True advice on how to fatten dogs. Wasting and Obesity in Dogs How to Get an Old Wasted Dog

Cachexia - exhaustion of the body with rapid or gradual weight loss, often accompanied by weakness and lethargy.

Clinically significant weight loss is considered to be greater than 10% of the original and not associated only with fluid loss or artificial food restriction. Weight loss or weight loss occurs as a result of either insufficient food intake (forced starvation, anorexia (lack of appetite), dysphagia (malnutrition, inability to grasp or swallow food), regurgitation (regurgitation), vomiting, impaired digestion and absorption of food, excessive consumption of nutrients (increased basal metabolism), impaired sense of smell, and also due to loss of nutrients through urine (glucosuria, proteinuria).

Diagnostics

First of all, it is necessary to clarify the state of appetite (increased or decreased), as well as the initial body weight. If it is unknown, you need to objectively assess the condition of the animal (evaluate signs of exhaustion, dehydration), which will help confirm the owner's opinion about the weight loss of the animal. It is important not only to state the weight of the animal at the time of contacting the veterinarian, but also the inexplicable fact of weight loss. If the appetite is reduced, then this is the cause of weight loss, and a decrease in appetite occurs in a variety of pathological conditions (kidney, liver, chronic pain, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract). If the appetite is normal or even increased, then in most cases it is necessary to look for the cause in violations of the digestion and absorption of food.

Weight loss with increased appetite and a change in stool quality (mushy, diarrhea) most often indicates diseases of the small intestine (enteritis, often caused by clostridium and, which is a state of dysbacteriosis), where not only digestion occurs, but also absorption of digested food.

On examination, special attention should be paid to signs of systemic, gastrointestinal (diarrhea, quality of feces, the presence of mucus, blood in them), cardiac (shortness of breath, enlarged abdomen, weakness), neuromuscular diseases and neoplasms.

It is also important to obtain information about the nature of the food, the level of physical activity, changes in living conditions, pregnancy, signs of gastrointestinal disorders (dysphagia, regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea) or any other diseases.

Weight loss, as you can see, very general symptom and by itself does not lead to an accurate diagnosis, but a detailed physical examination of the animal will reveal additional symptoms, the relationship of exhaustion with which, will clarify the diagnosis.

First of all, it should be clarified what the appetite was at the beginning of weight loss, since any long-term illness can subsequently lead to a decrease in appetite.

An important role in the diagnostic search is played by the age of the animal. So, in puppies, porto-caval shunts (congenital vascular anomalies) are a common cause of weight loss, and thyrotoxicosis in older cats. We should not forget about such causes of pseudo-anorexia (false loss of appetite), as loss of smell, dysphagia, diseases of the organs of the oral cavity, head and neck.

In case of fever, an infectious-inflammatory disease, poisoning, or a neoplasm in the stage of decay and possibly metastasis should be assumed in the first place. With metabolic disorders in animals with heart, kidney or liver failure, as well as with chronic infectious diseases there is no fever.

Laboratory diagnostics

First of all, it is required to conduct a standard set of studies, including clinical and biochemical blood tests, general urinalysis, ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, as well as radiography of the abdominal and chest cavities. The data of these examinations make it possible to identify or exclude infectious and inflammatory diseases and metabolic disorders, including insufficiency of the liver, pancreatic kidneys. The diagnostic value of these studies increases if, when questioning the owner and examining the animal, it is not possible to identify any significant abnormalities, and if additional symptoms are detected, then the relationship of the test results with clinical manifestation also leads to a cause.

When losing weight of unclear etiology in cats, a test for feline leukemia virus, immunodeficiency is mandatory, and in animals older than 5 years, it is necessary to examine the level of serum T3, T4 (thyroxine), cortisol, ACTH, especially if weight loss occurred with normal or increased appetite.

If organ failure is suspected (according to history and physical examination), specific functional tests are indicated. If you suspect exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, you need to investigate the activity of trypsin in the blood serum, for hypocorticism - to conduct a test with ACTH. To assess liver function, the concentration of bile acids in the blood serum is determined.

Radiography chest in frontal and lateral projections helps in the diagnosis of diseases of the chest cavity, including tumor metastases (to the lungs, bones).

If a disease of the gastrointestinal tract is also suspected, endoscopy with biopsy, as a last resort, diagnostic laparotomy.

