Help for skinny shephard

B-Naturals Newsletter   July 2007   By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health, LMSW-ACP Inappetence   Dogs may show signs of inappetence for many reasons. It can be caused by physical illness or injury or it can be the result of a learned behavior such as “pickiness.”  My own interest in this subject is from my recent experience with my dog, Bean. Bean has been in chronic renal failure for some time, and his inappetence is caused by a variety of health problems, including anemia, pain from renal issues and bouts of pancreatitis. In this newsletter, I hope to share some of what we have learned through this process.   Illness can create a variety of reasons a dog may not want to eat. Nausea, pain, depression and simply not feeling well can all be reasons for a dog to lose their appetite.  It is important to understand the reason for the dog#%92s lack of appetite in order to find and use the best tools to increase its appetite. Sometimes, depending on the illness or specific condition of the dog, certain foods can cause discomfort.  Stomach pain and an aversion to food can accompany liver, renal and pancreas problems and the dog may attribute the pain to the food just eaten.   Certain medical treatments can cause nausea, such as chemotherapy.  Certain medications (antibiotics, non steroidal anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal medications, to name a few) can cause irritation in the stomach or discomfort in the liver. Additionally, any type of pain, including arthritis, post-surgical, or pain from an injury can cause lack of appetite. Using the right medications to control pain and discomfort can bring back the energy and desire to eat. If these issues can be anticipated, medications can be given to help alleviate these problems.   Always consult with your veterinarian if your dog will be starting chemotherapy or using a long term medication. Learn the side effects of such treatments, and ask about giving complimentary medications to help with any side effects.  Ask which foods might be good to avoid, such as high fat foods or foods high in phosphorus, or foods that may cause discomfort or stomach upset with the specific treatment or condition.   Symptoms of nausea and pain can include panting, glassy eyes, drooling, fixed stare, trembling and a hunched appearance when standing.  Even pain that causes discomfort manifested by limping or difficultly getting up can affect appetite. A dog in pain usually does not want to eat. Getting a diagnosis for the problem and controlling the pain is the best defense to a return of appetite. Discomfort and pain simply rob the dog#%92s desire to eat, and this in itself can hinder the healing process. A visit to your veterinarian at any of these symptoms should be done immediately.   Nausea can present itself in a variety of ways and we, as owners, may not recognize our dog is nauseous; we just notice our dog is refusing food.  This can be upsetting to us, as we find comfort being able to serve our dogs food we know they enjoy and will consume. It is important to try and take a deep breath, and not show anger or disappointment when our dogs won#%92t eat. It is the time to sit back and reassess what is going on with the dogs so we can understand why they may be refusing food.  Again, a visit to your veterinarian is important for a complete picture.   Another cause of inappetence is a behavioral issue. Unintentionally, we can teach our dogs to be picky or fussy eaters.  We can create this picky or fussy behavior and not realize that our behavior and response is responsible for their inappetence.  When our dog refuses to eat, the first inclination is to continue to present foods they will eat. While in some instances (such as nausea) this might be feasible, it can also create a habit for the dog to selectively wait until a food is presented that he really likes. Another scenario might be when we put the dog#%92s food dish down and they don#%92t eat and we become anxious or angry because the dog won#%92t eat. Without realizing it, we are setting up an aversion to food for the dog. They note our emotions and began to think eating is an unpleasant or unrewarding situation. They see our anxiety and stress and put together eating as a stressful and unrewarding.   In either instance, the best idea is to present a food in the usual manner. If the dog doesn#%92t eat, act nonchalant and take the bowl away after five or ten minutes. Then wait until the next feeding time. Never get angry, upset or anxious. Do not hover around the dog, wringing your hands, thrusting the bowl under their head or watching him anxiously to eat. Walk away confidently, and let the dog have his meals in non emotional, pleasant atmosphere.   Feeding a dog in the same place, at the same time also helps. If the dog is nauseous, then changing the feeding schedule to several small, frequent meals is often helpful. Digesting food takes energy, plus smaller amounts of food, fed more frequently offers less chance of producing nausea. Frequent, small meals are much easier to digest, especially during illness and recovery.   