How to put weight on a sick, skinny or underweight dog with no appetite

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This Blog has valuable and practical advise for those with an ill or sick dog (or even those with a dog that is fit but skinny and cannot put on weight). 

I've written many blogs and a number related to dogs’ health and also about obesity in dogs. Overweight dogs are far more prevalent than those that are too thin (my blog: When a Pooch has a Paunch Problem) But what can you do to help underweight dogs? Read on to find out.

From a health perspective a skinny, fit dog would be far less of a concern to a Vet than a Pooch like a Porker! But a dog can be too thin, and if this condition is related to ill health, it can be very challenging to turn it around and you end up with a negative spiral. Your dogs health goes rapidly down hill when they can no longer tolerate or get benefit from normal food.

Past a certain point, with their become so system compromised and they may be so ill that they have no appetite and can’t be tempted to eat at all.

We had exactly this situation with my daughter’s wonderful boxer, Elly who was about 4 when she started to get unwell. We were constantly taking her for tests yet our vet could not find what was causing her to be so ill. As days turned to weeks Elly’s deterioration was distressing to see.

Not eating and barely drinking, Elly had to be carried outside to go to the toilet. She was becoming weaker and weaker,  could barely move, and all her sparkle had gone. She wasn’t even able to raise a tail wag.

Elly went from her normal healthy weight of around 25 kgs to barely 19kgs – skin & bone . She was wasting away before our eyes and still we did not have a diagnosis.

Looking at her one night it hit me she was so ill, thin and frail she was actually going to die of starvation if we did not get find out what the problem was, and turn it round – fast.

So I said to my daughter she should get a referral to SASH (Australia’s world famous Small Animal Specialist Hospital)

Arriving at SASH we were fortunate to see Vet Dr Justin Wimpole. Justin has a wonderful approach to both dogs and their owners. He scooped up Elly’s by now tiny body into his arms and as he held her there she didn’t move. She was all legs and angles with bones jutting out of her head. He said very simply “this is a very sick little girl”.

At last Justin had put into words what we seen over the weeks and my daughter and I were crying with relief and worry all in one.

After that Justin’s investigations found the problem very quickly. (It was found to be a digestive problem, rare for dogs in general, but found in certain breeds, including boxers).

With a definitive diagnosis finally Elly was prescribed the right drug to treat her condition. But her recovery was far from certain because by now our darling girl could barely stand. Even on the medicine she still had no interest in eating anything. A  drip might have kept her alive, but was not realistic as it wouldn’t have built her up.

Elly desperately needed energy  - yet how could we get energy into her? We'd tried every food recommended. In fact every conceivable variation of protein based dog foods and human foods, yet she had no interest, would sniff and walk away – nothing could tempt her.

Then I suddenly had my stroke of genius – tempting her was the answer because she was sniffing food – but with what? I realised she needed something tasty, easy to eat and in a way that was almost predigested calories - and that was what I came up with.

When I first made my concoction and Elly lapped it all up  – we all cheered and cried at once. It had been so long she would touch anything – and she kept it down and wanted more.

The food that worked the magic was a home made Carb & Protein Mash. It had the effect of stimulating her appetite and within a few days bit by bit we were able to introduce normal food and we gained time which allowed the medicine time to do its work.

Now I fully admit this will not win prizes for nutrition! But it does answer as a short term method of getting calories - and thus energy -  into a dog when normal foods aren’t working.

Clearly my Carb & Protein Mash it is not a substitute for normal protein dog foods – just keep  in mind what the intention is. It is for an acute period to give your dog concentrated calories to build them up and help them recover.

SO HERE IS MY MAGIC LIFE SAVING CARB & PROTEIN MASH.  DRUM ROLL   …..

• 7-8  plain biscuits, I usually used Rich Tea but 6 Digestives would be OK
• 2 Wheatabix or Oat Brits
• Cup of hot milky tea with 2 teaspoons sugar
• An egg

Optional extra: 1 tsp powdered Brewer’s Yeast*
Optional extra: small amount cooked basmati rice (I didn’t add this to my mix but you could)

1. Crunch up the biscuits & Wheatabix (or Oat Brits) into a bowl
2. Make the tea put a couple of sugars in then add an amount of milk to make it milky
3. Pour the tea over the biscuits & Wheatabix
4. Mash it until no obvious biscuit is seen into a smooth, warm mash
5. Break a raw egg into this and stir in
6. Mix in a teaspoon of powdered Brewers Yeast (not essential)
7. Offer a portion* of this to your dog whilst it's still warm

The above mix is around 900 calories consisting mainly of carbs and sugar. There is some easily digested protein in the form of the milk and egg. Fat content is low deliberately.

