Difference between revisions of "Fatten Up a Dog"
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#*Be sure to monitor the dog who is underweight, so that you can find any issues that might be easy to fix. For example, if you have several dogs, the answer can be as simple as the other dogs stealing your underweight dog's food. | #*Be sure to monitor the dog who is underweight, so that you can find any issues that might be easy to fix. For example, if you have several dogs, the answer can be as simple as the other dogs stealing your underweight dog's food. | ||
#Assess the overall health of your dog. All kinds of illnesses can interfere with the body's ability to process food and get the goodness out of it, leading to weight loss. If this is the case, the dog will almost certainly show some signs including decreased appetite, increased thirst, lack of energy, vomiting, diarrhea, or a change of body shape. | #Assess the overall health of your dog. All kinds of illnesses can interfere with the body's ability to process food and get the goodness out of it, leading to weight loss. If this is the case, the dog will almost certainly show some signs including decreased appetite, increased thirst, lack of energy, vomiting, diarrhea, or a change of body shape. | ||
| − | #*Conditions that can cause weight loss include lack of pancreatic enzymes, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.<ref>Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson & Couto. Publisher: Mosby</ref> | + | #*Conditions that can cause weight loss include lack of pancreatic enzymes, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.<ref name="rf1">Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson & Couto. Publisher: Mosby</ref> |
#*Again, if you notice any of these symptoms then a vet check is for the best. | #*Again, if you notice any of these symptoms then a vet check is for the best. | ||
| − | #Get your dog checked by a veterinarian. If you suspect your dog is ill, or if you notice unexplained weight loss, it's best to consult a vet. If your dog suddenly has a poor appetite for no reason, it's also best to consult a professional before the problem gets out of control. Once the vet gives the all clear, and you know you just have a fussy dog, then there are a variety of strategies that can help improve its appetite.<ref | + | #Get your dog checked by a veterinarian. If you suspect your dog is ill, or if you notice unexplained weight loss, it's best to consult a vet. If your dog suddenly has a poor appetite for no reason, it's also best to consult a professional before the problem gets out of control. Once the vet gives the all clear, and you know you just have a fussy dog, then there are a variety of strategies that can help improve its appetite.<ref name="rf1" /> |
===Adjusting the Amount of Calories You Give Your Dog=== | ===Adjusting the Amount of Calories You Give Your Dog=== | ||
#Check your dog's actual weight against the breed's ideal weight. It easy to think that a pet is underweight, whereas the reality could be that he is just less heavy than an obese dog of the same breed that you happen to know. Maybe your dog is actually fine, but it's the other dog that is too fat! | #Check your dog's actual weight against the breed's ideal weight. It easy to think that a pet is underweight, whereas the reality could be that he is just less heavy than an obese dog of the same breed that you happen to know. Maybe your dog is actually fine, but it's the other dog that is too fat! | ||
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#*Feed this for 2 -3 days and check the dog doesn't have diarrhea, at which point you can add another 10% and so on. | #*Feed this for 2 -3 days and check the dog doesn't have diarrhea, at which point you can add another 10% and so on. | ||
#Gradually increase the amount of food you feed your dog. Suddenly feeding way more food is a recipe for disturbing the balance of the bowel and causing diarrhea. Much safer is to gradually increase the portion size and monitor the dog's toilet to make sure it is coping. | #Gradually increase the amount of food you feed your dog. Suddenly feeding way more food is a recipe for disturbing the balance of the bowel and causing diarrhea. Much safer is to gradually increase the portion size and monitor the dog's toilet to make sure it is coping. | ||
| − | #*If the difference in ration is not large, then divide the extra between two meals. If the difference is large, then adding in an extra meal (rather than making the existing ones larger) will be more gentle on the bowel.<ref | + | #*If the difference in ration is not large, then divide the extra between two meals. If the difference is large, then adding in an extra meal (rather than making the existing ones larger) will be more gentle on the bowel.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*If the dog gets diarrhea it is then losing precious nutrition and so your efforts are for nothing. | #*If the dog gets diarrhea it is then losing precious nutrition and so your efforts are for nothing. | ||
