i have a saluki x whippet puppy,14wks today,i can't keep weight on him,any suggestions. he is fully upto date with his worming,i have had saluki x whippets and saluki x greyhounds,in the past,they are sometimes,his weight,but a few i have had were really muscular,i just wondered if there was a food you could recommend...
thanks anyway No healthy dog will starve himself. As long as he has no worms, and you feed him a high quality dog food don't worry about it. Have you had him checked for worms? These dogs are just generally so thin by nature. If you dont think he's eating like he should or you think he needs more caloric intake you can give him Nutrical Paste. It is good for dogs who dont eat well or just not getting propper nutrition. It will help add weight. You need to be feeding the most calorie dense foodyou can find.
Look at things like very expensive high end dog food.
Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, California Nautral,
Innova, Merrick, things of that nature.
You have a high energy puppy and they are slender anyway.
You need to make sure the diet you feed is very high quality so that they get enough nutrition to support the fast growth and build the muscle mass they need.
What a wonderful breed of dog. I love sighthounds. They are so sleek and elegant and fast.
Check out this web site for great food information
www.spoiled-rotten-pets.com
They have the best dog food available today and you can order it from them. Have you wormed him? A lot of those types of dogs have problems with their bowels. We had a saluki cross who always had diarrhoea.
It mght be worth trying a diet that was a bit lighter e.g. rice and chicken....A bit expensive for most but you might be able to find a complete dog food mix that has that in it. hiya,I would personally suggest keeping him on a good puppy diet, as he is still young and needs more protein etc for his growing body!
Have you tried hills puppy large breed?
If you take him along to your local vet, most will usually give you a free sample to try.
Pets at home and jollys also stock these foods.
Pups have a lot of energy and usually around 4-5 months go through a gawky looking stage so I wouldnt worry too much.
As long as he is wormed reg, has a good diet and appetite then there is not too much to worry about.
hope that helps
good luck! Both those breeds tend to be light. If you have had him wormed and de-flead, and if he has a normal healthy appetite I wouldn't worry about him.
If he is a faddy eater don't make a fuss at mealtimes. Feed the best quality food, put it down and leave the room for 15 mins to let him eat in peace.
If you have any other pets make sure he is getting his food and not being mugged.
They have small stomachs and you could put him on 3 or 4 small meals a day. He needs a dense, high nutrient food with as little filler/bulk as possible. Sighthounds are not known to be easy keepers. Feed a high quality food. Do not feed crappy food like Science Diet, IAMS, or Eukanuba, nor anything you can buy in a grocery store. Generally, Sighthound puppies do fairly well on a good adult kibble (with Protein about 26%, fat 15%), puppy food can be to 'hot' for sighthound puppies and can lead to structural problems.
They often eat better with competion, especially when he gets older. They will also steal food, so some left where he can steal it will help. Stolen food is always better than given food!
He will eat, it just may not look like it. I assume he has been checked for worms? Don't put poisons in his body unless he actually has worms, I do not even have to worm my pups, although I do have them checked.
Saluki puppies and Whippet puppies are the wildest pups I have ever seen, and I have been teaching dog classes for 25 years. It is hard to keep weight on when you are flying around the house, smashing and crashing!
20% protein would not be enough for either Salukis or Whippets. They have a very high metabolism and most would not do well on a that. I have NEVER seen 20% fed to ANY Sighthound in my 30 years in dogs. are you worming regularly? be sure your dog is the corrct weight. A rough guide is that you can feel his last three rib bones, but cannot fit your fingers into the gaps, you should also be able to feel his hips. This is normal for a sight hound of this conformation, and if you can feel this, your dog is fine. If he is skinnier eg feel more ribs and fit fingers between, then he may have worms or a digestive problem. Check the quantities of protein in his diet as a saluki only needs about 20%. If you are still worried then go to the vets.
remember, these breeds are supposed to be skinny, you can't have an overweight one as the bones will not cope with the extra weight. You nit-wit... They're SUPPOSED BE LEAN!!! duh..... change his diet to raw. Nothing except maybe a bird can sustain a normal body weight being fed a mostly grain diet. A high out put dog like yours needs a higher protien diet.
10 Secrets Pet Food Companies Don't Want You to Know
======================================...
