[labman]

I am sorry my meaning wasn't plain. German Shepherds tend to be light eaters too. In many cases, what the dog is willing to eat leaves it thinner than the owner would like. Reading your thread could help them learn to accept it. I am glad you gave me a chance to explain.

[mrssittingduck]

Thank you for the explanation :)

I have got to accept him for what he is, even though he eats the proper amount I now know he will not get any bigger than what he is.. I now have to accept that and stop worrying.
I guess when you compare a dog like a sight hound to that of a different breed it can get very worrying weight wise,
I am not used to seeing salukis and went off different breeds of dog for how they should look and not by his own breed standard which is what I should have done :o
I was looking for things that shouldn't have been their but now I know it is all in my head it is very reassuring..
As with many dog lovers I am sure from some of the comments that I got about how thin he is that other people did what I did and went by what they are used to seeing instead of his breed, weight wise... so at least the letter is their at the vets waiting in case somebody does report him for bieng underweight..

A lesson learned and hopefully a lesson for others to , go by the dogs breed standard and not compare to other dogs you have seen of different breeds...
If in doubt ask somebody who specialises in the breed of dog you have and hopefully they can put you on the right path :)

Again thank you all for your help :)
Katie

[RubyPitbull]

Katie, I am glad that you were able to get confirmation regarding your baby's weight. I stayed away from this thread because, from his pictures, your dog looked fine to me and I was pretty sure those back hip bones are supposed to stick out like that. But, I only have previous experience with one saluki, and DocWill is a vet, which I am not. So, I did not want to go against his advice and get into an argument about it. When my experience is limited or I am not sure of something, I have a tendency to keep my mouth shut. I know that isn't something that a lot of people do here on this forum, LOL. I am glad that you have found other Saluki owners & breeders to speak with. This must be a huge relief to you. He looks like a very content dog. :)

[mrssittingduck]

I know the feeling ruby

I have learnt a lesson, and a site like this is for help and a healthy debate, if I know something of a subject I will answer to it, if I don't and I think I may be wrong or compare to experts then I keep shut... always a fault I had lol

My expertise is in birds and not dogs hence where my problem is, too long concentrating on the one subject I think :D if I had thought on I would not compare the macaw to any other species of bird and should not have done it with my dog :o

As different species or breeds have different requirements, sizes and weights...

And thank you :)
Now that I have seen pictures and also in the flesh living salukis to compare him to he is perfect :)

In my eyes he will always be perfect anyway :D

[labman]

Perhaps I should have gone to my S&S dog guide book before my first post to this thread. It was a gift, and I think there are better books out there. It does have a picture of a Saluki. The inside of the bent dog's body is toward the camera. You can still see 3 ribs. Your picture plus your vet's opinion made it easy for me to jump to the conclusion that this was indeed the rare case of a dog needing to eat more. Now we all know a little more about Salukis, as usual, I will say stick to what the vet says. If I really don't like what a vet says, I tend to suggest a different vet, or a least a second opinion.

I tend to be biased toward the idea of how much alike dog breeds are and how much individuals vary within a breed. Occasionally that leads me astray. It is good that you kept digging on your own and finally found the right answer.

[mrssittingduck]

At least we all learnt something from this one :)

I am always learning something new everyday and the day I stop learning is the day I die, even with subject I have delt with for 20 years I still learn more and more about it as the days progress :)

With birds I should have known about bieng biased as even birds of the same group all have different standards, different sizes, weights, dietry requirements, etc etc one species of macaw is far from the same as another species of macaw also I would not associate a militry macaw with that of a blue and gold if you Google it you will see what I mean, they are same type of bird but different altogather..

I never even thought to think this of a dog as many do have the same requirements or at least I thought they did up until now, so thanks labman :) if it wasn't for you and this site I wouldn't have learnt this lesson and learnt something new and prob wouldn't have found anything different and been living in a world of paranoia for the rest of pips life :)

Katie

[bushg]

Mrssitting duck how is your saluki?