I will now list three prescription appetite stimulators. These are *not* to be used for fussy eaters (that is behavioral) but rather for dogs with illness and/or nausea. If your dog has pancreatitis, you do not want to induce appetite until the dog#%92s pancreas has healed (please consult with your veterinarian on this).   When Bean had nausea due to his decreased renal function, he was already on a low phosphorus diet, and some supplements to help support his renal function (see kidney diets). What I used for him at that time was Meclizine.  This is the same as Dramamine Less Drowsy, but I suggest you have your vet calculate dose for your dog. I would give this one half to one hour before meals. It helped stop minor nausea and helped with appetite.  For more information on Meclizine: [linkhttp://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=31&S=1[/link]>http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=31&S=1]http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=31&S=1[/link] [linkhttp://www.petplace.com/drug-library/meclizine-bonine-antivert/page1.aspx[/link]>http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/meclizine-bonine-antivert/page1.aspx]http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/meclizine-bonine-antivert/page1.aspx[/link]   When Bean#%92s nausea increased as his renal disease worsened my vet then recommended Mirtazapine. This prescription drug is used for certain depression and mental illness in people, but side effects include increased appetite. This drug is only given once daily. It can help with depression in dogs as well. Do be careful with this drug.  Bean had an underlying condition of an inflamed pancreas.  The increased appetite put him into pancreatitis. So don#%92t overdo it.  If your dog#%92s appetite increases; remember to give small, frequent meals.  For more information on Mirtazapine: [linkhttp://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2552&S=1&SourceID=52[/link]>http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2552&S=1&SourceID=52]http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2552&S=1&SourceID=52[/link]   The last drug I want to mention Zofran.  It is very expensive, but very effective, especially when it is used with chemotherapy treatments.  Chemotherapy treatments can cause severe nausea. Zofran also comes in a generic form.  I also used this medication for Bean.  Be aware this drug costs approximately $40 a pill, and it is recommended to give it twice daily. It comes in 4mg and 8 mg. It also comes in ab injectable form, but must be given in the vein or in the muscle. I only needed to use Zofran during the worst times of Bean#%92s nausea, but it is a comfort to have it on hand, just in case.  For more information on Zofran: [linkhttp://www.petplace.com/drug-library/ondansetron-zofran/page1.aspx[/link]>http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/ondansetron-zofran/page1.aspx]http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/ondansetron-zofran/page1.aspx[/link] [linkhttp://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00422.htm[/link]>http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00422.htm]http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00422.htm[/link]   When trying to make food appetizing, it is often helpful to slightly heat the food. Sometimes adding a small bit of powdered garlic helps as well.  I have also found that serving food in different bowls, such as plastic, glass or even paper has helped. I also make meal times very positive and work hard to ignore it when my dog won#%92t eat. I just try again at the next meal time.   If your dog is recuperating from chemotherapy or another illness and can eat any food (fat and proteins), some good things to try include:   Scrambled eggs with cream cheese Chicken liver sautéed with butter Mashed potatoes with butter and cheese Macaroni and cheese Yogurt mixed with canned salmon Sardines and cottage cheese Baked fish with butter Meat baby food   I have also sprinkled high smelling cheeses, such as parmesan onto the food.  Additionally, Brawnschawger, a soft meat spread, cheese whiz and peanut butter are all excellent for hiding pills.   Lower fat treats include:   Hardboiled egg whites Drained Tuna fish mixed with potato Very lean hamburger (98% fat free) mixed with rice (at least 50-50) The lower fat meat baby food, mixed with non fat cottage cheese I have even used the low end fat Weight Watchers meal in a pinch- but small portions.   Creativity is the name of the game and it is very important to remember to always serve small frequent meals if a dog has digestive problems such as nausea or diarrhea. We all want our dog#%92s to eat well to bring them back to health, but food served in large quantities can take the healing process backwards instead of forwards.  Several small meals are more helpful.   Always consult with your veterinarian on any medications or attention needed for your dog#%92s dietary needs.  I hope everyone finds this information helpful.   I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July!   Lew and the Bean    