1. Pet food is NEVER mostly meat.
聽聽聽聽 Many ads suggest that it is...聽聽聽聽聽 In order to list a meat source
聽聽聽聽 first on the bag label pet food companies resort to a variety of
聽聽聽聽 gimmicks.聽 Here are a few to get you thinking.聽 1st Listing a "wet"
聽聽聽聽 ingredient in what ends up being an essentially dry finished product.聽聽
聽聽聽聽 Wet meat gets a lot lighter when the moisture is cooked out.聽聽 This
聽聽聽聽 labelling loophole is blatantly deceptive to the general public.聽 All
聽聽聽聽 ingredients should be weighed and listed in dry weight equivalents
聽聽聽聽 for you to know truly how much of each makes up the ration.聽 If the
聽聽聽聽 label lists, "chicken" it means chicken weighed when wet.聽 Drop 75%
聽聽聽聽 of the value.聽 If, on the other hand, it says, "chicken meal" they
聽聽聽聽 play fairly.聽 If it says, "meat (any type) by-product meal" or "meat
聽聽聽聽 (any type) by-products" it was never meat to begin with.聽 Find another
聽聽聽聽 food.聽聽聽 Another gimmick is to "split carbohydrates" (grains) into
聽聽聽聽 multiple parts to get the "meat" to list first.聽 Label ingredients are
聽聽聽聽 listed in descending order by weight.聽 So, If聽 you have 10 lbs. of
聽聽聽聽 chicken meal and 25 lbs. of rice, which should appear first on the
聽聽聽聽 label?聽聽 Chicken of course! (if you want people to buy the stuff).聽聽
聽聽聽聽 Here's how it's done...
聽聽聽聽 1st- CHICKEN MEAL, 2nd- GROUND RICE, 3rd- RICE BRAN, 4th- RICE GLUTEN.聽
聽聽聽聽 Pretty sneaky and obviously deceptive unless you know the trick.聽 Rice
聽聽聽聽 Flour, Brewer's Rice and Rice ala Ronny could also have been listed if
聽聽聽聽 they really wanted to be fancy.聽聽 A related tactic is to use a variety
聽聽聽聽 of grains with different names to get meat listed first.聽 This is
聽聽聽聽 slightly more valid since they have different amino acid profiles and
聽聽聽聽 are truly different ingredients.聽聽 Grains cost a lot less than meat.聽
聽聽聽聽 Meat "by-products" cost a lot less than meat.聽 Both also have considerably
聽聽聽聽 less food value.聽 The last gimmick for now is the campaign to convince
聽聽聽聽 the public that meat by-products and meat are just about the same thing.聽
聽聽聽聽 Hmm... "Honey, I'm having a ribeye steak tonight and you're having a nice
聽聽聽聽 pile of by-products, ok?"聽聽 "Would you like the chicken breast or the
聽聽聽聽 intestine-cartilage-beak medley with your rice, Bob?"聽 "Well gee Dear,
聽聽聽聽 doesn't really make any difference to me, they all sound equally delicious,
聽聽聽聽 nutritious and healthy!"聽 By definition, by-products may contain anything
聽聽聽聽 from the specified animal except, (in the case of chicken), feathers and
聽聽聽聽 feces and, (in the case of beef), hoof, hide and feces.聽 Meat and fat are
聽聽聽聽 separated out first because they are costlier and are therefore not
聽聽聽聽 present in any appreciable quantity.聽 What's left is the bones, tendons,
聽聽聽聽 cartilage, beaks, feet and innards. Proudly displayed and masqueraded
聽聽聽聽 as meat.聽 A pet food bag is not a place for dumping stuff of unknown聽
聽聽聽聽 nutritional value.聽 Some foods even use the term聽 , "SELECT by-products".聽聽
聽聽聽聽 All these contortions serve one purpose;聽 To make you think that you're
聽聽聽聽 getting more meat than you really are in your bag of pet food.聽 After all,
聽聽聽聽 who'd pay $35 for a bushel of corn?!聽 Well, keep reading!
