Alaskan Husky Behavior Forum

Any ideas for a really thin to the bone Husky?
She had very bad diarrhea but that is totally under control now and I feed her 3 times a day the same dog kibble my dogs eat as well as some fresh fruit. She's got sores from being so thin.

I know there are other things I can feed her, but I don't want to upset her tummy as it is stabilised now. Or should I just give this food time to do it's job. Should start working now since the diarrhea is gone.

I got her on Sunday and from being here she has lost the diarrhea, all her loose hair and put some bling back in her eyes. She's actually a great girl!

Ice
Feeling very positive about her outcome!

Hi Ice.

The poor kid didn't get thin overnight, and probably won't gain it back overnight either. With the diarrhea under control, I'd suggest you continue the three a day meals. Perhaps weigh her now and again in a week to compare. If she isn't gaining any weight at all after a week of three-a-days, you might consider supplementing her with more fat.

Swanny

Hi Swanny

Thanks, I agree

Ice

Hi Ice,
Early days yet.......after mine blew their coats I've been supplementing their kibble with sardines in olive oil and have never seem their new coats looking so good. Plus they really tuck in at feeding time
As Swanny says keep the scales handy and see how things go .

Thanks Enrique, I'll do just that.

Ice

Another thing to consider when you get a really thin dog (that is eating a lot and NOT putting on weight as much as you would like) is parasites. I got a pair of dogs from another musher and they are both really hard keepers. I've been POURING the food and treats into them, and they're not bone thin, but they aren't fattening up either. Both are active on their tethers, and they weren't bone thin when they came to me. But it just seems that the food isn't getting to them, and I think they're feeding guests!

I'm going to be worming my entire kennel here in the next few weeks. But that will be with Strongid for round and hook worms. If your whole kennel is thin, this makes a BIG difference! But if you only have one or two dogs that are chronically thin, it may be tape worms. Tapes are harder to kill, the medicine is quite expensive, but it works! (Use Cestex...it's the best.)

I picked up the appropriate doses to medicate both these dogs for tapes, and I plan to give it to them this morning with their breakfast. That really worked with Scooby Doo and Cloud, and I'm hoping it will work with Oz and Feal too.

But it sounds like your dog has a lot of make-up eating to do, so don't overstress her system too much. (Worming and vaccinating is VERY stressful!) But once you hit that tableau, you might want to look into additional medical treatment.