Help me please

[darkvixen]

My question is this....
Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get my dobies to gain some weight. I just got them from someone that was very neglectful of them. They are healthy other than being under weight by about 20 pounds each.

[MsMini]

There could be alot of things you can do.... One question is have they been dewormed? Or what food are they on?
I own a Dobe now..Have to see pictures of these 2 .:)

[darkvixen]

They have been dewormed. They are on a 22% protein dog food.
i am attaching a pic of one. and nove not seen a pic of your two.

[binka_nugget]

When we got Kaedyn, he was severely underweight. I put him on the puppy formula of Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul and he gained weight in no time.

[dragondawg]

there is no reason why you couldn't put them on a puppy formula of dog food which by definition is usually extremely high in protein and fat. Allow them free choice. Don't know that much about Dobies and their eating tendencies. Free choice may or may not be a way to go for life.

[MsMini]

Beautiful dogs. They hold a special spot in my heart. Now I have mine on a maintenance formula with 22 or 23 % protein. You could find a formula for active dogs that might have 26 or 27 %.or even a puppy formula for a quick fix..I have seen some puppy food with or 30%.Now it was hard to tell by the pics but they should be sleek and lean.Are they really underweight?
Here is Nitro... I only have 1 Dobe.

[darkvixen]

that pic was taken by the previous owner before they got underweight. I have attached a recent black and white photo of my demon boy.i do not know how much you can tell by it. their hip bones stick out sadly...they have almost no muscle it would seem on the behind and you can see let alone feel every single bone in their bodies. i know they should be lean but they should not weight about 50 pounds either.

[darkvixen]

forgot to attach the pic last time

[darkvixen]

here is a pic i just took of diablo. my poor sad little boy. he is the love of our hearts.

[Giselle]

I personally would not put him on a puppy food. I'm not a fan of puppy food for puppies, so I would suggest feeding him 1/4-1/2 cup more food every day. If he doesn't gain weight that way, you can add Satin Balls into his meal.
http://www.njboxers.com/satin-balls-recipe.htm
If you're worried about raw meat, you can lightly cook them to enhance their aroma and flavor.

[MsMini]

Awww poor Diablo... He certainly needs some meat on him. And I wouldn't just keep feeding him more because you could be opening a whole other can of worms. How long have you had them? With a regular feeding schedule, they should come around.Maybe throw in some extra TLC. I can't wait to see them fit and trim.;)

[shutterbug0303]

Another hint my vet told us.......use Parmagain cheese (sprinkle kind) on their regular food. Most all dogs love cheese and my girls gobble up their meals with this stuff on it. We have two picky danes that will only eat with cheese on their food :rolleyes: Also, I have a dobie....she is eating the puppy food that the danes are on because it would be practically impossible to convince her to eat her own food. No harm done for her :D We do have to monitor her activity level and weight though, because she will get too big on the puppy food.

[darkvixen]

I can not thank you all enough for your wonderful advice. We have only had them about a month now. And they have gained weight but only about 3 pounds. Is this a proper weight gain? I have never had an underweight dog in my life. I trully want to see them at their full potential. I do not want to get them too big too soon though. Demon seems to be bouncing back emotionally faster than Diablo. Diablo seems very depressed a sullen. Demon refuses to come indoors at all. Diablo has willingly come in and now lays in our bed with us at night down at our feet. The two of them do not get along well at all. They always wish to fight. So I suppose seperating the two of them is best. What do any of you think about them being outdoors all the time? I have heard various aspects on this and would trully like to know whether being outdoors all the time is good for them or not. I would bring in during extreme weathers of any type no matter what. I wouldnt want to be out in the cold or the rain or the extreme heat. I would rather have them both indoors but Demon refuses. Have had to carry him in when the rain was terrible 2 weeks ago. Am working on getting a nice big shed built for him to be out of the weather in. Dog houses just seem to small to me. hee Anywho.....I trully appreciate everyones help in this matter. I am glad that I found this place. I have met a great bunch of people!!!

[LorraineO]

Hello.. I too own a dobie girl,, your kids are gorgeous and will be even more so once they get some weight....

I suggest a good looking over by your vet and get some suggestions from them too..... Welcome to PT and I am so glad you rescued these two lovelies!! Heres my girl!

[MsMini]

Keep us all posted on their progress. I don't think you would want them gaining the weight back too fast. You can always give them some special little extras!