=== Changing Your Dog’s Diet === | === Changing Your Dog’s Diet === | ||
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=== Addressing Your Dog's Basic Health === | === Addressing Your Dog's Basic Health === | ||
#Give your dog vitamin supplements. The B vitamins are mainly involved in enzyme systems that increase your dog’s appetite, and in energy metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. In short, they ease the conversion of energy sources like fats, proteins and carbohydrates into energy, providing your pet the energy needed for growth and maintenance. The excess energy brought about by the increase in appetite and consumption will then be converted to fats and will prevent muscle catabolism, or wasting. | #Give your dog vitamin supplements. The B vitamins are mainly involved in enzyme systems that increase your dog’s appetite, and in energy metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. In short, they ease the conversion of energy sources like fats, proteins and carbohydrates into energy, providing your pet the energy needed for growth and maintenance. The excess energy brought about by the increase in appetite and consumption will then be converted to fats and will prevent muscle catabolism, or wasting. | ||
| − | #*The best B-complex vitamins include Pet-Tabs® and LC-Vit®. <ref>http://www.petsmart.com/dog/vitamins-supplements/cat-36-catid-100060)</ref> Be sure to follow the directions on the packaging. | + | #*The best B-complex vitamins include Pet-Tabs® and LC-Vit®. <ref name="rf2">http://www.petsmart.com/dog/vitamins-supplements/cat-36-catid-100060)</ref> Be sure to follow the directions on the packaging. |
#*For puppies, it is recommended that you use liquid multivitamins like LC-Vit® (3ml daily). | #*For puppies, it is recommended that you use liquid multivitamins like LC-Vit® (3ml daily). | ||
#*Another option is to bring your dog to a vet and have her given a shot of B-complex vitamins, if you do not have time to give it daily vitamin supplements. The regime is one injection, once a week for four weeks. If the dog's appetite has not improved at the end of this time, then further injections are unlikely to be beneficial. | #*Another option is to bring your dog to a vet and have her given a shot of B-complex vitamins, if you do not have time to give it daily vitamin supplements. The regime is one injection, once a week for four weeks. If the dog's appetite has not improved at the end of this time, then further injections are unlikely to be beneficial. | ||
| − | #De-worm your dog with de-wormer medication. It is sensible to regularly deworm your dog because worms compete for food in the dog's bowel and cause poor body condition, silently sucking the nutrition out of your dog. Perversely, a dog with a heavy worm burden is likely to have a potbelly, but the bones of the ribs and hips lose fat cover and become stark.<ref | + | #De-worm your dog with de-wormer medication. It is sensible to regularly deworm your dog because worms compete for food in the dog's bowel and cause poor body condition, silently sucking the nutrition out of your dog. Perversely, a dog with a heavy worm burden is likely to have a potbelly, but the bones of the ribs and hips lose fat cover and become stark.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #*Choose a broad spectrum de-wormer that can cover all types of worms. Praziquantel (Canex®) is a good example of a broad spectrum de-wormer. <ref>https://www.zoetis.com.au/products/340/canexreg.aspx</ref> | + | #*Choose a broad spectrum de-wormer that can cover all types of worms. Praziquantel (Canex®) is a good example of a broad spectrum de-wormer. <ref name="rf3">https://www.zoetis.com.au/products/340/canexreg.aspx</ref> |
#*Canex® for Medium Sized Dogs can be used at a dose of 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of body weight. Canex ® for Large Sized dogs can be used at a dose of 1 tablet per 20 kilograms of body weight. For smaller dogs, half a tablet of Canex® for Medium Sized dogs can be used. | #*Canex® for Medium Sized Dogs can be used at a dose of 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of body weight. Canex ® for Large Sized dogs can be used at a dose of 1 tablet per 20 kilograms of body weight. For smaller dogs, half a tablet of Canex® for Medium Sized dogs can be used. | ||
#*If it’s the first time that you will de-worm your dog, you can do it three times with a two week interval. From the first time on, de-worming can be done every six months to one year. | #*If it’s the first time that you will de-worm your dog, you can do it three times with a two week interval. From the first time on, de-worming can be done every six months to one year. | ||
