What to feed my dog to help gain weight

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Tarynseiverd
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Posts: 20
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Pet name: Ruxin
My name: Taryn

What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Tarynseiverd » 03 Sep 2019, 22:21

Hello friends! My dog ruxin (a 2 year old male gsd) was diagnosed a month ago. He was given medication to help get rid of the overgrowth of bacteria in his stomach and we began using 3/4t of pancreved (rxed by the vet)and we began feeding ruxin 3 times/ day around 6c per day. I found enzymediane and have been using the enzymes from there for about 2 weeks and have since began feeding twice per day again about 5-6c per day. Ruxin does not seem to be gaining weight and today i went and had hin weighed and he infact lost weight. He was 71 when last weighed and today was 68 😱😫 hes eating fromm fourstar whitefish and potato. Any suggestions!? I cant stand to think my best friend is struggling still!
Mom of a 4 year old german shepherd dog named Ruxin. Confirmed EPI since 2019. Well maintained with 2c twice daily of Fromm dry food with 2T diane enzymes and 1 capsule b12 with intrinsic factor from wonderlabs per serving and a sprinkle of slippery elm in the morning to maintain.

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Madelon
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Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Madelon » 03 Sep 2019, 22:30

Hi there. First what stands out to me is the dosing on the enzymes is not correct. We recommend 1 level teaspoon per cup of kibble. If you are feeding two cups of food at a time then you should be using 2tsp enzymes - mix with luke warm water and sit 20-30 minutes before feeding. Next, giving 5-6 cups of food in only two meals is too hard on their system. If you need to feed 6 cups a day then divide into 3 meals of 2 cups each - be sure the meals are separated by at least 2 hours to allow time for digestion. Is the 6cups 150% of the food for the weight your dog should be?

Are you supplementing B12 and giving an antibiotic?
Madelon, owned by DOC. DOC dx EPI 5/2015 = TLI < .4, B12 406; Folate >24. DOC taught me so much and together we battled and overcame EPI, food sensitivies, environmental allergies but we lost the cancer battle. DOC was dx with hemangiosarcoma 5/2022 and crossed the rainbow bridge July 24, 2022. He is and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate, my heart dog.

Tarynseiverd
Member
Posts: 20
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Pet name: Ruxin
My name: Taryn

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Tarynseiverd » 03 Sep 2019, 22:40

I realized i missed saying that weve been doing 1t of powder for each feeding. The vet instructed 3/4t so i didnt want to dramatically up that. He was 90-95lbs before losing all of his weight so he used to get a little more than 4c per day divided into two meals so yes 6c would be 150% however at just 68lbs now i suppose it should be less. I do agree we should feed three times per day. Would it be okay to do that at about 6am 5pm and 9pm? And so you suggest a tsp per cup? If his b12 levels were still low would you think id notice more than just weight loss? He has no other low b12 behaviors. Also i should note he has a recheck appt next week with the vet.
Mom of a 4 year old german shepherd dog named Ruxin. Confirmed EPI since 2019. Well maintained with 2c twice daily of Fromm dry food with 2T diane enzymes and 1 capsule b12 with intrinsic factor from wonderlabs per serving and a sprinkle of slippery elm in the morning to maintain.

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jilbert57
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Posts: 2092
Country: United States
State: Washington

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by jilbert57 » 03 Sep 2019, 22:55

Yes, go with 1 teaspoon enzyme per 1 cup kibble and the 6am, 5pm and 9pm feedings should work fine.
What was the B12 level? The Epi dogs need 600 or above result.
My name is Jill and we live on the Hood Canal in Washington State. We currently have 2 Jack russells, TJ is 8 and Sadie is 2.

Mickey and his pancreatitis brought me to Epi4dogs.com site in 2012 to help manage it.
He lived from 6/99 - 8/2014

Mickey, Jack Russell. Chronic Pancreatitis. Dianes enzymes, 1/8t 3x/day with meals.

Tarynseiverd
Member
Posts: 20
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Pet name: Ruxin
My name: Taryn

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Tarynseiverd » 03 Sep 2019, 23:15

Okay ill do just that thank you! His b12 levels were 202! Which i only found out today because the vet never gave me the results from the blood test and never mentioned anything about b12. I requested the results today due to wondering what his b12 level was however the results also noted that it couldve been low due to the bacterial overgrowth which he was medicated for. Tylan i believe? Also would you recommend the b12 pills from wonderlabs?
Mom of a 4 year old german shepherd dog named Ruxin. Confirmed EPI since 2019. Well maintained with 2c twice daily of Fromm dry food with 2T diane enzymes and 1 capsule b12 with intrinsic factor from wonderlabs per serving and a sprinkle of slippery elm in the morning to maintain.

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jilbert57
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Posts: 2092
Country: United States
State: Washington

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by jilbert57 » 03 Sep 2019, 23:49

Yes, I would.
My name is Jill and we live on the Hood Canal in Washington State. We currently have 2 Jack russells, TJ is 8 and Sadie is 2.

Mickey and his pancreatitis brought me to Epi4dogs.com site in 2012 to help manage it.
He lived from 6/99 - 8/2014

Mickey, Jack Russell. Chronic Pancreatitis. Dianes enzymes, 1/8t 3x/day with meals.

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Paulag
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Posts: 43
Location: Montreal
Country: Canada
Pet name: Lyra
My name: Paula

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Paulag » 04 Sep 2019, 07:18

Hello, B12 injection weekly will help his body absorb his food. The injections are better when trying to gain weight rather the. Capsule form. Capsules are great when stable. As for enzymes, I defiantly would think it’s not enough with the amount of food. Although some enzymes like Pantenex 10x is strong enough at 3/4tsp per feeding. You may want to check the amount of lipase per 3/4tsp. This is also important.
Also defiantly feed as spaced out as possible . It’s easier on your dogs system. Ask about Aventi GI for you dog for two weeks. This is so so helpful. Pro/prebiotics.
Also grain free 4% fibre or less kibble. My dog can’t digest rice but some say their dog can. The struggle is very real! Mine has 10pds to gain so I hear you!

Tarynseiverd
Member
Posts: 20
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Pet name: Ruxin
My name: Taryn

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Tarynseiverd » 04 Sep 2019, 08:50

I also forgot to mention i do give a pre/probiotic twice per day. And the enzymes are the 8x from diane enzymes. How much did you pay for the b12 shots? Its a struggle as is so im scared of the cost! His food is perfect for the guidelines for food so i have no worry for the food itself. I did just order the capsules though. Would feeding him raw pig pancreas make a difference? Thanks!!

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Paulag
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Posts: 43
Location: Montreal
Country: Canada
Pet name: Lyra
My name: Paula

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Paulag » 04 Sep 2019, 10:28

B12 injections are the least expensive. You can give them weekly yourself. I do it amd it’s pretty easy. It’s essential for an EPI dog usually to absorb food.

Tarynseiverd
Member
Posts: 20
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Pet name: Ruxin
My name: Taryn

Re: What to feed my dog to help gain weight

Post by Tarynseiverd » 04 Sep 2019, 13:27

It really scares me but i think it does seem thats what ill need to do! We will see what my vet says but im not too happy with them at this time anyway

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