Treatment should be aimed at eliminating the underlying cause of the disease. It is necessary to adjust the regimen and quality of food, which should be suitable for a given animal, high quality, easily digestible, appropriate energy value. If necessary, for temporary maintenance, feeding through a nasogastric tube or parenteral nutrition is prescribed.

If your dog has lost a lot of weight, you need to know the right ways to fatten him up. The key to gaining weight in a dog is to feed little and often, plus supplements to make up for any dietary deficiencies and make sure the animal is dewormed. However, if your dog's appetite is poor, the weight loss is unexplained, or the dog is vilifying or in poor condition, it's always best to have your pet checked by a veterinarian. Whatever the reason, it's important to keep your dog's weight within a healthy range, as this will guarantee them a long life.

Steps

Finding out the cause of your dog's weight loss

Find out if there is a logical reason for your dog's weight loss. If you know why the dog is thin, for example, if the bitch has recently raised a litter of strong, greedy puppies, or if the dog you rescued has been mistreated, then the scheme for fattening the dog will be relatively simple.

Keep an eye on a thin dog so that any problems can be detected that can be easily corrected. For example, if you have multiple dogs, the answer may be very simple, such as other dogs taking food from your skinny dog.

Assess your dog's general health. All kinds of diseases can affect the body's ability to process food and benefit from food, resulting in weight loss. If so, the dog will almost certainly show some signs, which may include decreased appetite, increased thirst, lack of energy, vomiting, diarrhea, or a change in body shape.

Take your dog to the vet. If you suspect your dog is ill, or if you notice unexplained weight loss, it is best to consult your veterinarian. If your dog suddenly has a poor appetite for no apparent reason, it's also best to see a professional before the problem gets out of control. Once the veterinarian is clear that everything is fine, you will know that you just have a fussy dog, and there are many strategies that can help improve the appetite.

Adjusting the amount of calories your dog consumes
1. Check your dog's actual weight and ideal weight for that breed. It's easy to think that the animal is underweight, when the reality may be that the dog is simply less heavy than obese dogs of the same breed you know. Maybe your dog is really fine and that other dog is too fat!
  
  Check the food packaging for your dog's ideal weight. For lean but full of energy dogs that produce shaped feces, the first step is to make sure they are getting enough calories per meal. A dog may lose weight because it burns more calories than it consumes. The reason may be simple - if the dog is not fed enough. If so, then increasing her portion size should work.
  - The easiest way to do this is to compare your dog's ideal weight with the recommended amount of food on the package.
  - If your dog is an unusual breed, there is a lot of information on the Internet about what is the ideal weight for him. Look at the weight you want for the dog, not how much it currently weighs. For example, if you have a male Labrador, then a medium-sized dog should weigh up to 40 kg.
2. Compare how much you have been giving your dog with the recommended amount. Measure the average portion of your dog's daily food by weight. Write down the weight of the food and compare it with the recommended amount on the food package.
  - It is interesting to note that some of these recommendations are actually 25% higher than what is needed for a dog (they tend to be on the larger side rather than the smaller).
  - If you give your Labrador 400 gr. granules per day, and the package says 500 gr. per day, your dog eats 20% fewer calories than recommended and therefore loses weight. This is easily corrected by increasing the amount of her daily diet.
3. Decide how much to increase your dog's diet. This can be a difficult decision because each food contains a different amount of calories and dog weight varies so much. As a rule, it is recommended to increase the amount of feed by no more than 10% of the original.
  - Thus, if you gave 400 gr. per day, an additional 10%, another 40 gr. is added, which must be divided into 2 meals of 20 gr. each.
  - Feed like this for 2-3 days and check if the dog has diarrhea, after which you can add another 10% and so on.
4. Gradually increase the amount of food you feed your dog. Sudden high-calorie feeding upsets the intestinal balance and causes diarrhea. It is much safer to gradually increase the portion, and keep an eye on the dog's litter box to make sure the intestines are coping.
Changing Your Dog's Diet
1. Transition your dog gradually to high-energy foods. High-energy dog foods mean they are high in calories and can be easily digested and absorbed in the body. This will prevent malnutrition and help your skinny dog put on weight.
  - Good brands to try are Hill's Science Diet High Energy ® and Royal Canin Veterinary Diet High Energy.
  - You can also try switching your dog to puppy food. Puppy food contains more calories than regular food because it is designed to meet the high energy needs of growing puppies. The downside is that puppy food tends to be fortified and can cause stomach upset in some dogs.
  - Add gradually, adding spoonfuls to existing food, and gradually increase the amount of food over 4 to 5 days. Keep an eye on your dog's feces and if diarrhea develops, then stop giving new food.
2. Swap soft food for dry food, or vice versa. Imagine that you eat the same dry food, or porridge or soup, day after day. You would probably get bored with it. Dogs can also get tired of eating. Sometimes switching from dry food to soft canned food or vice versa will do wonders for your dog to start eating again.
  - However, it should be remembered that liquid food contains much fewer calories than dry food. The same amount of soft food contains only a quarter of the amount of dry food, so a few dry pellets are equivalent if you eat a lot of soft food. This is because soft food is 60 - 80% water, so while it may be more appetizing, you run the risk of filling your dog's stomach with water and not feeding him enough calories.
3. - Sample prescription from the founder of a veterinary clinic in Brea, California. This sample recipe is for a 10kg dog, you can split it in half for a 5kg dog or double the amount for a 20kg dog. The food consists of 100 grams of boiled skinless chicken, 1 cup of boiled brown rice, 1 cup of peas and carrots, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt substitutes. Prepare all these ingredients and mix them together.
  - Try other recipes such as chicken and rice meals or raw foods.
Take basic steps to take care of your dog's health
1. Give your dog vitamin supplements. Vitamins are primarily involved in enzymatic systems that increase your dog's appetite and in the energy metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Simply put, they facilitate the conversion of energy sources such as fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy, providing your pet with the energy it needs to grow and develop. The excess energy caused by increased appetite and consumption will then be converted to fat and prevent muscle catabolism or wasting.

