Author Topic: Weight Gain  (Read 7713 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline bizzylizzy

  • Donator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4600
  • Gender: Female
  • 🙂 Jayne
Weight Gain
« on: September 23, 2024, 06:52:53 AM »
Hi all,
Humphrey 9, is raw fed, not very active, usually walks about 7 kms a day in total. He‘s fairly big for a cocker and has always averaged around 15,5 kilos but he‘s been steadily gaining recently, he‘s now over 17 Kgs and despite reducing food and increasing exercise as much as we dare, the weight loss is minimal (100g per week).
Just interested to know what amounts (raw) others are feeding? He has 80g in the morning (ready mixed) and 100 g in the evening and I add more grated carrot, courgettes or other veg to help fill him up but it doesn’t seem much and he wakes up early in the morning smacking his lips (sounds funny, don’t know how else to describe it :lol:) and licking and I‘m sure he’s hungry.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I shall have to go to the vet if necessary but just interested to hear what you think first.
Many thanks, as always!
Xx Jayne

Offline Mudmagnets

  • Site Member
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8409
  • Gender: Female
Re: Weight Gain
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2024, 08:20:49 AM »
Not sure I can help, I feed Rupert (8.9kg westie-poo) 135gr of food 3 times a day (405ish in total) + small treats during the day. This is Forthglade wet complete meals, so I imagine that raw food must be more substantial (less moisture).

He is 21 months and pretty active most of the day - 1 hour walk roughly - about a mile but loads of play in the garden too. We go to agility training once a week at the moment but this will stop probably next week as it is held outdoors.

Hope you find the solution for Humph  :luv:
Remembering Smudge 23/11/2006 - 3/8/2013, Branston 30/8/14 - 28/10/22, and Minstrel 24/6/13 - 13/8/24 all now at the Bridge.

Offline phoenix

  • Donator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1406
Re: Weight Gain
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2024, 09:04:07 AM »
I have a morning licker dog . I now think it’s a bit of acid indigestion, she occasionally rushes outside to eat grass and sick up some bile , then she’s happy.  It could be an empty tummy so I give her a little snack at bedtime and a bit of lacto free milk . Some people give them a human type tablet like Tums or Rennies. I prefer  just give her a little  bit of carbohydrate like pasta.
RIP Marti  the EPI springer age 12,  and beloved black cocker Bobby, 8 yrs old, too soon, from PLN.
Now owned by TInker, tiny hairy grey poodle/terrier rescue from Greece and Jack, local rescue,   scruffy ginger terrier mutt.

Offline Mudmagnets

  • Site Member
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8409
  • Gender: Female
Re: Weight Gain
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2024, 11:08:46 AM »
I have a morning licker dog . I now think it’s a bit of acid indigestion, she occasionally rushes outside to eat grass and sick up some bile , then she’s happy.  It could be an empty tummy so I give her a little snack at bedtime and a bit of lacto free milk . Some people give them a human type tablet like Tums or Rennies. I prefer  just give her a little  bit of carbohydrate like pasta.

Rupert used to do this in the morning until he had a proper tummy upset including morning bile sickness which made him listless. The vet prescribed Cobalaplex one every other day and it has certainly helped, I carried on with them (I asked if ok to do this) and he definitely seems better for them. I now get them from Vetuk as they are much cheaper than vets (surprise, surprise  ;) )
Remembering Smudge 23/11/2006 - 3/8/2013, Branston 30/8/14 - 28/10/22, and Minstrel 24/6/13 - 13/8/24 all now at the Bridge.

Offline bizzylizzy

  • Donator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4600
  • Gender: Female
  • 🙂 Jayne
Re: Weight Gain
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2024, 03:32:46 PM »
I have a morning licker dog . I now think it’s a bit of acid indigestion, she occasionally rushes outside to eat grass and sick up some bile , then she’s happy.  It could be an empty tummy so I give her a little snack at bedtime and a bit of lacto free milk . Some people give them a human type tablet like Tums or Rennies. I prefer  just give her a little  bit of carbohydrate like pasta.

Rupert used to do this in the morning until he had a proper tummy upset including morning bile sickness which made him listless. The vet prescribed Cobalaplex one every other day and it has certainly helped, I carried on with them (I asked if ok to do this) and he definitely seems better for them. I now get them from Vetuk as they are much cheaper than vets (surprise, surprise  ;) )

I have a morning licker dog . I now think it’s a bit of acid indigestion, she occasionally rushes outside to eat grass and sick up some bile , then she’s happy.  It could be an empty tummy so I give her a little snack at bedtime and a bit of lacto free milk . Some people give them a human type tablet like Tums or Rennies. I prefer  just give her a little  bit of carbohydrate like pasta.



Thanks both!  I‘ve been looking online again this morning and he does indeed seem to be showing a lot of the signs of acidity, I think a little snack last thing at night would probably be the best way forward but I obviously need to make sure he doesn’t put even more weight on so I‘ll maybe need to consider taking him off raw altogether as kibble would  perhaps be easier to spread over the day (?)
I‘ll get him to the vet first thing next week though and get him checked over.
Thanks again for your input, have a good weekend!
xx


Offline Mudmagnets

  • Site Member
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8409
  • Gender: Female
Re: Weight Gain
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2024, 03:47:18 PM »
but I obviously need to make sure he doesn’t put even more weight



maybe give a little less in each meal during the day and then give him equivalent last thing at night?
Remembering Smudge 23/11/2006 - 3/8/2013, Branston 30/8/14 - 28/10/22, and Minstrel 24/6/13 - 13/8/24 all now at the Bridge.

Offline bizzylizzy

  • Donator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4600
  • Gender: Female
  • 🙂 Jayne
Re: Weight Gain - Update
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2024, 07:42:22 AM »
Had the blood tests back yesterday, the SDMA level is at 18 which is apparently too high, (it has steadily increased during the last two blood tests) although everything else is fine. Vet has recommended a renal diet and another blood test in 3 months. 
I‘ve ordered a trial offer of kidney friendly tinned food so we‘ll see how it goes.
Knowing cockers’ predisposition to kidney problems, I‘m feeling a bit apprehensive but hopefully a change of food will help. ( Made the BIG mistake of asking Dr.Google and of course my head‘s smoking!  :huh: )
Any advice / input gratefully received.  :luv:

Offline Toofast

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 89
Re: Weight Gain
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2024, 06:43:36 PM »
We have 4 working type and sometimes 5 as one lives with our daughter but comes to us for 5 days a week while our daughter is at work.
They vary in age and size types but are all fed once a day with about 1/2lb raw meat each, they are fit and active even the 12 year old..
Two and a half pounds of meat is thawed daily and shared between all 5 girls, some a little more some a little less depending on their body condition, but still only 2 and 1/2lbs per day between the 5 dogs. Adjusting their weight is easily done on a daily basis
Those of which come "beating with us in the shooting season often have their feeds increased to two x 1/2lb =1lb each on working days only
From time to time someone will eat a chosen grass, in the spring they all love "goose grass/ cleavers" and of course they all enjoy picking black berries when available. Sometimes, one in particular will scrape little holes and tug at roots and consume some soil too. Whatever grass or wild herbs they consume is their choice and must be something that their system requires, we never stop them!