Picky eater GSD...advice please

[RedneckPete]

We have two GSDs, a 5yo female and a 4yo male. The male is a purebred, American showdog type (ie the long and lean type) while the female is a purebred European working type (ie short and stocky). We bought the male as a 2yo, and when he came to us, he was super skinny, with the former owners warning us that he was a very, very picky eater. They were right.

We've had Ruger for 2 years now, and although at times we have managed to get enough flesh on him that his ribs aren't sticking out, he is just always skinny. We've tried all different food types at the vet's suggestion (high-cal puppy food, varieties of tinned food, soft kibbles, etc.), but he is just so picky!!

Right now he's the skinniest he's ever been, because we just went away for a few weeks. While we were away, we had a friend come by every day to check on the dogs and top up their kibbles (we just left big bins out to make less work for our friend, as we were gone for 2 1/2 weeks and didn't want to make it too complicated for him...he had to feed goats and chickens already too!). Ruger just must have barely eaten anything the whole time we were gone. So now we're trying to fatten him up with lots of tinned food (he'll eat it for a few days, then starts turning his nose up at it when it's no longer new to him), have tried moist kibbles again, tried giving him our leftovers (the phase he's curretnly in and enjoying)...what else can we do?

I plan to call our local butcher shops this week to see if they have off-cuts, bones, stuff that we can take for Ruger. How else can we fatten him up? What are your suggestions for food that he will enjoy and that will put some meat on him?

We also wonder how much the dynamics between the two dogs comes into play. Sandy (the female) is the dominant dog, and she's also pregnant right now, so we wonder if he's "sacrificing" his food for her? Is this possible? To test this theory, we've been locking him in his kennel with his food every day, while she gets fed at the house, but that doesn't seem to make much difference. He actually looks all forlorn when we do that, so starting tomorrow we're going to switch that, and lock Sandy up while we feed Ruger at the house.

Arrgg, we're just so frustrated! Sandy has no problem at all putting on the weight, and she's an energetic frisky dog, while old Ruger just won't put on any flesh!!

Any suggestions and advice would be much appreciated!

Chandra (Pete's wife)

[melina]

You might try having a pancreatic enzyme test run on him. He might not be utilizing what food he does eat.
I had a picky eater and finally got him fattened up with raw meat, mainly hamburger. He also gets treats throughout the day, so he's always earning a cookie. His mother was also a picky eater and I never really found the magic thing to keep weight on her. There's a canine fatball recipe online that includes hamburger, egg yolks, oatmeal, etc. I don't really remember what the recipe is, but if you google canine fatballs, you should be able to find it.

[mtcougar832]

I'm in almost the same boat: male neutered GSD, 4 years old, also named Ruger. He is from Czech police bloodlines, will eat anything and very active. Growing up our male GSD filled out at about 3 years of age, I had hoped Ruger would do the same.

I switched him to raw food early this summer and his health has improved in other areas (stool & coat) but he hasn't gained much. I increased his food amounts and added more variety (following the sample diet on leerburg.com) about a week ago. We will see how that works out. I am also going to try feeding him on a strict schedule, to see if that helps.

[Cannon_Farms]

Maybe I can help, this is not an uncommon problem because of the high motabolism of the breed, so normally they will do better with several meals a day.
As far as leaving the dog food out, would you want to eat stale kibble with the other dogs drool on it? not too apealing when you think of it, and what falls will go stale.
If you are a kibble fan, purina HI Pro is a good food, its not got as high of a protien as some, only 27% so though not highly ideal for a puppy its not going to be bad, and its 15% fat, this is what I use to fatten up rescues I plan on rehoming.

On the raw fed, Satain balls (google for recipes) are great for keeping weight on them because of the higher fat. I make mine the simple way, elcheapo ground beef, mix with whole egg (2 per lb shells n all) and oatmeal to hold it together. Pork feet are also a great source of fat, as well as lamb cuts, I also feed pork neck bones.

I love the leerburg site, used to be friends with one of his friends and use that as the basis for most of my training.

[fordson major]

try kirkland dog food, ever since switching we have had a lot less refusals too eat! try boarding him the next time where he can be kept an eye on, short stays will accustom him to you leaving in a more controlled situation.