ORIGINAL: Edie

  Another cause of inappetence is a behavioral issue. Unintentionally, we can teach our dogs to be picky or fussy eaters.  We can create this picky or fussy behavior and not realize that our behavior and response is responsible for their inappetence.  When our dog refuses to eat, the first inclination is to continue to present foods they will eat. While in some instances (such as nausea) this might be feasible, it can also create a habit for the dog to selectively wait until a food is presented that he really likes. Another scenario might be when we put the dog's food dish down and they don't eat and we become anxious or angry because the dog won't eat. Without realizing it, we are setting up an aversion to food for the dog. They note our emotions and began to think eating is an unpleasant or unrewarding situation. They see our anxiety and stress and put together eating as a stressful and unrewarding.  

 Never get angry, upset or anxious. Do not hover around the dog, wringing your hands, thrusting the bowl under their head or watching him anxiously to eat. Walk away confidently, and let the dog have his meals in non emotional, pleasant atmosphere.  

Well, I've thought about it all night, and I'm pretty sure Chance's main problem is behavioral. The dog doesn't get enough excercise, and is therefore easily distracted. Eating just isn't enough fun, so he doesn't eat. Then we all spend the next 6 months racking our brains, spoiling him with toppers, and standing over him anxiously hoping he'll love the latest concoction. I think he's getting worse because we've been creating an aversion to food in our attempts to make him love his food.

I'll be spending the next 2 weeks turning mealtime into a game, using my own hyperactive chow-hounds as an example for him. Hopefully he'll learn to like his food again, and I can teach my parents how to make mealtime fun, AND get them to excercise him daily. Weekend hikes just aren't going to cut it for this big doof...

Yeah, I think making food a game is a great idea.  I know it's tough b/c it's not your dog, so there's only so much time you have and the expectation that someone else will pick up where you left off.  I don't think he looks too bad, but I agree that it is unhealthy that he has lost so much weight.  If he was always that skinny (like Kaiser), it would be different.  If it were my parents' dog, I'd suggest that they start doing some hard exercise each day, get the dog good and hungry.  Then, do some basic training and reinforcement throughout the day and use some food as treats to get him eating a bit more and increase the foot motivation.  But yeah, if they're not into it, they're not into it.  Hopefully you can make some progress and they can see that it's not that difficult and it can be improved.

My Border Collies often go through a stage from one to two years where they look like blessed detention camp victims. I think part of it is not being at the level of training where they are able to do a lot, but their bodies need the activity and so do their minds, to make it "worth their while" to eat. Then you end up putting a TON of food into them, still.

Two words - Satin Balls. Purists would be horrified at some of the ingredients but we are not talking about a lifetime nutritional course here. My vet highly recommends this course for healthy dogs. You can either feed it by itself for extra concentrated nutrition, or you can mix it with kibble. It's nutritionally complete so you can feed it as long as you need to, until Pupper gets over his teenaged angst. [] Google the name Satin Balls and you will get the recipe. Yes, it is a huge pain but it's worth it. It WORKS.

I also recommend the Bil-Jac - I use the puppy formula (not large breed, not enough protein).

Go this route before you start considering the invasive tests. If you are still making no headway, I agree with the pancreatic insufficiency, plus I don't know how common it is in other breeds, but BCs can get something like ulcers that make them reluctant to eat. There's usually other symptoms, too, though, like a tendency to get the runs and/or vomit when stressed.

Good luck!

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

I don't normally stoop this low, but how about bribery? Canned Mackeral, green tripe, even Nutrical... If he's THAT skinny, I agree that it's a problem. He's gotta eat something. I think the Innova is a good step. Digestive enzymes really helped put weight on Emma, when she got super thin. I used Prozyme, for a loooong time, for her. It really made a difference.

He looks pretty big, next to Romeo. What does Romeo weigh, just out of curiosity?

I am a strong believer that probiotics help with weight gain, hence they aid in digestion by helping the animal absorb nutrients better.  Green Tripe is loaded with probiotics and the dogs love it.  I've mentioned before that I seriously think that there is a link between age and fussyness, like in human toddlers.  I've ran into at least 4 fussy German Shepards somewhere between 6 months and 2 years and later they just start scarfing food down again.  Joey's not a shepard and he did the same thing.