[mrssittingduck]

Hi :)
We decided to have him castrated due to people trying to steal him to breed with,
We had the op done in November and since then he has gone downhill :( while they were doing the operation they found lumps around the same area and so did biopsys, scans, and removal of most of the lumps, however they had to leave some behind as it was to close to a nerve, it was then confirmed as cancerous,
Anyway since the op he seems to have lost all feeling of when he needs to urinate, and now and again he keeps losing his footing on his back legs and his weight has become highly unstable, we have him booked in at the vets again for in 2 weeks time to have more blood tests, urine tests and another scan, depending on his results and the severity of the problem I am fearing the worst and hoping for the best, I'm hoping that I will know when it is the right time for him to slip away.. it will severely upset me if he does have to go but I don't want to watch him suffer because I'm to selfish and don't like to have it done

[bushg]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear this. I was hoping he was doing well he is such a beautiful dog. You have to take comfort in the fact that you have provided him with a loving home and you have tried to help him in every way possible.I know it would be hard to let go, but as you said you will do whay is best for him. I will be thinking of you and your dog and hoping that all goes well.

[Bella Bailey]

Hi! When my small dog had a litter of 6 puppies, it was very hard on her little body and we had to get some weight on her fast. The vet told me to feed her some beef/rice wet food in with her dry and alternate giving her some cottage cheese or a scrambled egg. I would also make my own beef/rice mixture for her too as opposed to just the canned and it all worked like a charm. She loved getting a scrambled egg or cottage cheese. Good luck!

[pammy_marie]

I watch a lot of "It's me or the dog" and she said one time that the easiest way to get a dog to eat all of it's food is to make it smell better. To do that, take canned dog food and heat it up. I had pit puppies and one of them got worms really bad and stopped eating. After treating the worms she would barley eat so we try that out and it worked wonders.

Hope this helps.

[WildChild1973]

Few fat gaining recipes for dogs for ya:

FATTEN 'EM UP QUICK MEATLOAF
Note: This requires a huge pot for mixing! Makes a two week supply for one dog.

1 dozen hard boiled eggs, chopped
10 lbs of inexpensive hamburger meat
20 oz Jar of Wheat Germ
1 canister of Knox Gelatin, joint complex, (Knox Unflavoured NutraJoint Powder 5.5oz)
1 large box of Total breakfast cereal [Australians use 340 grams of Sanitarium Weetbix]
2 x 1 lb boxes of Quaker oatmeal, (the kind you cook)
1½ cups Canola Oil
12 oz jar of unsulfered Molasses
¼ tsp salt
1 heaping teaspoon minced Garlic, (jarred variety or fresh, NOT dried)
Box of 1qt Freezer bags

Just dump all into huge pot and dig in. It takes some effort, and you will be up to your elbows, but you want to mix thoroughly.
Separate into 14 freezer bags, gently squeezing out the air before sealing. Flatten out the bags, (this will allow for a quicker thaw period), and lay flat on a freezer shelf.
Feed one packet each day, half in morning, half in evening. Breaking up into chunks, or rolling into meatballs.

FAT BALLS
... for weight gain...
10 lb (4.53kg) Hamburger
10 oz (.28kg) Oats
6 Egg Yolks
10 oz (.28kg) Wheat Germ
10 oz (.28kg) Molasses

Put in a big bowl and mix.
Roll into one inch balls and freeze.

FAT BALLS #2
... for weight gain...
lb (.45kg) hamburger mince (high fat content)
1 package cream cheese
1 jar all natural peanut butter
1 dozen egg yolks
1 cup rolled oats soaked in milk
1 jar wheat germ

Mix thoroughly (with hands is best).
Freeze into meal sized bags and thaw as needed.

FAT BALLS #3
Small container of heavy cream
1 dozen egg yolks
2 blocks of cream cheese (room temp)
5 lbs ground beef
1 small box TOTAL cereal (crunch up into small crumbs)
1 cup wheat germ

Mix dry ingredients, add heavy cream, add cream cheese
Mix together.
Add ground beef
Mix together
Roll into balls, and freeze

FAT BALLS #4
2 cups Dry Dog food
2 packs cream cheese
1½ cups Peanut Butter
½ cup Corn Oil
1 cup Cottage Cheese
1 pound Browned Hamburger (save some of the grease)

Blend dog food (crushed fine) and add remaining ingredients.
Mix till you have a doughy mixture add more dog meal as needed if consistency is too thin.
On wax paper spread some meal and roll out mixture into log shape.
Refrigerate until firm and slice as needed.
Feed them a slice or two several times during the day. Very high calorie... will put weight on fairly quick.

