We adopted a 1 1/2yr Siberian Husky from the H/S.?

Question

We adopted a 1/2yr Siberian Husky from the Humane Society about 4 weeks ago. He is so thin that his hip bones stick out, you can easily feel his ribs under his coat. He weighed 48lbs when I took him in for his exam, and when I took him in to get neutered he had lost 3lbs. I am mixing a can of science diet can food with his food every morning, and he has dry food avail whenever he wants it. Any advice on how to get him to gain a little weight would be great. Thanks!

He has had a fecal test and tested for worms, and all came back fine.

Answer 1

Change his diet for awhile until he puts on some weight.... have the same problem with an older female---this is what I use: (I have noting against Science Diet, it's a good product. But expensive if you are buying it from a vet. Any Purina product is just as good, and cheaper. And they really like this recipe below. The rice adds not only calories, but keeps them from getting the runs. I've always had some big critter that had a tender tummy. None of them has ever had a problem with this:

Make a big pot of rice --- 1rice to 4 water.... cook as directed, except make it really sloppy Don't use instant. Mix a half of a large can of Pedigree chunk dog food, with a cup of dry, and a cup of rice. Add lots of water. Feed it to him 3 or 4 times a day. They love it.


And if you lock him up at night, don't feed him past 4:00 or you get a mess to clean up. Many dogs just don't like the free feeding with dry dog food.)
Warning: Torsion problem in big dogs.
And because he's big, you can't just give him one giant meal -- big, deepchested dogs torsion and die. (The stomach does a twist like a towel..... it is almost always fatal before you find it, and the ONLY cure is a surgery.) The cause appears to be the combination of
1.being a big, deep chested dog + food + often exercise...few torsion on an empty stomach, but, just to go against the rule, I did have one do that at 3:00 in the afternoon, 5 hours after breakfast

Answer 2

I'm assuming the dog's been checked for worms so that's not the problem. I think you just need to keep doing what you're doing and he'll gain weight. If he likes vegetables, why not add some to his food to encourage him to eat - mine all love carrots, cauliflower, brocolli, beans, brussel sprouts (no corn though). You might also want to either put a little oil on his food or give him a salmon oil capsule because his coat and skin are probably not in great condition either. He might also like a bit of peanut butter for a treat. You could also try boiling some rice and hamburger, seasoned with a bit of garlic and adding that to his food.

Answer 3

My husky had an issue similar to this. Before she was spayed, she was so skinny 9 months old 27lb, like sickly skinny and had little to no appetite. I was amazed when the dog would snubb steak! I would have to force feed her at times just to put some kind of food in her body. But I figured HER out slowly. With her, when she would exercise, her appetite apperared. So we did daily walks to an open feild and let her run around and be crazy with her boxer baby brother. After she was spayed, they explored her gastro intestinal system and noticed nothing extreemly abnormal, her stomache was not in its normal position, but my vet reasurred me it wouldn't effect her. So gradually as long as I was consitant with allowing her to exercise, she put on nice weight and muscle (not to mention it kept her out of trouble too and getting into stuff she wasn't supposed to). She was tested for every thing, and they couldn't find anything out of the abnormal. Blood tests, urine test, fecal floatations, exploratory surgery, all came up with in normal limits. Now she is 2 years old 44lbs and doing great, still has some gastro intestinal prolbems but its not effecting her weight.

Every dog is different. I can only suggest from my own expierence, make sure blood, urine, and fecal (for parasites) all check out with in normal limits, and maybe try to increase exercise like I did. I found alot of helpful hints in that bood, "Huskys for Dummys". I wish you good luck.

Answer 4

I found my Siberian the same way(except she was thrown out of a car on the highway).. Try feeding him a high quality puppy food (Nutro, Eukanuba, etc...) puppy food has a lot more protein and more calories.. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Dogs don't love dog food. They do love meat though. After you feed his normal food, give him as much meat as you can afford. Baked, of course. keep in mind that he must not get accustomed to not eating his dog food. So don't give him any meat if he hasn't eaten his food. Also, after being neutered normally he will have an appetite. Finally, ask the vet to check him for worms and erlichia, these both diminish appetite.

No garlic, that is toxic to dogs.

Answer 6

Try give yo your dog can food, but no the diet food, the diet can food have less protein.Tried Pedegree have a lot a proteen, Because i used that for my dog is that work.

Answer 7

I own a siberian H and is the same problem and i found out my mistake, dont live the food all day, give it twice a day only....Thats how she is now 55lb....

Answer 8

high protein diet ...
I had a dog that had Valley fever, was very skinny...
we gave him Cheerios and milk for b-fast, we mixed cottage cheese in with his regular dog food at meal time and if you really want you can cook special canine meals much healthier than canned food

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1664&articleid=672

Answer 9

To the vet!!!!



AWAY!!!!!