Eurosport K9 Discussion Forum

I currently have a Czech bred GSD. He is a working police dog and weighs about 71 lbs. No matter what - I cannot put any more weight on him. He gets fed two cups of dry (Azmira beef) and 1/2 lb of raw meat mixed with dried carrots twice a day on off days.

He gets about 2 1/2 cups plus the beef on work days.

By the end of a work week he looks like a bag of bones.
Any suggestions on how to put some weight on him?

I have a Belgian Malinois that I struggle to keep weight on him. I found through trial and error the best way to maintain his weight is : 4 cups of Nutramax High energy dry and 1 can of Nutramax puppy lamb and rice. I mix it all together and he eats it like a champ. I have been able to maintain his weight at 67-70 lbs. Just food for thought.

Matt

Try adding Prozyme to his food. You can get it through KV Vet or JB Wholesale or many other catelogs. It is a combination of plant enzymes that aide in digestion so the dog gets more out of his food. It isn't very expensive and you only need from 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp for a large dog. It helps me keep weight on my Czech girl.

How are his stools? You have ruled out any other med issues correct??

Lyn
3GSDs

Yes - the only medical issue he has is an enlarged prostrate - currently being treated with antibiotics and prozscar. This is apparently a fairly common problem with high drive working dogs - at least according to the internal mdeicine specialist.

His stools are better at home than at work - part of h im being high strung.

He has been tested for everything else - apparently it is just his metabolism. He NEVER stops - at l;east at work. Once we are home he can relax and be a dog again.

His performance never slips - he is a patrol; and narc dog - so I have no real complaints.

He puts the weight on on his off days and just burns through everything in 3 days i have also started giving him some rice - especially on the working days - he is about 73 lbs on the off days but drops to about 69 during work week.

I would try the Prozyme you would be surprised how great this stuff works especially since you have ruled out all med causes. I am not a fan of grains, my dogs get a grain free raw diet. But if I am going to feed a grain I find brown rice to be the lesser of the evils.

I do supplement 2 of my dogs with a grain free kibble by Timberwolf organics. The third is strictly fed a raw diet. Supplements I use are Canine Complete by the Wholistic Pet, Olewo carrots, salmon oil. Every few weeks I add some pureed veggies and raw egg. I also sometimes add canned pumpkin it is good for firming stools as well as for constipation.

Also you may want to increase his kibble by a 1/2 a cup or so on the days he is working, siince he is burning more energy on these days his body needs more fuel. Just some thoughts!

Great Information, Let us know how and what you try...

Doc