A diet for putting muscle on a dog

Mr Hyde

Mr Hyde

New member
Hey guys,
My Chessie came down with Lyme disease / Anaplasmosis a few weeks ago, so I was wondering if you guys have any suggesting about a diet where I can put on some weight (Muscle) back on his bones I am not in it for a quick fix this is going to be long term process and I have a workout regiment for him, So I am searching for some ideas thanks for the help

Mr. Hyde
 
Mr Hyde,

First, Lyme disease will not affect your dog in the same way it affects people. The most common symptoms in dogs are joint pain and fever that usually do not start until a few months after being bitten. Some dogs develop swollen lymph nodes and very, very few ever develop the heart and neurological problems. Treatment usually involves a prescription of doxycycline or a similar class of antibiotics. When lyme-positive dogs develop kidney problems, it is normally very late in the disease process.

If kidney function tests were abnormal, I would think the vet would have suggested a diet formulated to minimize kidney problems.

Without the details of your symptoms and vet treatment plan, I’m not sure anyone here is qualified to make recommendations. I would hate to recommend a feeding regime that could be harmful to Kidney Function.

Good Luck, Keep us posted on the progress and you treatment.
 
Wow! Your seeking the holy grail. If kidney issues are indicated the diet will be restricted to a food like science diet KD, which is about 90% ground peanut hulls. Hard to gain any weight with that. If it's not necessary to restrict diet due to kidney function, I use ground beef and brown rice mixed into a high quality dog food. If the dog is severely debilitated, try to jump start the digestive system and immune response with cultured butter milk, or yogart, or whole milk, unpastuerized, (with milk leave out in a pail till it turns a little yellow and there are dead flies present). I am not kidding, this was taught to me by an old race horse vet, as a solution to digestive issues brought on by illness. It works on dogs too! Literally seen it bring horses and dogs back from the grave. If the kidneys are an issue, they will usually return to function in a reasonable period of time, but will require some rest, hence the peanut hull diet. My guess is weight loss due to the antibiotics killing all the beneficial flora in the gut tract, resulting in upset, and possibly a blood chemistry thats a little off, probably potassium. Repopulate the gut tract with good bugs, encourage appetite slowly, the blood chemistry will solve itself. Little bits at a time don't overwhelm him, stop while he's still hungry. I am not a vet, I am only an old hand at doctoring dogs and horses. I suggest possibilities based on advice I have been given over the years that worked for me. Maybe save you some learning curve and expensive trial and error. Good Luck.
 
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find a really competent vet with credentials or a research teaching vet at a University and get some professional advice specific to your dog only.
 
Thanks for the information guys I hold nobody accountable for the information here I just wanted some suggesting. his Kidneys tested fine last time I had him in 3 weeks ago I see no problems so far.
I am going to try the yogurt thing tomorrow also I talk to my sister-n-law she raised Anatolian Shepherds for a living she gave me a recipe for chicken soup for dogs which you cook whole chickens all day and add rice, carrots and celery mix it with his dog food. Again thanks for the information

Hyde
 
I would also suggest (like OldandNew eluded too) increasing the dogs protein (High Quality) intake, to help the dog build back some of the muscle mass. It is important that you understand that protein isn't only a nutrient - the amino acids it is made up of serve as building blocks for body tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones, antibodies.

Some people cite outdated research that claims high protein percentages in the food are harmful to dogs. Consider a wolf in the wild, which will eat relatively little else but meat if they can help it.

Quality protein (meaning fresh meat) contains around 70% moisture, whereas most commercial dry foods contain a maximum of 10%. So, I would steer away from using a high protein dog food for awhile and feed some fresh meat. Using fresh meat will also helping in the absorption and digestive process.

Keep us posted on the progress, good luck!
 
I really have no idea how to treat a dog for your condition but I have done some research into how to put some weight on a dog. I have been feeding my weims a grain free diet with about 42% protein. Very high calorie but during hunting season I just cannot keep weight on him. I finally had enough and made a call to the food company. They explained that for an athlete of a dog like we have that you have to boost their carbohydrates for proper weight. They suggested I switch to a food they offer with rice in it. Instead of changing their food I now just add cooked rice to their food. Works great for adding a little weight.
 
Well went to the Vet office today and weigh Mac he lost 25lbs WOW.

I got to talking to a well known dog trainner here in the midwest and we talked about Mac and his illness he told when he was talking to a few trainners down south and they were saying that it is very common down in southern states. just I thought I let you guys know have good Labor day weekend
 
thats a lot of weight even for a chessie. Best of luck to you and your dog.
 
Wow. Yea the protien is what I use. 30-20 performance or higher. Mix in some cooked eggs with that rice and beef and it should do the job fairly quick. You may evn want to try a bag or two of EVO or equivalant for a bit. Very high digestability. Thats what I would go to in this situation for fast results. 50-50 for a couple days. As long as your vet gave you green light on food of choice, that stuf will amaze you on how fast it works. It is expensive, but a couple bags will go far.
 
Purina One

When I took my first Brittany in for his first annual, the vet looked him over and said, "I don't know what you're feeding him but he is all muscle." Purina One. Get it in any grocery store or Walmart. I still feed it to my current Brittany and he is muscular, has a great coat, perfect stools, and tremendous field endurance. I feed him the chicken and rice formula.
 
Thanks guys information, we had a set back Mac's bowls were inflamed I believe from my stupidity and letting him run and not rest, I can't deny his drive but I acted like an idiot :mad: so he is on drugs and doing good thanks for letting me rant.

I am thinking about writing a book about this experience :nutz:
 
Mr. Hyde thought I'd let you know my gsp has a sensitive stomach.And her intestines act up every so often and I give a cup of cottage cheese.I talked to my vet about this and he said if it settles her stomach and everything to keep doing it.Idon't do it all the time,just when she has a flare up.By the way my vet is an old farm vet with 30+ yrs. experience. It's just an idea for you anyway....Phil
 
Phil V. said:
Mr. Hyde thought I'd let you know my gsp has a sensitive stomach.And her intestines act up every so often and I give a cup of cottage cheese.I talked to my vet about this and he said if it settles her stomach and everything to keep doing it.Idon't do it all the time,just when she has a flare up.By the way my vet is an old farm vet with 30+ yrs. experience. It's just an idea for you anyway....Phil
Click to expand...

Thanks Phil
 
Mr Hyde said:
Thanks guys information, we had a set back Mac's bowls were inflamed I believe from my stupidity and letting him run and not rest, I can't deny his drive but I acted like an idiot :mad: so he is on drugs and doing good thanks for letting me rant.

I am thinking about writing a book about this experience :nutz:
Click to expand...

Good luck MH, hope you get him sorted out soon.
 
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