Weight loss also occurs when a dog has physiological or anatomical problems with swallowing food. With anorexia and insanity, the animal does not want to eat for mental reasons. Various stresses, both physiological and mental, turn him away from food.

However, there are reasons for the depletion of the animal associated with its improper feeding, when the special needs of the dog at certain periods of life are not taken into account. For example, puppies during the period of active growth are not immune from it. The bitch may become exhausted during lactation.

What to do when a dog is exhausted?

First of all, the dog must be carefully examined in veterinary clinic to identify or rule out digestive or metabolic problems. Only after curing the underlying disease will it be possible to deal with exhaustion.

The lactating bitch is gradually increased the amount of food three times. With anorexia and insanity, the animal must be fed artificially. Under stress and even more strenuous work in this state, the dog needs additional energy. Hunters, guides, watchmen need to add fats and oils to ordinary food: for 0.5 kg of food - three tablespoons of fat.

You also need to give high-calorie dry food. If you picked up a dog emaciated from hunger on the street, then you can feed it yourself. Natural foods are the best for this. First you need to cook a liquid porridge soup from lean boiled meat (veal, beef, chicken) - 50%, rice cereal - 25% and stewed vegetables(beets, carrots, zucchini) - 25%.

In such porridge, you can add a teaspoon (for small dogs) or a tablespoon (for medium and large dogs) of vegetable oil. Separately, you can give a little low-fat cottage cheese diluted with kefir. Once a day, a teaspoon of honey will do the trick (it can be mixed into a salad).

When the dog gets stronger, you can offer her a special ready-made food. Some manufacturers have special dietary lines. For instance,

Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Dog,
Hills Prescription Diet Canine,
Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Low Fat Dog,
Eukanuba Intestinal Formula for Dogs,
Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Dog.

The dog should always have clean and fresh water.

Wasting in dogs (clinically significant weight loss, cachexia) can be caused by two causes.

Causes of Wasting in Dogs

The first cause of emaciation in dogs is This is the presence of any disease that prevents the normal eating of food and the absorption of nutrients from it.

Most often, dogs rapidly lose weight due to various digestive disorders, as well as diseases associated with metabolism in the body (kidney disease, insufficient secretory activity of the pancreas, diabetes, proteinuria). Problems with weight loss are also guaranteed in case of anatomical or physiological problems of grasping and swallowing food.

In such cases, you can not do without veterinary care. Only by establishing a diagnosis, you can count on the cure and recovery of the dog.

The second reason for exhaustion

much more common, associated with improper care for the dog and improper feeding.

Sometimes this happens due to the ignorance and inexperience of dog owners, but, unfortunately, more often than not, dogs become victims of abuse. The so-called owners starve the dogs, leave them alone without any food, throw them out into the street, where domestic dog very difficult to find food.
Many emaciated dogs are kept in various places where it is difficult to see a large number of animals.

