OT: Fostering an underweight dog
... wish I had THAT problem.. :-P
I've taken a dog I'm calling Muffin into my home here in Korea. She needed a foster home urgently... she was out on the streets for a while and is really thin. My duty is to fatten her up... and heck... that's what I do best!! Haha... I made a career of gaining weight for over 10 years. I should have a solid weight-gaining resume.
Muffin is some kind of Maltese and perhaps terrier mix... now freshly shaved:
I've taken a dog I'm calling Muffin into my home here in Korea. She needed a foster home urgently... she was out on the streets for a while and is really thin. My duty is to fatten her up... and heck... that's what I do best!! Haha... I made a career of gaining weight for over 10 years. I should have a solid weight-gaining resume.
Muffin is some kind of Maltese and perhaps terrier mix... now freshly shaved:
Well BLESS YOUR HEART for taking that little sweet pea in! I'm not a big fan of fuzzy little dogs, but shaved - she's adorable!
But obviously very, very underweight, poor thing
Not that you asked, and you probably already know this, but I'd feed her several small meals a day - you just don't know what her digestive system will do after having been under-utilized for an obviously long time. Ease it back into action. And giving her several smaller meals a day will help her learn to trust that she will be fed regularly - that she doesn't need to 'wolf' her food down for fear of not knowing when her next meal might be, and therefore potentially upset her stomach.
Poor peanut
Keep us updated!
But obviously very, very underweight, poor thing
Not that you asked, and you probably already know this, but I'd feed her several small meals a day - you just don't know what her digestive system will do after having been under-utilized for an obviously long time. Ease it back into action. And giving her several smaller meals a day will help her learn to trust that she will be fed regularly - that she doesn't need to 'wolf' her food down for fear of not knowing when her next meal might be, and therefore potentially upset her stomach.
Poor peanut
Keep us updated!
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
(deactivated member)
on 4/15/11 5:50 am - Clear Lake, MN
on 4/15/11 5:50 am - Clear Lake, MN
Elena,
OMG is she thin.....I'm so happy your doing this, doesn't it make you feel good to help out a dog in need?
I would for sure give it small meals a few times a day, I always gave my foster dogs canned food mixed with hard food, that way the get used to both textures.....
Hamburger and rice dogs like to.....:)
Good luck....
OMG is she thin.....I'm so happy your doing this, doesn't it make you feel good to help out a dog in need?
I would for sure give it small meals a few times a day, I always gave my foster dogs canned food mixed with hard food, that way the get used to both textures.....
Hamburger and rice dogs like to.....:)
Good luck....
Caution - this is controversial!!!
Try feeding her raw chicken or beef. I'm serious! I feed only raw to my 3 Ragdolls. I, too, recently became a foster mom to an abandoned kitten. She took to raw like crazy. She's a growing girl and eats as much all by herself as the other 3 put together.
Don't worry about salmonella. That's just phooey.
Try feeding her raw chicken or beef. I'm serious! I feed only raw to my 3 Ragdolls. I, too, recently became a foster mom to an abandoned kitten. She took to raw like crazy. She's a growing girl and eats as much all by herself as the other 3 put together.
Don't worry about salmonella. That's just phooey.
5'5" Age 63 HW 212 SW 200 Currently 8 pounds below goal
Jacque 
I agree with several small meals a day but dont forget that soft treats can be an excellent way to add calories for a malnourished dog as well! Just dont forget to brush teeth or add some crunchy treats in for oral hygeine as well.
I dont DISAGREE with feeding raw but if this dog will be adopted out...you might want to think about the potential for the new owners not being in line with a raw diet and if you start it now...will it be continued or will it upset the dogs system to change it later? As Jacque said...feeding raw is extremely controversial.
Good for you for taking in a starving creature and helping it back to health. I'm sure you will do just fine regardless of which way you go!
I dont DISAGREE with feeding raw but if this dog will be adopted out...you might want to think about the potential for the new owners not being in line with a raw diet and if you start it now...will it be continued or will it upset the dogs system to change it later? As Jacque said...feeding raw is extremely controversial.
Good for you for taking in a starving creature and helping it back to health. I'm sure you will do just fine regardless of which way you go!
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