MY 1 1/2 year old German shepard will not gain weight, she eats very well. A vet told us to increase her protein with adding rice to her food and giving her peanut butter as a snack well she loves this but she hasn't even gained a pound. Any sugestions or advice. we have been to the vet 5 times for this i can not afford to keep taking her and they say nothing is wrong she just needs to gain weight, but give no advice on how. Please help I am frustrated.

Sariss

Did the vet check for parasites?

shazamataz

Some breeds are notorious for being hard to put weight on from around 1-2 years of age.
German shepherds are one of them.

Of coarse he needs to be checked for worms and parasites like Sariss said but iff all is fine there you may just have to wait it out.

Higher protein food such as Working Dog Formulas (available at pet stores or farming stores) are good for putting on weight but they do not always work.
My mother has a great dane who is 14 months old now and he is as skinny as a rake.
Each day he eats 11 chicken necks, 1kg of beef mince, 8 cups of dry food as well as treats through the day and he hasn't gained a pound in weeks.
He's just one of those dogs that isn't going to put weight on until he hits about 2 years old and finished growing and bodies out.

mydogquestion

German Shepherds are in general not big eaters. When they are hungry they eat. They also are usually skinny for the first couple of years. Mine was only 76lbs at two years old. He was very cative and was well fed. About the time he was three he filled out and did not look like I did not feed him. As long as the vet says there is nothing wrong do not worry. Do not try to fatten the dog up with human food.