Lab losing weight.

[angoraferret 0]

Not sure if i am in the right place with this but here is it...............

i have a 1 1/2 year old choc lab he has severe hip dysplasia we use intense hyrotherapy swims to keep the muscle on his hips and keep him pain free until eventually he will have his op.

My problem is the swims strip the weight of him and he is always lean, which in one respect is not a bad thing as extra weight on his hips won't do him any favours.

He is on skinners gundog food and aditional meat raw and tinned, but he gets very thin still, he is a bottomless pit and eats all table scraps going i don't know what else to try....................any suggestions would be great.

Oh he is up to date on his wormers too.

[Hannah4181 260]

I swim my dogs daily and it's amazing the weight they loose from it, i keep mine pretty fit and lean but if i ever need to put weight on them, i just increase their food. Mine are fed barf and so lamb breast and extra tripe normally puts the weight on.

 

I'd try just upping his regular food, but feed him more often, maybe 2/3 feeds a day.

 

Sardines in tomato sauce are fantastic for joints, my aunty has a chocolate lab with dysplasia, and after starting her on a can of sardines for breakfast she now has no drugs to treat the condition at all. Obviously this depends on the severity of the condition, but i can only see it helping.

 

Good luck, and a fantastic looking dog.

[angoraferret 0]

I swim my dogs daily and it's amazing the weight they loose from it, i keep mine pretty fit and lean but if i ever need to put weight on them, i just increase their food. Mine are fed barf and so lamb breast and extra tripe normally puts the weight on.

 

I'd try just upping his regular food, but feed him more often, maybe 2/3 feeds a day.

 

Sardines in tomato sauce are fantastic for joints, my aunty has a chocolate lab with dysplasia, and after starting her on a can of sardines for breakfast she now has no drugs to treat the condition at all. Obviously this depends on the severity of the condition, but i can only see it helping.

 

Good luck, and a fantastic looking dog.

Thanks, we do the sardine thing and tripe mix. He is free fed and eats an enormous amount i have tried all kinds of food from iams to bakers and now the skinners.

He has severe hips, his right has a flat socket and a mishapen ball joint they dont'y connect at all ,the left is just well out, he will be having the op at some point they are going to take the ball joints off entirely and the muscle will hold it all together until scar tisuue creats new joints.

HIs back end has no wieght on it at all his muscles are bunched and localised even with the swims.

[Doglost Co-Ordinator 4]

Only a thought but is he burning calories off keeping warm?? I've started put coat on the Saluki I have & the labx I have as she is getting on a bit & starts to stiffen up in this cold weather. They both have fleece coats. Sal is also putting weight on now.