Big Paws Only Dog Forums
BPO Food Forum => Food Discussion & Information => : Kori February 11, 2006, 11:12:24 AM
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I'm not very good in english so forgive my mistakes.. I urgently need some help! Here's the thing... I found a young female german sheperd (cca. 1,5 year old). She has obviously been lost for a while because she is soooo skiny! I never had a dog so I don't know if there is something i could feed her so she could gain up some weight and in what amounts? When you say "a cup" I suppose we are talking about a standard tea cup or..? ??? She looks as of skin and bone (that's why I said anorexic, only as a metafore :-\) and a total opposite of what any german sheperd I've seen looks like. She is about 60cm (cca 24inches) in hight (her back, not her head) and she has 24kg (cca. 52 pounds).
Please help me with some advice.
Thank you
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Hi Kori. Welcome to BPO!
I reccomend you feed her a good quality dog food - the suggested feeding amounts should be on the back of th bag (and they will be in whatever measuring standard is common in your country - where are you from by the way?). I also reccommend you give her something called satin balls as a supplement to help her gain weight. You can find the recipe here: http://www.njboxers.com/satin-balls-recipe.htm
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Also split her meals into about 4 or 5 small meals through the day for now. If she's been starved, her stomach will have shrunk and will not be able to cope with a large amount of food in one go.
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I agree on the several smaller feedings instead of one or two larger feedings. Also, she may have tapeworms or some other parasite that would keep her from gaining much weight or having a very good appetite. I think I would take a stool sample to my vet and have that checked right away.
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When you use the recommendation s on the bag of dog food, remember that is the total for the day. For example, if the bag recommends 2 cups of food and you feed 4 times per day then you will feed 1/2 cup per feeding. [I knew a newbie once that fed 2 cups at every feeding. Whoops :)]
I agree that finding someone who is part of a rescue or shelter would be of great benefit to you. They are experienced with under-nourished dogs and will give you hands-on advise.
Congratulation s and good luck!
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Let me first answer the "where are you from" question. Croatia. Here in Zagreb we only have one shelter and it's crowded and very much lacking the money itself so I won't even try suggesting some funding to them. It's not a problem, I'm a student but she'll get a part in my paycheck :-) I took her to the vet and she got the pills for "worms"? And an anti-fleas spray or something and is officially mine. I could not believe they injected her with a chip!!!?!?!?! Seems it's time for me to start learning these things. She's so cute!!! Well, thank you all for the advice, you'll probably be hearing from me often, I'll let you know how's the weight-gaining going. Thanks again!
By the way, I've put her picture! Hope you like it.
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Oh wow - she is beautiful!
I am glad you were able to take her to a vet. I know it can be tough trying to afford an unexpected mouth to care for but boy is it worth it :)
I am curious - what did the vet say about her weight? what did s/he suggest to help her gain?
I tip my hat to you for taking her into your heart and home :)
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awww she's soo pretty!!!!
Let us know how the weight gaining thing is coming along and make sure to post pics...we all like to see pics here:)
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Bless you BLESS YOU for taking her in!!...So long as she's been dewormed & there are no underlying health problems just give her a chance to eat well & gain soem weight...My rescue girl was skin & bones when we got her on Dec. 1...She is finally filling out nicely...Just give it time & welcome to BPO!
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Kori -- congratulation s on your new best friend. Have you given her a name yet?
You will be able to learn a lot in this place -- I, too, recently adopted a homeless dog named Einstein, who has cost me every cent (and my landlord was very patient waiting on the February check) but he's been well worth it!
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Welcome to BPO....she is beautiful.
I'm Erin and I have a newfoundland and an austalian shepard. I'm sure you'll catch up fast on dog information and remember that no question is a stupid question here so feel free to ask us anything you don't know.
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Hi! I came to bring the news - it's working!!! Thank you thank you thank you for that satin balls recipe, she is growing like a baloon and I'm giving her very very small amounts of it. Soon I will take her picture so you can witness the now and then fazes :-) About the name someone asked, I named her Namo. It's a name from Tolkien's books, Namo is the keeper of destiny. Tacky, I know, but I can't help it.
By the way, I saw that some paw prints have a list of their playmates and I was wondering can I also put a playmate on Namo's paw print? You see, Namo has a playmate Pugy, maybe you've seen his paw print.
Once again thanks and we'll be "hearing" soon!
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Hi again... I was buying the ingredients for those satin balls you recomended me and I couldn't find unsulfured molasses. But the kind lady in the bio&bio store :-) suggested me to buy the "nonrefined sugar from sugar cane" which allegedly contains more than enough unsulfured molasses. BUT it also contains carbohydrates, iron, copper, crome, Ni and some other stuff so I just wanted to check if this is wise to put into the mixture for satin balls instead of the unsulfured molasses you suggested.
Thanks!
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How's your (big) little girl doing?
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She's doing fine!
By the way, a friend of mine, selfproclaimed genius for dogs told me just yesterday that I shouldn't feed her kibble and satin balls at the same time because she digestes them differently so she might get...well...i don't remember, something bad could happen to her anyway. But she has been doing just fine for two weeks, I'm giving her three meals, kibble and a little satin balls and she's getting pounds slowly but nicely... a few more weeks of this and she'll be in great shape! Then I'll post you a picture.
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beware the 'selfproclaimed genius' ;)
most of the one's i've known [in dogs, horses, & computers] were the most dangerous people around. they usually know a little bit & think there is nothing else they can learn so just 'run with it'. as long as you know there are people out there who know more than you and as long as you make it a goal to learn as much as them, you will always be headed down the correct path and will truly have the welfare of those around you at heart.
as for not feeding kibble & satin balls at the same time ... i don't see why not. their digestive system breaks down everything the same way [whether it's edible or not :-\]. a cow's digestion is done in stages but they handle that with regurgitation. dogs and people are not that way.
it is absolutely awesome that you are able to feed her 3 times a day ;D! it is much easier on the digestive tract and will help her health improve a lot more than only once/day.
i will keep checking back for more pictures. best wishes,
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I had a dog like that and i fed enough Diamond dry dog food that he will eat in 5 minutes 4 times a day. (not to much if they will eat till they drop, just till they are fullish) then along with that 2 times a day i fed 6.5 ounces Pedigree canned dog food. if it doesn't make sense, i am sorry, it is kinda hard to explain. ask your vet if this is what would be best for this dog.
Leah
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Here's my beauty after a few weeks of normal feeding! She is just so cute and clueless :P ;D
Hope you like her...
By the way, there's my cat in one pic, they became friends as soon as they met!! He sleeps on her and she has someone to chew and chase! ;D
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She looks great!!!! Love them ears!