聽聽聽聽聽
2. The cooking process used in pet foods KILLS off a vital component: enzymes.
聽聽聽聽 In order to eliminate bacteria and make cutesy shapes that pets care
聽聽聽聽 nothing about, processing temperatures in excess of 160 degrees F are used
聽聽聽聽 to extrude or bake your pet's food.聽 So what?聽 Well, glad you asked.聽 This
聽聽聽聽 places the entire burden for digestion on your pet's pancreas to supply the
聽聽聽聽 enzymes necessary for breaking down nutrients for absorption.聽 In nature,
聽聽聽聽 this is far from the case.聽 Animals naturally follow the path of "least
聽聽聽聽 digestive resistance" in the wild.聽 Consider the fox who catches a rabbit.聽
聽聽聽聽 First item on the menu is the contents of the gut.聽 Let the rabbit do the
聽聽聽聽 digesting and enjoy!聽 The rabbit spent hours nibbling grasses and grains
聽聽聽聽 readying them for the fox's easy absorption of carbohydrates.聽 Quick and
聽聽聽聽 cheap fuel.聽 Next the fox buries or hides the rest to stew a spell.聽 What
聽聽聽聽 we call, "turning rancid" the fox calls, "just getting better".聽 In a couple
聽聽聽聽 days, the live enzymes in the rabbit meat have broken it down into easily
聽聽聽聽 digested protein.聽 Notice how no fire was used in this process?聽 For dessert,
聽聽聽聽 a little bone gnawing for the marrow, the calcium, and the teeth cleaning,
聽聽聽聽 and it's naptime.聽 Left for the lower animals in the hierarchy are most of
聽聽聽聽 the by-products and the hide.聽 Let's get back to your pet.
聽聽聽聽 In puppies and kittens, the pancreas is usually robust and up to the task
聽聽聽聽 of supplying sufficient digestive enzymes to make dead food somewhat useable
聽聽聽聽 and fulfill it's other vital functions.聽 With age, however, pancreatic
聽聽聽聽 function is weakened and often can't keep up with this undue burden.聽 If the
聽聽聽聽 pet food fed day in and day out is of low nutritional value to begin with,
聽聽聽聽 the taxing effect on the system will be all the greater and the pancreas
聽聽聽聽 will most likely give up that much sooner.聽 The consequences to your pet's
聽聽聽聽 health are too broad in scope to cover here.
3. Giving "real food" aka "table scraps" is the RIGHT thing to do!
聽聽聽聽 Stepping on a lot of toes here to smash the myth that you should only
聽聽聽聽 feed the stuff from the bag and nothing else ever, PERIOD.聽 What is it
聽聽聽聽 they are afraid of anyway?聽 That your pet will learn to beg?聽 Unlearn
聽聽聽聽 that.聽 That your pet won't eat the chaff they call "food" after tasting
聽聽聽聽 the real deal?聽 Probably.聽 Or that it will throw the delicate balance of
聽聽聽聽 their finely tuned "nutrition" out of whack somehow?聽 He He Hoo, hardly.聽
聽聽聽聽 Here's the scoop...聽 Providing real food (not potato chips or other junk
聽聽聽聽 food) in its raw form counteracts some of the deficit that can be caused
聽聽聽聽 by only feeding commercially prepared pet food.聽 It can provide the living
聽聽聽聽 enzymes to make digestion an easy rather than burdensome process.聽 But,
聽聽聽聽 don't just go wild and throw everything in the feeding trough.聽 Good bets
聽聽聽聽 for pets are raw carrots, broccoli, yoghurt, cheese, garlic and meats.聽
聽聽聽聽 Cooked oatmeal, rice, corn, squash and the like are fine too.聽 Don't feed
聽聽聽聽 raw grains, legumes, potatoes, onions, celery or chocolate which are either
聽聽聽聽 unusable or unhealthy.聽 If you aren't comfortable with聽 raw meat and fish,
聽聽聽聽 don't do it.聽 Keep in mind, they aren't people and have an entirely
聽聽聽聽 different gastro-intestinal system than we do.聽 Introduce new foods a
聽聽聽聽 little at a time about three times a week to start and give your pet's
聽聽聽聽 pancreas a much needed break.