NB 
If you don’t have fresh milk pour on black tea but then sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of skimmed milk into the mixture.
*Some dogs are allergic to yeast, and the symptoms seen can be itchy skin and upset, bloated, gaseous stomachs. Overall, for most dogs, brewer's yeast is safe and beneficial. With a dog that is thin through illness then give this Mash without this and you could add it in later and then you would know if it has any negative effects


IMPORTANT
*This is a large amount of food and may overload your sick dog’s system if given all at once.

In which case if this is for a dog that is ill with little appetite make the full amount but give little and often through the day-  some every hour or even 45 mins – you need to assess and see how it goes.

For maximum temptation offer this to your dog when it’s warm.  If giving it throughout the day gently reheat a portion in the microwave (be careful not to let it get too hot). A sick dog might get runny poo if this is all they are eating. Though because so much of this is easily digested there is not too much waste.

WHAT ABOUT A FIT BUT SKINNY DOG?

Keep in mind my CARB & PROTEIN MASH is very useful for a fit skinny dog. Case in point GSP Pepper. She is exceptionally fit but underweight – ribs protruding and sharp bones in her shoulders/chest. The owners struggled to get her to gain weight as whenever they increased her normal food by giving her  an extra third meal she always ended up with diarrhea.

When Pepper came and stayed with me and I gave her the mash mix in the middle of the day – the result was a noticeable improvement and weight gain in just 10 days.

If you make the amount above for a fit dog which happens to be skinny you might be able to feed it all at once. I would give it all to Pepper in the middle of the day between her two normal meals and she didn’t get diarrhea. But you would monitor your dog as tolerations to large amounts varies.


Foot note re Vet Dr Justin Wimpole of SASH

After Justin’s help in finding the root problem of  Elly’s illness she recovered and my daughter, her sister and I were blessed with some more wonderful years with her.

However in 2016 when she was coming up to her 10th birthday again she was ill. This time symptoms were different but despite lots of tests the local vets could not diagnose the problem. So we asked for a referral and again took her to Justin at SASH. Astonishingly Justin remembered Elly, but not only that, he took one look at her and believed  -  and was subsequently proved correct by blood tests and investigations – that she had a malignant tumour of the brain.

We made her last days as comfortable as we could as sadly no magic mixture was able to save our darling girl this time.


Our adored Elly in happier times....

Doggie advice from Michelle Bridges & Cesar Millan

People contacting Perfect Pet Sitter do so because they are looking for the best care available for their dogs. Based in Sydney and the Northern Beaches and as an expert in dog minding and pet sitting, the only type of pet owners I meet are devoted to their fur pals. My clients are united by being caring people who accept that with dog ownership comes responsibilities. The most basic of which are appropriate food and adequate exercise.

In a recent edition of The Sun-Herald Sunday magazine Michelle Bridges says gyms should have dog treadmills. Whilst she no doubt made this as a tongue in cheek suggestion – what  great idea!

Michelle went on to write about obesity in people and dogs. Did you know that 40% of dogs in this country are obese? Shocking.

She also highlighted the importance of food and exercise – two vital components in keeping to the right weight whether human or canine. The difference is, we humans can choose whether to be as one with our armchair  - or to go out and exercise. Sadly our dogs cannot make such choices. And the worst thing of all for dogs is lack of exercise. Not just for what it does to their bodies – but because dogs deprived of enough exercise (and the chance to sniff and read doggie headlines) can at minimum develop behavioural problems – at worst they can go insane.

Cesar Millan has his detractors, but he spoke wise words when he said that for a dog to be balanced it needs EXERCISE, DISCIPLINE, AFFECTION – I concur.

In the UK it has become worryingly common to read of attacks by dogs on children and adults – more than a few proving fatal. Investigations often go on to reveal powerful trophy dogs kept in unimaginable conditions, locked away with zero exercise. The longer they are imprisoned the more uncontrollable they become. No surprise then when they escape they go mad and can kill. Tragic on every level.

Sydney pets owners are some of the most devoted I have ever met. Their pets are their passion and they will do whatever it takes to keep them happy and protected. In turn those pets repay that love a hundred times over with their affection, constancy and devotion.

