To put on weight

[jetlag]

Ok, so let me get this straight (I'm learning) to help Shelby put weight on I can mix raw ground beef with her dry food? Isn't raw meat bad for them (or am I confusing that with me eating raw meat?)? I also saw some people suggest cottage cheese and plain yogurt. I may get yelled at for this, but I do give her over-easy eggs once a week (bad/good?). Like I said, I'm still learning. You can see Shelby's ribs and hips (I swear I feed her) but the vet says she isn't skinny that she is "healthy" and people are just used to seeing overweight dogs now days. We call her Shelby McBeal because she is so thin. I don't want her fat, just a little plumper - thicker. She is 13 months and just legs and ears. I saw something called a "satin ball" listed but after looking back couldn't find what this was.

[Cujasky]

jetlag,There are recipes for Satin Balls and magic meatloaf in a thread called "gaining weight" I'll bump it up for you, I have it saved in my bookmarked pages.:)

[jetlag]

Thank you so much for the recipes...I will definately be trying them. Now I just have to keep it away from my very chubby 14 week yellow lab puppy who is an eating machine....he doesn't need anymore "chub". :9

[Bev_K]

Raw meat is fine for dogs, but I will caution that a lot of raw meat without the bone can be a bit unbalancing for the dog's diet.

Do keep in mind that Danes are quite often thin at the age you mention - she will probably start filling out on her own in a year. I wouldn't worry too much about it, considering your vet isn't concerned with her present weight.

If you're really concerned you might want to have her thyroid tested to make sure it is functioning correctly.

Is she eating all her kibble and wanting more? If so, you could slowly increase the amount she gets to eat. If not, I would caution that adding "fun" stuff like meat, etc. will help to make her a picky eater. :) If she is having problems eating enough kibble, maybe you could think about switching to a higher calorie kibble (like Innova or Wysong). I have a whole bunch of website addresses for kibbles at home - if you want more info on different kibbles let me know and I'd happy to post the website addresses I have.

You can safely add things like yogurt and cottage cheese, but I don't know how much they'll help in her gaining weight.

I've noticed that exercise seriously helps my boy's appetite. I started taking him to a doggie daycare twice a week and now he is hungry practically all the time. :)

Bev

[Cujasky]

Bev, I cook the meat in the recipes. It's probably just me, and no offense to the BARF'ers, but I just feel really funny feeding my guys raw meat. I also use the satin balls and magic meatloaf as a treat, not a meal. I guess I should have specified that to jetlag.

[Bev_K]

No offense taken, but it certainly won't hurt to feed the meat raw. And, yes, both recipes are intended to be "extras" not meals.

Bev

[Cujasky]

Gosh, you're quick!LOL! I've heard alot of good things about BARFing.Even sat and talked to the people at the BARF table at the National. I've decided for myself, just to add raw fruits and veggies and maybe a nice butcher bone from time to time (outside of course, I don't think my beige rugs could handle it!(LOL!):)

[Bev_K]

LOL - I was just thinking how quick YOU were! :)

There are lots of peole that feel BARF is a smart choice...I'm one of them, but understand others don't like the idea. Whatever works for you and yours. I think education ABOUT BARF is important as there are lots of misconceptions about it.

Yes, we feed the big bones outside as well. :)

Bev

[jetlag]

Bev and Cujasky thanks for the info...I was just worried about the "raw" meat.....but if you say its ok I will beleive you. So do you think I'm being a worry wart about her weight and I should just give her some time to fill out at her own pace? Maybe I'll put a sign on her that reads "I swear my Mommy feeds me, I'm still growing" She eats but I can't say she cleans her bowl everytime. Sometimes she will, sometimes she won't and sometimes she'll come back after the park and finish the rest. I guess if she's not finishing, then she's not hungry. Maybe I will try the satin balls, now is it once a day or with every meal...am I annoying anyone yet? sorry for all the questions. But I really do appreciate the vast knowledge and info you're giving me.

[Bev_K]

Asking question is how we learn. :)

I feel perfectly comfortable feeding mine raw - as do lots of people. I feel it is a natural thing to do. BTW, I should clarify something - I re-read my first post and I said "feeding a lot of raw meat can unbalance the diet without bone" - that actually is raw or cooked meat...."without the bone" was the key.

You can give the Satin balls, etc. as often as you like. When I was feeding them to my skinny boy I would feed them once or twice a day after his meals. Be careful not to feed too much of it or you'll just have her quit eating her kibble.

At her current age, going from my experience, I'd probably not be terribly concerned about the weight. It sounds like she is getting enough food and is otherwise healthy. If you have any health concerns about it just be sure to address it with your vet.

Bev

[gmac]

C'mon Debbie! How about that sashimi!!? Mmmm...and steaks? I just like you to run through a warm kitchen with the plate :9

[Cujasky]

Sashimi?-who? Is that one of those funky West Coast Lifestyles, Gwenna?(LOL, only kidding) I don't eat food that is moving on my plate, was alive and now is cold, or has eyes still looking at me(flashbacks of growing up in an Italian neighborhood and celebrating Easter one year with them), as for Steaks, they are worthless to me unless bbq'd over hot coals. My husband and neighbors laugh at me because I will not hesitate to bbq a good steak in the middle of winter with 2 feet of snow on the ground.God has also blessed me with an eight year old vegetarian, who critically examines everything we eat in the house. If it were up to her, we would live on rabbit food.:)

Hey, maybe I'll start feeding her the stuff with the eyes}>

[gmac]

Sashimi is raw fish, and actually it's Japanese, but I don't blame you; we Californians have a reputation to maintain..and it's embarassing to admit that I don't have ANY sprouts or granola in my cupboards!! I love my steak to "moo" at me when I eat it, but alas, I am trying to think of my hips (and how can I help it! They're everywhere!) and pass on all the red meat, deserts, etc.. It's hell getting old. Where's my 20-year-old metabolism when I need it? My friend went through the vegie thing with her daughter. Suddenly, they were having "soy helper", and Chelsie believed her. Probably your daughter isn't quite that gullible, but it was kind of comical to me the excuses my friend found to get her daughter eating what everyone else did.