If your looking for a kibble recommendation, how about Eagle Pack Chicken Holistic.  It's worked for others I've recommended it to.  But I'd still add probiotics.

Please keep us posted! []

First, get him on to a food with a higher amount of kilocalories per cup (Canidae, Innova,  Eagle Pack, etc.)  Feed the dogs out of sight of one another.  If you have to, go back to the free feeding for a while and crate the other dog.  That will at least tell you if the dog is not eating due to the change in regimen, or if coincidentally there is simply something wrong that the vet has not yet discovered.  Work with the vet!!  Report back on the dog's progress.
Some dogs refuse food that they perceive has caused them to feel poorly.  Sometimes, although food allergies are less common than inhalant or contact allergies, it is an allergen (most common are chicken and corn, wheat or soy - Innova Evo is grain free, if you want to try that).  Double check for a dental, hormonal, or other problem that may have escaped notice at the vet's. 

ORIGINAL: jojo the pogo

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

...Digestive enzymes really helped put weight on Emma, when she got super thin. I used Prozyme, for a loooong time, for her. It really made a difference.

I am a strong believer that probiotics help with weight gain, hence they aid in digestion by helping the animal absorb nutrients better. 

This is indeed the case for my male Golden.  He is skinny for a Golden...looks under fed when he's soaking wet.  I just started adding yogurt to their food and it's made a world of difference for him.  He has always had an extremely sensitive digestive system, too.  He is gaining weight but the other two are not.

Dropped by the vets office today to get a weight... 78 pounds. I will be doing everything I can to get some weight on him the next couple weeks (He willingly ate 2 cups of Innova and then I tossed him 2 cups of SD large breed for dinner tonight) and if he hasn't put on some pounds with some TLC and behavior modification he will definately be getting another full workup. I'll see about picking up some yogurt for him too.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! I've got a plan (thank goodness he likes the Innova) and I'll keep you updated on his progress!

ORIGINAL: mrv

If activity is normal and blood work etc. is normal.... who cares?  I am speaking of an owner of 3 dogs who were VERY thin (well below standards) etc. at this age.

I would let him stay thin, chances are that will work out better in the long run any way (says the owner of a now deceased medical mess of a BYB gsd (spina bifida, retained testicle, HD and autoimmune disorder who lived to be 13)

 
Right on the money IMO.  I think this dog will fill out very soon, by the 3rd year there will be a noticeable difference.  I don't think this dog looks all the bad in the pics to be honest with you.  Color and coat look nice, not showing any rib despite being still young.  It also appears the dog has been to the groomer (2nd pic) which will also make the dog appear thinner.
If the Vets are stumped well, no news is good news...right?  A light eater, no big issue I don't think.  Spice up the kibble with some slightly warm chicken or beef gravy to encourage some eating if you honestly don't think he's eating enough.  Is there something to be said about the leaner dogs and better overall health and increased longevity?  I think so.

Get somebody to help you measure him at the withers. In 53 years I don`t think Ive seen a 34 imcher except a Shiloh.

In 53 years I don`t think Ive seen a 34 incher except a Shiloh.

ORIGINAL: hdkutz

Count me among the skeptics too!  []

Aren't deerhounds and wolfhounds like 32/34 inches?  That's tall!

I am now feeding Kord satin balls every other day. My boy is at 71lbs, is 11 months and looks like a victum of starvation. He gets 3 cups of adult food with a half can of high active dog food added daily. The satin balls I started this week and will continue until I see a difference. The vet was not concerned when I took him in last month but I am a tad, he looks down right ribby.  Now I know they go through a lean stage, and I no light is better then heavy, but the looks I get......[8|] All suggestions appreciated, oh and I just did the adult can switch off of puppy cause he was not eating it. And he never turns down food either.
Here are some recent photo's:
 



 
 

My boy is at 71lbs, is 11 months and looks like a victum of starvation. He gets 3 cups of adult food with a half can of high active dog food added daily. The satin balls I started this week and will continue until I see a difference. The vet was not concerned when I took him in last month but I am a tad, he looks down right ribby.

ORIGINAL: Truley

At only 11 months he shouldn't be built like a 3 year old should he?