So keep in mind that exercising your dog is more than simply a walk. You are giving your dog a wonderful gift and your canine pal will thank you by being happy and well adjusted. And if you do an hour daily and step up the pace - neither of you will need a gym to lose those few Ks!!

Ball Throwers & dogs with no ‘off switch'

As the Northern Beaches standout choice for dog minding and pet sitting – and of course being the Perfect Pet Sitter:-) I meet many, many different dogs -  all breeds, shapes and sizes. Yet as every dog owner knows, each has their own unique personality.

At one end of the spectrum there are those that love everyone they meet - to others that bond with just one person.

In the same way as personalities vary – so do energy levels. From calm and almost stately, to highly outgoing and very excitable.

It is within the latter you find dogs with no ‘Off Switch’. Puppies often fall into this type at first and can grow out of it, but some never do, even when fully mature.

Injuries and cuts are far more common with high energy dogs. Whilst rushing around they don’t see obstacles or sharp shells. They leap and twist in the air and often they are so engrossed in what they are doing that cuts or strains are not seen until you get home.

But more serious still are the types that get very obsessive about certain behaviours, for example running after balls launched by ball throwers. 

SAFE TO THROW  Amber (far right) Izzy (far left, was with her owner) Jack (front) & Maggie. Their owner throws ball 

Lots of dogs love chasing balls. Example, Jack, a cattle dog I’ve cared for many times. Jack is 8 years old  and he loves running after a ball and brings it back every time and drops it so you will throw it again. However, Jack is smart, and as he gets tired he takes longer and longer before he drops the ball. In effect he has learned how to self regulate to stop him overheating.

Left - Right Jack, Maggie, Izzy & Amber

Dogs love Curl Curl Lagoon (NSW)

More mature dogs like Jack have learned to control their behaviour, but some never develop an ‘Off Switch’ – effectively they become ‘Conditioned’.  They can go on to OCD around balls (Google: ‘operant conditioning’).

In hot weather in particular, I really worry when I see a dog constantly running after a ball being launched again and again. Any dog ( but especially those with thick coats and/or where there is no water to swim and cool off) are in serious danger of exhaustion or heat stroke because they literally will keep chasing that ball until they drop.

When I take the dogs in my care on our Adventure Walks I prefer they interact with other canines rather than simply run after a ball. So I take them to venues with smells, variations of landscape and other dogs to play with. 

Occasionally I will take the thrower with us, but rather in the way you wouldn’t give children chocolate all the time, I keep these times limited. And, I always keep in mind that I am the one who has to control the ‘Off Switch’ and limit the where, when and how often I throw that ball.

A TIP

Which dogs should be insured? Ideally insure your dog – full stop. However, in the words of my vet in the UK when I didn’t have insurance cover for my big German Shorthaired Pointer:  “Always insure large, active and energetic breeds with short coats. Their energy means they plough into all sorts of places and their thin coats mean they get cuts far more easily than dogs with more dense coats”

(The only problem with that advice – I wish he’d told me earlier!!!)

Northern Beaches Perfect Pet Sitter IS PERFECT! It's Official!!

Specialists in dog minding on the Northern Beaches, your very own Perfect Pet Sitter, has been awarded the title ‘Perfect’!  It might not have been an Oscar- but something more valuable –  ringing endorsements from not one but two of our latest Clients (see also references & the comments of the owners of Zara - Rhodesian Ridgeback).

Izzy & her Perfect Pet Sitter Pal, Amber

Here is what Felicity and Shaun of Freshwater said at the end of six weeks of caring for their sweet dog Izzy during August and September:

You might think that using the word "Perfect" in the title of an organisation is a bit risky. It certainly sets the bar very high. But in our case it has proved to be a spot-on description of our experience using Maralyn's services. We hadn't used a pet (and house) sitter before so we weren't quite sure what to expect when we left our lovely (and sometimes naughty) little dog Izzy in Maralyn's hands for six weeks.

We shouldn't have worried. From the outset everything Maralyn did was supremely professional and wonderfully caring. From the days before we left when Maralyn scheduled in some "get to know Izzy" visits. Then through regular email updates while we were away to the comprehensive diary of Izzy's activities awaiting us on our return, Maralyn greatly exceeded our expectations.

She looked after our house with great care - it was immaculate on our return. And as for Izzy, well she had a great time too. Maralyn taught her a bunch of new tricks, improved her sometimes wayward behaviour and introduced her to some lovely doggy friends.

Izzy moped around a bit after Maralyn left - but perked up when we told her we'd be inviting Maralyn back to look after her again next year!