on raw diet and not gaining weight

Sabeaux

New member
hi all i have recently changed over to Wendy Volhards NDF...I have always used raw food but felt this was more balanced....I like the food the dogs like the food....my problem is that Duncan is not gaining weight on it....He is 281/2" at the shoulder and only weighs 101 lbs....you can feel every bone.....He hs been on this diet for about 3 months and has gained only 6 lbs....and none in the last month....I have even gone up to what is receommended for a dog 125-150 lbs thinking this would help. I don't know what to do...I will be bring in a stool sample to see if he has any parasites but haven't seen anything in his poop.....Looking for suggestions...He gets raw ground chicken and raw ground beef. HELP :confused:
 

Pam G

New member
Just a thought here. Why don't you try feeding a good quality dog food for a month or so and see if he puts on any weight. Maybe his system just doesn't do well with the raw....who knows. If he doesn't you could always go back to raw. Good luck, I hope you find something that works for him.
 

Sabeaux

New member
Duncan is 15 months and was neutered at 11 months..thanks Pam I do understand what you are saying but wuld really like to keep him on raw.
 

BoundlessNewfs

New member
We've been feeding Maggie and Lucy this same diet for over a year. The girls have pretty much maintained their weights for the last 6 months on it. Maggie is just under 2 years, and Lucy is 16 months, so their growth has slowed, anyhow. They are each right around 28-1/2 inches tall.

What I was told, is to increase the oatmeal (it's a fatty grain), and add a little more meat to the meat meal, if your dog needs to gain weight. Keep the other ingredients and supplements at the levels recommended for their weights.

Is he very active? Lucy runs like a greyhound, and it's very hard to put/keep weight on the girl.....although her muscle tone is that of an athlete. She weighs right around 115 pounds, and I feed her roughly TWICE as much oats and meat as what I give Maggie. Maggie has severe hip displasia and isn't as active, although we do exercise her every day. Even though Mags weighs around 125, I give her the amount of oats and meat recommended for a 100 pound dog, and she maintains well on that.

Also, once a week I feed the girls their favorite meal. Cook brown rice and sliced sweet potatoes, until both are just tender. Drain, and add Jack Mackerel and Salmon (I buy the canned kind at the grocery store, in the "human" section). Mix the fish into the rice and sweet potatoes. Feed. This is their favorite dinner. Not exactly raw, but they love it.

Check for parasites, if that's a concern, then try increasing the oats and meat for a few weeks to see if that makes a difference. Good luck!
 

Newfs Forever

New member
I agree with N2N about upping the quantities. And also, drop off a stool sample at the vet's.

You may also want to throw in some bananas. They can be fattening.

Sue
 

csk1134

New member
You may also want to look at the diet rules again. Make sure you're following it properly. I know somethings don't make sense to us, but are really important.

Are you still doing the pre-made crumbles? If so, maybe you should take a look at doing the diet with out the premade stuff? Get a better handle on exactly what he's eating.
 

csk1134

New member
Sorry... on the Volhard diet, you can buy a premade mixture for both AM and PM. Then you just add either the meat, or the grain mix and serve.

It certainly seems an easier way to do it, but I'm always afraid I may be missing something. I also can't add or subtract as easily as I can when I put it all together myself.

This is the same diet that Laurel does with Maggie and Lucy and I do with Keegan. So far it's going well. I've seen a distinct coat change, as well as brighter eyes and much, much less poop! LOL

I'm wondering if Duncan is missing something in the diet or if maybe his system just isn't taking to it as well. I know Shelley's other newf is doing great on it.
 

Newfs Forever

New member
I have Volhard's book, but it is the older one. I don't ever remember seeing that terminology in it.

I am assuming you have the newer version.

Sue
 
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