4. Most "vet recommended" foods pay mightily for the "honour".
聽聽聽聽 Does it matter that the majority of vets know very little about pet
聽聽聽聽 nutrition?聽 The public is told to, "Ask your vet".聽 The vet is told by
聽聽聽聽 the pet food companies, "we'll send you to Hawaii for a week of golf
聽聽聽聽 if you sell and endorse XYZ brand pet food".聽 In school, vets-to-be could
聽聽聽聽 ELECT to take an overview course in animal nutrition.聽 Or not.聽 There have
聽聽聽聽 been changes of late to make this required study.聽 AS IT WELL SHOULD BE!聽
聽聽聽聽 You are miles ahead if you understand the pet food label yourself and take
聽聽聽聽 the time to learn some basic nutritional concepts.聽 It's not that
聽聽聽聽 complicated!聽 Find out for yourself, trust your own judgement and ignore
聽聽聽聽 what people say who are getting paid to say it.
5. The #1 vet recommended brand is probably the #1 worst pet food value.
聽聽聽聽 Without mentioning any names, if it lists corn as the first ingredient on
聽聽聽聽 the label and gets blasted by the competition for it, you know the company.聽
聽聽聽聽 Read the label!聽 Compare it to the cheapest stuff you can find.聽 There
聽聽聽聽 isn't a dimes worth of difference in most cases.聽 How much does it cost
聽聽聽聽 them to make a 40 lb. bag of this stuff you may wonder?聽 Right?聽 Sit down.聽
聽聽聽聽 How about less than $3 including the cost of the bag?聽 How much does the
聽聽聽聽 duped public shell out for the bushel of corn and peanut shells most
聽聽聽聽 recommended by vets?聽 About $35.聽 "Have a nice flight to Maui, Dr. Cutter
聽聽聽聽 and thanks again for your support".
6. Feeding "Soft-Moist" diets will cut your pet's life expectancy in half.
聽聽聽聽 Thankfully, these foods are on the steep decline but aren't gone yet.聽
聽聽聽聽 Perhaps killing your customers isn't a good way to develop long term brand
聽聽聽聽 loyalty.聽 These toxic morsels are so loaded with chemicals to stay soft
聽聽聽聽 and prevent molding and so laden with sugar to cover the harsh chemical
聽聽聽聽 taste, they rip a pet's insides out.聽 The sweetness is addictive and
聽聽聽聽 you'll hear owners say, "Fifi just won't eat anything else".聽 Well, then
聽聽聽聽 better buy the small bag because who knows how long Fifi will be eating at
聽聽聽聽 all?聽 Anybody feeding this garbage should stop at once and the manufacturers
聽聽聽聽 of it should be faced with a class action.
7. Many companies have "slithered" away from using ETHOXYQUIN.
聽聽聽聽 The once popular, and staunchly defended as safe, preservative (antioxidant)
聽聽聽聽 called "Ethoxyquin" has been mostly abandoned聽 because of "hushed" litigation
聽聽聽聽 and settlements with professional breeders.聽 It formerly was championed by
聽聽聽聽 pet food manufacturers (and others) as an advanced and healthy inclusion in
聽聽聽聽 pet food in an attempt to hide the fact that it was never intended to be
聽聽聽聽 eaten,聽 much less on a daily basis. It was originally formulated as a rubber
聽聽聽聽 stabilizer and a color retention agent.聽 Tires stayed pliable and spices
聽聽聽聽 stayed red.聽 Despite efforts to get it approved as a food stabilizing agent
聽聽聽聽 in people food,聽 it is only allowed for extremely limited application with
聽聽聽聽 colored spices.聽 The people who know the devastating truth about this
聽聽聽聽 ingredient when eaten daily by pets have been paid off and forced to never
聽聽聽聽 tell their stories.聽 There are innumerable instances of stillbirth, sudden
聽聽聽聽 liver failure, kidney dysfunction, permanent pigment changes, tumors and
聽聽聽聽 death thought to be caused by the addition of this wonder substance to pet
聽聽聽聽 food starting in about 1987. Much of the talk about ethoxyquin has quieted
聽聽聽聽 since the major pet food companies jumped off the bandwagon and switched to
聽聽聽聽 safer (and less legally troublesome) preservatives like forms of vitamins
聽聽聽聽 E and C.聽 If they want the trust of the public, they should own up to their
聽聽聽聽 mistakes and come clean.聽 Fat chance.聽 All you'll get is denial.
