, be back later with some pics Look forward to them mate We lost a very fit Saluki x a while ago for the whole night (took off after Bambi) anyhow when we picked her up the following day she looked like a bag of bones, good to make sure theres a nights or two's of fat over on dog, a very good point ATB D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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