AUSTRALIAN SATIN BALLS
... for weight gain...

4.53kg Hamburger Meat
567grams Wheat Germ
1 large box of Oatmeal [uncooked]
340 grams of Sanitarium Weetbix [small box]
1¼ cups Vegetable Oil
10 eggs [boiled in shell for 30 seconds]
10 envelopes of unflavoured Gelatin
1¼ cups unflavoured Molasses [also known as Treacle]
2 teaspoons Kelp
1 cup of ground Flax Seed
A pinch of salt
Garlic to taste

Mix all ingredients together well, much like a meat-loaf, then put into separate freezer bags and freeze, thawing out as needed. It puts weight on in a very short time, not to mention the gloss in their coat. You can use it every day when they have a show to do and it does not produce diarrhoea. It can be fed alone or with kibble.
Satin Balls are a total canine diet. They can be feed by themselves, or as a supplement.

HEALTHY WEIGHT GAIN MIX
1 pint whole fat Cottage Cheese
1 lb turkey (or any other ground meat) burger (raw)
2-3 eggs - boiled in the shell for 30 seconds*
2 tablespoons Flax Seed or Olive oil
1 can sardines or tuna fish

It is full of protein, essential fatty acids and digestive enzymes.

*Boiling the eggs for 30 seconds denature the whites and leave the benefits of the yolks intact.

FATTENING TREATS
Doggie Peanut Cheese Balls

1 dozen hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 lb jar crunchy peanut butter
1 container of Quaker Oatmeal
2 cups of evaporated milk, (Don't dilute! )
1 jar wheat germ
1 lb hamburger
8oz. Package cream cheese
1 envelope Knox Gelatin Joint Complex, (unflavoured)

In one bowl, pour the evaporated milk over the oatmeal and put aside. Go have a cup of coffee, while you wait for oats to absorb the liquid!

In a second Large Bowl, place all the other ingredients. Start mixing together, hands work best. Add the oatmeal and evaporated milk mixture, and mix again. When thoroughly blended, form into meatball sized treats, layering in a plastic freezer container. Freeze until needed. Remove a few at a time, allow to thaw, and feed as fattening snacks!

WEIGHT BOOSTER
• 10 eggs
• 10 packs gelatin
• 12 oz. molasses
• 2 boxes of shredded wheat cereal, crushed
• 1 jar wheat germ
• 5 cups melted lard
• 1 jar peanut butter
Mix with your hands. Roll into balls. Keep all unused in the freezer. Take one meat ball (per dog) out every morning and allow to thaw for evening meal.

TIPS
For skinny dogs, Try some of these suggestions to tempt the appetite:
• Eggs lightly scrambled in butter and adding yoghurt or cream cheese
• Sautéed chicken liver in butter
• Hard boiled eggs
• Cooked or boiled hamburger, mixed with grated or parmesan cheese
• Baby foods, such as puréed meats
• Homemade chicken soup with noodles
• Canned salmon or sardines
• Macaroni and cheese with minced beef or sausage
• Plain yoghurt with puréed liver, mix well
• Canned chicken chunks
• Bites from your own plate

[trptman]

Hi Mrssittingduck -- I came across whatseems to be a 2-year olsd subject. Just interested to hear how your dog is doing. Very interested to know --it's a beautiful dog!!

[PitBullsRock]

Give him raw chicken bones and all (he will not choke on the bones because its frozen) it sounds nasty but I give that to my dog and he gained a lot of wait. It has a lot of protein. You can also feed him exceed it also has a lot of protein. Raw ground beef, raw ground turkey are other things you can give him. (its expensive bt if you love him you'll pay watever it takes)

[Sariss]

(he will not choke on the bones because its frozen)

O_o

[shazamataz]

Do not feed frozen bones of any sort, especially chicken!!

Thread closed