8. Nature didn't intend for pets to eat dry food devoid of enzymes.
聽聽聽聽 Convenience is paid for in reduced pet health.聽 Where is it written
聽聽聽聽 that your pet's bowl has to be filled with chalk dry nuggets of
聽聽聽聽 quasi-nutritious ground up brown stuff?聽 We've been sold on a bad idea.
聽聽聽聽 We bought it because it made life easier.聽 Until the real bill comes,
聽聽聽聽 that is.聽 But doesn't kibbled food make their teeth shiny and their
聽聽聽聽 breath fresh?聽 Won't their teeth fall out if they eat soft stuff?
聽聽聽聽 Yeah, right.聽 Ever watch your dog eat?聽 Does it look like some kind
聽聽聽聽 of teeth cleaning exercise?聽 How about the cat?聽 Really getting the old
聽聽聽聽 gum line clean huh?聽 The truth about teeth cleaning is this...
聽聽聽聽 sticks, rocks, yarn, bones, toys and saliva primarily accomplish this
聽聽聽聽 task,聽 not food.聽 Commercial pet food has to be flavor enhanced with
聽聽聽聽 digest and sprayed-on fat to be even remotely attractive to your
聽聽聽聽 pet.聽 Without these palatability modifications, the old dry kibble
聽聽聽聽 would just sit there and get dusty.聽 People get paid big money to
聽聽聽聽 invent coatings to make your pet dive headfirst into the food bowl.聽
聽聽聽聽 Because then you smile and feel like it must be healthy and that Fifi
聽聽聽聽 loves the food and you too so you'll buy it again.聽 Right?聽聽 Remember,
聽聽聽聽 the fox didn't go in search of a crunchy rabbit.聽 It ate the soft
聽聽聽聽 one and it has a dazzling smile and a fully charged pancreas.
9. Some companies sneak sugar into pet food to hook your pet.
聽
聽聽聽聽 Watch out for these guys!聽 They call it other things of course...
聽聽聽聽 (cane molasses, corn syrup) but it absolutely does not belong in
聽聽聽聽 your pet's food bowl.聽 Processed sugars are foreign to dogs and
聽聽聽聽 cats and over the long term can result in obesity, tooth decay and
聽聽聽聽 diabetes (along with other maladies).聽 Until 2 years ago,聽 propylene
聽聽聽聽 glycol was being used as a sweet tasting preservative by those who
聽聽聽聽 must have cared much more about shelf life than about pet health.聽
聽聽聽聽 Thankfully, it has finally been banned.聽 Pet food companies will
聽聽聽聽 tell you that the industry is tightly regulated and聽 that your pet's
聽聽聽聽 health is being fastidiously protected.聽 Do you buy that one?聽 The
聽聽聽聽 FDA can't even keep up with human food and didn't lift a finger on
聽聽聽聽 behalf of the pet owners during the ethoxyquin debate.聽 The regulating
聽聽聽聽 body for pet food ingredients is AAFCO.聽聽 The American Association
聽聽聽聽 of Feed Control Officials.聽 The rules and definitions they adopt are
聽聽聽聽 made by those with vested interests and are enforced through
聽聽聽聽 "voluntary compliance".聽 The fox guards the rabbit hutch here.
