OT dog food questions

[Torsornin]

here is the deal. I am watching 2 GSD who is between a rock and a hard place.
She feeds Pedigree large breed. It isnt the best food. Lately she has been having trouble affording dog food - so the local shelter gives her some - problem is it is whatever they have on hand.

She has agreed to provide their food and any vet care etc while under my care.

Her 1 year old GSD intact male - well he is just a little to thin. And he is persnickety. I feed the dogs twice a day. He doesn't want to eat at that time - or will take a few bites and go on. He wants to eat throughout the day - which really isn't possible here, I cant even break his meals into 3 at this time due to the other dogs that are here.

What can I safely top dress his food with that will add some calories, help his coat a bit and encourage him to eat all his meal right then?

The last 2 meals I have drizzled about a tbsp of olive oil over it and that worked - But I don't know if that is the way to go all the time.

I don't want to buy canned dog food  as that can get expensive and I don't really want to put a lot of $ into a dog that isn't mine as I really cant afford it at this time as I am unemployed.

If it was a horse - I would know what to do - well sorta (see other post)

JTA he does have all his shots and has recently been wormed etc.

[Larri DB]

I was going to suggest Salmon oil..or any tinned oily fish, it's amazing at improving condition on skinny dogs and they LOVE it!! 

My entire male Rottie boy Obi came from the death row of South London Pound, picked up as a stray, he was over 10kg underweight when he arrived with us even after a few weeks with Rottie welfare.

We put him on a very good quality 27% protein dried puppy food with fresh veg, tinned mackerel and sardines for four months, then weaned him onto normal adult food.

[butterfly]

I have just taken on two new dogs from the stray dog place.  both of which were starved and wouldnt touch dog food.  One is a young GSD, when she did manage to eat any it came back out of the other end very very runny so I think she must have some intollerances going on.

I have opted to try the raw/fresh food option.  I get offal from the butchers and mix in some veg etc, plus I am seeking out dog mince that you feed raw.

If you can find a supply cheap enough it can work out cheaper than the bagged stuff. 

Not everyone agrees with this diet so it may not be for you but the dogs are very healthy on it and never leave any.

[lacey]

A good dollop of bio yoghurt always helps and most dogs love it,  and it does sound as if he has some problems with his tum so would help. Some breeding lines of GSD can be prone to prancreatic problems which can lead to not utilising their food properly.

[Torsornin]

I cant change their whole diet  butterfly as they are not my dogs - just looking for something to top dress their food with... Everyone is giving me some good ideas Keep 'em coming. The more ideas I have the better arsenal I have to combat the non eating!

[Cloud_cirrus]

I'm sure Jane van Lennep of Simple System said she used to add micronised linseed (cooked ground flaxseed) to her dog food, well pretty sure she said she added it to all food, human and pet actually!!

[cirocco]

I deal with loads of dogs, as a job. Part of that includes to re home strays, and unwanted dogs, and 'damaged' dogs, as well as boarding all sorts with a veriety of needs in the food department.

I would say the same thing, tinned fish wonderful for the coat, and also joints. Say sardines or pilchards in oil... not brine..... if its down to cost then of course you have to get something that fills the dogs but is fairly cheap. Here we have raw black tripe, and all dogs really do take to it. its quite cheap, full of nutrients, and easily digestible.
Most tinned dog foods are enough to fill up a stomach. Chappie is a fish based food, and this can be really good for a fussy dog.

has the bitch been spayed??? if not there is a problem there with an entire male [ not going here again I get beaten up] I would also have asked about worming, but as they have been done thats ok. thin young GSD's are quite normal, loads of the breed stay quite light. But there is a huge difference between thin because its young, or highly active, and starved thin.

If the thin dog is not holding food, it might be that starvation has damaged gut. But perhaps not. All you can do is to keep an eye on things. It should only take a week at the most to bring it back to something like 'normal'.
I'm training a 15 month old GSD bitch at the mo who is really thin, but she's just on one all the time, so i'm not that worried.

Entire male dogs can sometimes worry when they are with a bitch, do they not castrate males?? here we have such a problem with unwanted dogs [ and cats ] we tend to castrate before re homing.

[Torsornin]

If they were MY dogs they would be nipped and tucked. She originally tried to breed her bitch to the male - but is not sure they took (my luck one morning I will wake up to pups) I dont mind thin per say I think thin is good for most dogs - but he is just a little too ribby for my liking, you know?

She is choosing to keep them both intact as she wishes to breed them, she also wants to offer her stud out ($750!!!) Honestly I dont know enough to know whether he is worth that. supposedly he is registered (working dog variety) and has had hips xrayed and stuff and is all clear for hip issues.

Neither dog has ever been starved. He is allergic to red dye in dog food though and gets itchy and looses hair if he consumes it. They are both super active and moving ALL the time - I do think that has something to do with it, and perhaps a poor brand of dog food.

Currently I have been giving coconut oil on everyone's food as everything I read about it it seems a good choice (and for my dogs too - and me ) I cant spend lots of $ at all right now as I am unemployed - But the coconut oil seems to be working - they are all chowing down when I feed them.

I hope when  I give them back, they look better than when they came and she can notice that.

[cirocco]

Just got in, yes food colouring can cause problems in dogs and people.

$750 ??? Seems a lot. A friend uses her 8 yr old ex Police dog and charges £100. He's got a wonderful pedigree, and is getting bitches from working GSD's. [ He's a working trials ch. ] I've no idea how it works in other countries.

This GSD bitch i've just been to is thin, her coat is shocking, and she looks poor. She too is high octain, really manic, so perhaps its a factor. 

[Torsornin]

I thought 750 seemed a lot.

I wonder if the high octane dog has like tummy ulcers or something else going on with it? The more I learn about our pets the more I find that diet is so important. Glad my own to puppies are on a good diet. Looking into more for my ponies soon

[cirocco]

Tummy ulcers ??? not something i've come across.

I tend to treat rescues and strays same way... bland sort of food, pasta always goes down well, i scramble two eggs, bit of milk whisked in, and feed them that. Or plain boiled rice, with eggs.  I've fed really poorly dogs on this diet for weeks, with great results. Pasta or rice fills them up, and stays down. Eggs great too, so a cheap alternative to dog food.
I tend to add a bit of veg later on, green veg can work wonders, like cabbage or spinach is full of iron for an anemic dog. or sometimes they will chew on a raw carrot.

[Torsornin]

well I dunno if horses act like that with ulcers, maybe dogs do to? I dunno - just throwing it out there

My own dogs often get fresh veggies - they get carrots, raw potatoes (their choice - they steal them!) they get raw eggs from my farm chickens 2-3 times a week currently. I keep trying green veggies - but they wont eat them.

[cirocco]

I find getting sprouts down a dog hard work, kids and dogs it seems hate these green monsters.

[Woody]

raw eggs and pasta, bread or rice. plus oils

[cirocco]

Yep.. nowt wrong with all that....