If the condition of the dog is very serious, it will have to be instilled with special supportive and nutritious preparations in a veterinary clinic.

If the dog you decide to adopt from a shelter or who shows signs of malnutrition (not associated with any disease) but can eat on his own, you can feed him yourself, just be aware of some recommendations for feeding him.

How to feed an exhausted dog

It is better to feed natural food

It is better to feed a dog with exhaustion - dry food can be too heavy for such a dog.

The best thing that can be offered to such a dog is a liquid porridge soup, consisting of 50% lean boiled meat (beef, veal, chicken), 25% cereals (better than rice, you can add quite a bit oatmeal) and 25% from steamed or stewed vegetables (carrots, beets). Such porridge needs to be slightly salted and add a little vegetable oil to it.

Not all dogs tolerate sour-milk products well, so they should be offered carefully, preferably separately from other food, so that in case of a problem it is possible to accurately exclude a product that provokes indigestion or allergic reactions.

Cottage cheese and kefir should be low-fat (kefir - 1-1.5%, cottage cheese up to a maximum of 9% fat). Too much fat is too much of a burden for an emaciated dog.

When the dog gets better, you can try to switch the dog to ready-made food (or canned food), but only one that is intended for dogs with similar problems - a special diet or designed for dogs with sensitive digestion. For example, such as Hills (Hills) Prescription Diet Canine d / d (duck and rice) Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Dog, Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Low Fat Dog, Royal Canin Hypoalergenic Dog, Eukanuba Intestinal Formula for Dogs.

But keep in mind that such feeds belong to, and therefore cannot be fed on an ongoing basis. Be sure to check with your veterinarian before switching to a medicated diet.

Clean and fresh water should be at the dog constantly.

Feed often, but in small portions

An emaciated dog will need to be fed frequently, much more often than a healthy dog of the same age. For example, if a 2-year-old dog can be fed twice a day, then an emaciated 2-year-old dog should be fed four times a day.

To do this, distribute the daily portion into 4-5 parts.

In no case do not overfeed the dog, especially if it is severely malnourished.
If in doubt about the amount of food offered, take the dog to the veterinarian so that he tells you the approximate amount of food offered.

Nothing greasy

An emaciated dog should not be overloaded with heavy, fatty foods.
If for a dog in normal condition a donut with cream is just junk food, then for an emaciated dog it is poison in its purest form.

Read the list and stick to it strictly. Add any high-fat foods to this list as well.

When you notice the first signs of improvement (the dog’s ribs begin to “overgrow”, the coat will have a shine, the dog will become more active), you will need to carry out a deworming. But this must be done very carefully, with the most gentle preparations, carefully observing the condition of the dog.

If you do everything right, by the end of the first month (maybe earlier, it all depends on the condition of the dog) you will notice a significant improvement.

It's too early to relax - the dog's body needs more time to fully recover, so you will continue to have to stick to a diet for your pet.

Excessive thinness does not always indicate a disease: sometimes dogs that have been deprived of their owner's attention for a long time suffer from low weight due to lack of nutrition. Let's see why such conditions can occur, and what to feed the dog so that it gains weight without disturbing the metabolism.

Your pet's body weight is a direct reflection of his overall health, which in turn is closely related to the amount of energy he receives. physical activity. Before you increase the intensity of regular training, be sure to consult with an experienced veterinarian.

In some cases (the dog suffers from manifestations of arthritis, its metabolic process is disturbed, etc.), the animal loses weight, so it needs a gentle exercise regimen.

If the pet is healthy, does not suffer from overweight or anorexia, has a good appetite, he will behave actively and playfully, happily participating in all the exercises proposed by the owner.

Video "What to do if the dog is thin"

In this video, the expert will tell you what to look for if the dog is thin, but eats well.

Causes of weight loss

As already mentioned, the dog does not always lose weight due to illness, sometimes various factors serve as the reasons for weight loss.

After feeding

Exhaustion often occurs in pregnant bitches who have nursed a fairly large number of puppies (about 10). In the process of carrying offspring, the dog's body needs increased support with microelements and nutrients, and if the animal does not receive them with food, the bitch's own resources are spent. As a result, the dog is losing weight and needs to correct the diet.

In order for an animal to gain weight, it must be fed. First of all, you need to feed the dog meat food, generously adding vitamins to the diet. Meat products contain a large amount of amino acids that are not found in food. plant origin, thanks to which weight gain begins.