10. Almost all manufacturers use stool hardening agents in pet food.
聽聽聽聽 Convenience again triumphs over pet health.聽 Stool modifiers make
聽聽聽聽 clean up easier and mask the effects of nutrient malabsorption.聽聽
聽聽聽聽 Who's going to buy a pet food if you've got to SCRAPE up after
聽聽聽聽 your dog?聽 It's easier to just stack those little bricks into a
聽聽聽聽 pile or kick them elsewhere.聽 Consider however the strain on your
聽聽聽聽 pet's innards.聽 Would you put concrete mix in your pancake batter?聽
聽聽聽聽 How about sawdust?聽 If you were dieting, would you mix ground peanut
聽聽聽聽 shells into your breakfast cereal?聽 Well, they do all that and more
聽聽聽聽 for your beloved pet.聽 See if any of these made it into your pet food
聽聽聽聽 bag:聽 sodium bentonite, powdered cellulose, beet pulp,聽 tomato
聽聽聽聽 (or any other) pomace, ground peanut shells?聽 The explanation for
聽聽聽聽 including these usually is that they are fibre sources for your pet's
聽聽聽聽 well being.聽 Maybe a little truth there but not the real reason they
聽聽聽聽 are added.聽 Whole grains provide great fibre content.聽聽 A bit of bran
聽聽聽聽 would do well too.聽 The real goal is to make you buy the food again
聽聽聽聽 because clean up time is so easy and enjoyable with brand XYZ's
聽聽聽聽 designer stools.聽 Before you do this to your pet, try it yourself
聽聽聽聽 for a few days.聽 One question to ask a company representative is
聽聽聽聽 this, "Aren't there times when my pet needs to evacuate it's system
聽聽聽聽 rapidly such as when a toxin is ingested or when the kitty or doggy
聽聽聽聽 flu comes around?聽 Is having a cork in there at all times really a
聽聽聽聽 good idea?聽 You'll then likely hear mumbling about "Our research..."
聽聽聽聽 and "regulating intestinal transit time for optimal聽 nutrient
聽聽聽聽 absorption".聽 Do you buy that one?聽 If the food is good and fed
聽聽聽聽 properly, stools will be fine without forcing your pet to work a brick
聽聽聽聽 through their digestive and excretory systems. Salukis and whippets are very lean dogs - like Greyhounds. Definitely take a stool sample to the vet to check for intestinal worms. Ask someone who knows sighthounds if his weight is correct - vets are used to seeing blimpy dogs like Labradors and may not know the proper weight for a Saluki x. I have a 1yr old saluki x greyhound - he always looks thin too! But then again this breed is supposed to, so firstly do not worry.
Make sure he is wormed regularly and the higher the protein is in the food the better BUT unlike the others I would still keep the puppy on puppy food, check with your pet shop for working dog food which tends to be higher in protein. If you cannot increase his protein this way then rice/pasta with meat (ox kidneys etc - quiet cheap) once or twice a day will help.
Keep to the 3-4 meals a day.
Good luck.
P.S. has yours got the saluki feathering? Mine has and is often mistaken for a pure breed. I'm on my sixth lurcher and am always being told (by people who don't know better) that they're skinny. As long as your pup is fit and healthy (get him vet-checked to make sure), has a good appetite and is eating good quality food, don't worry.
Not sure about the protein situation - had a chat with my vet about this recently and couldn't get a satisfactory answer. My lurchers do better on a lower protein higher carb diet - too much protein gives them the sh**s! They seem to have a fairly inefficient metabolism and anything to slow down the rate at which the food passes through their body is good - plenty of roughage.
Good luck! Duct tape will hold the weight on Beggin strips dogs dont know its not bacon! Check petco, they have a high calorie supplement you can add to his food. Both those breeds tend to be "slim" so maybe it's just his metabolism. You should have his thyroid checked just to be sure though. both the saluki and whippet are thin dogs by nature. maybe theres another breed there mixed in that you are unaware of. if hes not wormy and hes eating normally then theres nothing to be concerned about. I am a dogbreeder and i use royal canin starter its great for putting weight on dogs/puppys
but its hard for ppl to get it as its just for breeders but if you get your hands on it be care full as its like rocket fuel it they go very hyper and i mean hyper weather its a pup or not feed him donuts :) have him checked over there may be something there
you can't be to careful
but is the weight increasing over a week or 2 and staying on if your checking daily it will go up and down
check him weekly at the same time of day and keep a chart
although you say he is up to date with worming are you using shop bought tablet or are they from the vet( I would get them from the vet cheaper in the long run and more effective)
feed him twice a day with a good quality meat and if he's eating all of it add some biscuit or dry dog food tie the weights on a bit tighter if he still floats choke him I'd suggest having his thyroid tested. Heartworm can also cause the weight not want to stay on but he's pretty young for heartworms right now. Test his thyroid.
Otherwise, look for a good, high quality kibble. You want meat to be the top ingredient. At this age, he can eat as he pleases and not in set meals too.
Good luck! |
