Thin Collie (pic added)

[reallemons1]

I was given a beautful Collie. The owner said she had trouble getting him to eat, so she fed him people food , probably part of the problem. He also has a lot of nervous energy. He was a city dog, raised in the house and a small yard. He was also crated a lot and left alone while the owner worked full time. We have a small farm with 2 other dogs (one is a very playful Jack Russell) horses, goats, and chickens so he is getting plenty to fill his mind (maybe too much). Ollie runs and plays a way lot and is very mindful and friendly. But he is getting thin. I have tried many different types of dog foods, canned and dry, most were expensive better brands, even cat foods. Getting him to eat is the challange. He has been vet checked, neutered, on heartworm, and with the exception of an overbite is healthy. We live in a small town so there aren't a lot of sources for feeds here. Any suggestions for weight gain foods or additives would help. Thanks

 

[dogzrule5]

If your vet gave him a clean bill of health and he doesn't have a thyroid issue, feed him puppy food...or half puppy food and half regular food. The higher calorie content should help him out.

I had to do this with one of my adult dogs a while back.

Thanks for giving him a good home.

 

[Poison Ivy]

I have a min pin that I have to feed High energy food or he drops weight fast. He barely weighs 8lbs wet! I also give him lots of treats to help keep his weight up. He also like that pour on gravy made just for dogs on his dry food. Good Luck with your new dog.

 

[texasreb]

What are the names of some of the foods you have already tried (so I don't suggest them)?

Can you try mixing people food with dog food?

 

[onthespot]

I'd hit him with some tapeworm medicine anyhow.

 

[menageriemama]

Same here. I would de worm him again, and then I would get him a kong and stuff it with brunshwigger (sp?) for him. Or just put it in his food. Most grocery stores have it and I have never met a dog who could resist its wonderful stench, and I have known some really picky dogs

 

[Beekissed]

I have a dog (Border Collie mix) with a lot of energy also and I have to feed him twice what I feed my other dog and he still stays "ribby" looking. My vet says this is fine for him, but I still am not used to it. I have to fight to keep my older dog from gaining weight, so this is an altogether different problem.

I finally started giving him an egg on top of his food each day, wormed him real well with horse wormer and he finally started filling out.

Is this a young dog? Maybe he hasn't stopped growing yet? I think that was my dog's problem for awhile. Now he is filling out but I don't think he will ever put on weight like the older dog as he is far too hyperactive. I think working dogs like that really need a high protein diet as they burn more calories than the average dog. You might try supplementing with an egg a day...really keeps their coat shiney and healthy also!

 

[FlockEweFarm]

I would also give a spoon of cod liver oil and a little dark caro syrup to help add some calories, but only do that as a last ditch effort to put some weight on him, because it is pretty heavy in calories and it might make em poop like a treed coon. Are you brushing them regularly? If the collie is long coated and licks and grooms itsself a lot, it might have a hairball that is blocking up its GI tract and making it difficult for it to gain weight. My mother used to be a breeder of collies, and every now and then, one of her dogs would develop this issue, and they would have to be fed a mixture of bacon grease and caro syrup until it would pass.

Worm them for not only tape worms, but whip worms, round worms and pin worms. Good luck and thank you for taking in a needy pup!

 

[AngelzFyre]

I know you probably already know this but be very careful when deworming your collie or giving heartworm prevention with anything that's got Ivermectin in it. Collies and border collies, german shepherds and a few other breeds can be very sensitive to Ivermectin and drugs like Imodium. It's caused by a mutant gene in those particular breeds that makes their brains not be able to pump those drugs out of the brain like a normal dog can and it will poison and/or kill them.
Good luck with him and I'm so glad he's got you for his new mom!

 

[Queen Scoot]

make satin balls....it'll put the weight on