[darkvixen]

Thank you all so very much. I went out today and got all the stuff I needed for the Satin Balls. We start on it tomorrow. I can not wait to see them healthy again. Do not want them gaining too much too soon so I will use it as a supplement.
Thanks again!!!! I am very much obliged for all your help. My boys are trully going to thank you all once they feel better again.

[MsMini]

Be sure to show us more pics as they get better and better.
Gotta Luv a Dobe!

[darkvixen]

i sure do love mine!! i will keep you all updated. start on the supplement to the food tomorrow.

[sandragonfly]

no problem.. ;) let us know if you still need a help, please. no, they are not my dogs but I worry like they are mine. hopefully they will gain some weights and glad you could take care of them! and welcome! those two dobies too :)

[Scooby4]

My neighbor has 2 dobies. One of them is also a little under weight. They were both rescues.
I would suggest adding CANNED dog food to their diet. Canned food has more calories in it. Mix it with the dry. You may want to feed them twice a day and only one having the canned mixture.
Watch their exercise levels as well and adjust their food amounts on this.
Good luck! I love dobies!!!

[axlelee]

I also suggest a good looking over by your vet; diabetes? Not trying to scare you at all. I have a friend whose dobie lost a LOT of weight and that is what he was diagnosed with. Take care!!

[bckrazy]

wow, thats really great of you to rescue them. They do look like they're in poor health, but I'm sure they will be healthy happy dogs soon. . their former abusive owners will get what they deserve someday :mad:

Canned food and satin balls are good, make sure you dont give them too much rich high protein food at once because it might be too much for their tummies. Several meals of high quality high protein/fat kibble a day with added meat should be really good for them. Diablo and Demon look like such sweeties, they definitely don't fit their names!!

Also, about living outdoors, Dobies aren't designed for harsh weather at all. They definitely need shelter when outside (access to a secure, ventilated garage would be good), and a large shed or dog house would be ideal too. Is Demon the blue boy? Dilute dogs are more prone to sunburn, also. You might try to keep a door to the house open as much as possible or install a large dog door in the backyard screen door. . just give him time, plenty of treats and praise and encouragement and he'll learn that inside=good! It might be hard for him to trust right now, and normal house noises and sights probably scare him because he isn't used to it all. good luck with them, and please keep us updated :)

[darkvixen]

I have been using the recipe for satin balls. I do not give everyday though. Do not want them to gain too much too fast. I give dog treats as well upon occasion.
Will keep everyone updated. They do look a bit better since we got them. I just feel sooooooo badly for them. I love them to death.

[darkvixen]

COLOR=red]Happy mothers day to you all[/COLOR]

I leave the back door open in hopes that Demon (red dobie) will come in. Diablo(black dobie) hates it when he has to go out. lol They do look a bit better. Thanks for the satin balls recipe and all the advice. I can see a shine to their coats again!!!! They itch like crazy though. I have seen flakes when i pet them. anyone know what would be best for dry skin?

[Giselle]

I don't quite remember the specific ingredients in Satin Balls, but my thinking is that they're shedding their dead, ugly coat and regrowing their nice, beautiful, shiny coat. Whenever they blow coat, they tend to develop dandruff and irritable skin. Giselle is one of these afflicted dogs. What I do is *temporarily* (I must stress temporary because too much Vitamin A and D is toxic and fatal) augment her diet with *one* capsule of Cod Liver Oil. Even better, you can give a tablespoon or two of Jack Mackerol (I give canned). It really does wonders for the coat. As well, you can use cold pressed olive oil and a chicken egg. After she's done blowing her coat, I stop all supplementation becuase, like I said before, oils should never be given continuously for an extended period of time unless advised by a veterinarian/nutritionist. However, if the Satin Balls include more than a half cup of oil, I wouldn't add any more supplements. Just give them some time to get rid of their dead coat and regrow their new coat. One thing you should focus on weekly is to brush their coat in a circular motion. Take a hound glove or Zoom Groom or curry comb and rub their coat in a circular motion. This will stimulate the skin's natural oils and get rid of all that nasty dandruff and dead hair. After all the dead skin cells and fur rise to the top of the coat, I take a bristle brush and go over her body. Beware: Do this outside!!!! (or have a vaccuum at hand :p) Good Luck and I'm so glad that you have given these dogs a new chance at life. You're such an angel :)