Oliver needs to gain 10 lbs - Any ideas?

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Oliver's vet wants me to put 10 lbs. on him and I have no idea how to do this.  He was on Neuto Max whcih I switched him to Blue Buffalo Lg. Breed.  I only give my doodles healty snacks and no junk.  I use food toppers like chicken, liver, beef and remove all the fat.  Oliver is 17 months old, and is not a big eater at all.  His appetite has picked up a bit since it has been cold, in the summer I was lucky if he ate half of his required amount of food.  Now he is eating his required amount now which I hope will put the pounds on.  Ollie is 71 lbs., 26 1/2" at the shoulders and eventhough he looks big he is VERY hairy and very skinny under all that hair!!!  His vet said he is happy, healty, and in excellent health but just a little skinny and she would like to see a additional 10 lbs. on him.  I bought the gel that is high in calories and protein but have not given it to him yet.  I was hoping that I can get some suggestions here on adding weight in a healthy/safe way.. for a picky eater.

[BG and Gavin]

I am really surprised that he wants you to actively try and gain weight on him.  Gavin is 29 inches at the shoulder and 66lbs.  He is very lean with long legs.  My vet said it is much easier on their joints (hips, elbows) to be lighter and leaner and although it would not hurt for him to gain a couple of pounds, I should not actively try and do so.  Gavin too is picky.  One meal I add food toppers as you do and the second meal I put a couple of heaping tablespoons of canned food in with the kibble.  Gavin's appitite has picked up too since it has gotten cooler.  I always feel better when he eat his whole meal - silly me, I think he knows how to self-regulate.  I wish I was a little better at that myself lol.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Wow.. Gavin is a tall boy :)  I know it is easier on their joints if the are on the lighter side but my vet did not like the fact that she could feel his spine so much.  I also feed 2x day 1/2 the required amount in the a.m. and 12 hours later the other required half.  I feed them totally healthy food and snacks... no junk :) and they are always running around in the back yard burning off the food.  I thought 10 lbs was  a bit much as well, I am glad to hear that Ollie is not the only doodle that does not like to eat when the weather is warm.  I am like you .... I get worried when he does not eat his whole meal - I guess we are humanizing them - LOL.  I am hoping that since he has been eating his meals 2x a day that he will put on a few pounds.  I am going to bring him back in a few weeks to see if he has gained, if he has gained a few pounds I will leave well enoough alone.  Thanks for your input :)

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I know exactly how you must be feeling.  I had a vet (and several friends) tell me my dog needed to gain 10 lbs.  I ran blood urine and stool tests to find she is completely normal.  The breeder said it is not unusual for this breed to be thin before 2 years old. I tried cottage cheese, yogurt, stella and chewy's. Mixed results. One thing my dogs love is Tripe.  It comes canned, made in USA.  I put some on top, mix in with water and they lick the bowl clean.  The only thing is it stinks....really.  I have to leave the room.  The breeder recommended it.  Also, she said to try something called "Satin Balls"which I did. You can find recipes on google. Its a mixed of raw hamburger and eggs and oatmeal etc. I tried feeding 3 times a day.  Feeding more.  All and all after 4 months of trying, she has gained maybe 1 pound.  I think she is just thin.  (she is 17 months)  If your dog seems healthy and energetic, you can try things, but maybe not worry so much.

[BG and Gavin]

I use Tripett's Tripe too.  Yeh, ugh on the smell but works when I truly need him to eat.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

When I really need JD to eat, like times when he is going to be having some kind of test or procedure the following day and cannot have food past a certain time, a scrambled egg or half of a small can of salmon works every time!  

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

My girlfriend just told me about tripe... said exactly what you said.... IT STINKS !!  I wonder if the fresh tripe in the food store is less smelly???  I know dogs like smelly things so I guess I am going to get some tripe = YUCK - LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am also surpirsed the vet wants Oliver to gain weight. Being slightly underweight can't cause any harm and in fact dogs who are thinner are believed to be healthier. They also do gain weight as they get older and less energetic. Ten pounds seems like a lot, to me. Doodles can have different builds, some of them are stockier, heavier boned like labs and goldens, some are finer boned like poodles. A well-bred standard poodle who weighed 71 lbs would most likely be overweight, no matter how tall he was, while a Lab who weighed 71 pounds would most likely be at perfect weight, even if he was shorter than 26.5 inches, which most of them are.

I would not worry too much about putting weight on Oliver. I don't like the idea of giving him a "gel" and would like to see the ingredients. Those are usually reserved for dogs who are undergoing chemotherapy or have some other severe health problem and require supplemental calories.

Food toppers like cheese, yogurt, fresh meat, chicken, fish or eggs can all be used to add calories. Peanut butter is extremely calorie-dense. But I really wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I knew you'd say this and I agree.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Hey Karen,  I think I am going to leave well enough alone, I would rather have him on the thin side than worry that he is overweight.    I have not used the gel and I am going to return it.. the main ingred: Malt syrup, corn yrup, soybean oil, methylcelloulose, can molasses, water, cod liver oil, soy protein concentrate, etc. etc.   This has too much wierd stuff in it, I like to feed my babies only healthy good ingredients.  I do switch up the toppers to keep things interesting, salmon, hamburger, chicken, pumpkin, liver.  His appetite has increased since hit has been cooler outside so I am just going to leave well enough alone.  Thanks for you help :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That gel sounds horrible and I'm glad you are returning it. Sugar, corn and lots of soy, ugh!

I think your decision to leave things alone is a wise one.