[TJN66]

I dont have any suggestions for you as I am in the same boat. 2 yr old male neutered purebred GSD. He just wont eat. I dont even know how he keeps the weight he has on now. Canned food, homemade food, people food, all different kinds of kibble. He just looks at you and walks away.

Realistically I know that he is eating but it sure seems like not much to me. He would rather be playing.

Tammy

[Minelson]

I had the same problem with BoBo. And he also got the runs really easy too. UGH! I started feeding him Flint River Ranch Fish & Chips along with giving him Pro Enzymes to help him absorb the nutrition better. I also fed him 3 times a day and gave him lots of treats. He started to look really good! Sadly, we lost him shortly after to a horrible accident

[Maura]

I've always had problems putting weight on my Border Collie. He's very active and didn't look not-too-skinny until he was about six, when he started slowing down. I fed him three times a day, as much as a larger dog would eat, just to keep him from looking starved.

Try feeding him a raw diet. For instance, a chicken leg in the morning, a chicken leg in the afternoon, and a meaty beef bone in the evening. Use organ meat as snacks. Once in a while give him raw eggs. Those aren't big meals for a GSD and he'll down them in a matter of seconds. Right now, he probably can't eat a large meal, but he can eat several small ones.

[RedneckPete]

Sorry folks, I forgot all about this thread...usually my husband's the one on here, not me!

For the last two days we've been feeding Ruger mashed potatoes (I grew zillions of them int he garden this year) with a few meatballs mixed in, and he's been devouring that. Funny thing is that when I added gravy to it last night, he didn't want it (although Sandy was happy to eat his portion!), so I think he just doesn't like the richer or stronger flavors. I've been researching the BARF diet and have ordered some chicken back bones from the butcher down the road for pickup tomorrow, so we'll give that a try. I also just found a recipe for the Satin balls, which sounds like a great "jump start" for Ruger, so I'll be trying that too. Probably toss the chicken bones in the freezer for a few days while we try the Satin balls first, then if those do manage to put some weight on him, start switching over to the BARF diet.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Cannon_Farms]

Potatoes are loaded with starches and sugars, use with caution or youll have a 2 year old on a sugar high.
I hope you research the RMB diet as oposed to the BARF which is my strong preferance, www.rawfed.com myths can help you understand why

[crazygoatgal]

Naturaldane was a big help to me with my GSD "Baylah" who is also pure Czech. working dog and as lean as lean can be. I was going to suggest raw too, and the organ meats. My dogs loved the boiled chicken hearts and gizzards ( I can't do raw for the old man mutt that I have) that they had the other night.

[RedneckPete]

Not good news.

We tried so hard to fatten him up, feeding him raw chicken bones every morning, a Satin ball every night, and bits and pieces in between. The first couple of weeks he devoured the stuff like he was starving, and put a few pounds back on, but then in the last week he started being picky again, just nibbling at it, and eating it eventually but taking all day to do so. We bought enzyme supplements to try and see if they would help, and weere going to take him to the vet to have him tested for a pacreatic enzyme deficiency. He was acting normal yesterday morning, then suddenly at noon he started acting severely drunk and stumbling around, so we immediately brought him to the vet.

Turns out it had nothing at all to do with his eating...that was a side effect of the real issue...acute liver failure. Probably caused by a bacterial infection (although he was UTD on all his immunizations), as he is only 4yo. He just had such a long history of being skinny and being a picky eater, that we just assumed it was a simple matter of fattening him up.

He spent the night at the vet's, and started seizing overnight. The vet called this morning to recommend euthenizing him; we have given our consent.

He was such a wonderful, wonderful family pet, with a fabulous personality, and we all (especially our 5 kids) will miss him terribly.

[fordson major]

you tried your best, sometimes that just happens. my condolences.

[Minelson]

Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss I know how hard it is and how awful you feel. Big hugs to you and your family. So sad

[GoldenMom]

So sorry to hear about your dog. Sometimes bad things happen like that and you just can't do anything about them. Sure doesn't make it any easier though...

[Maura]

So sorry. I don't think there are any vaccinations that can protect a dog from liver failure per se.

[GoldenMom]

No there aren't. The only liver failure prevented by vaccination is that due to viral hepatitis. Unfortunately there are so many other things that can cause liver failure.