About a month ago Stryker became really ill and went from about 92-95 lbs down to the low 80's. I had a complete bloodwork up done, as well as fecal tests & they could find nothing wrong. I'm now thinking it was from Chicken Soup changing the formula of their large breed dog food.

I have since switched him to TOTW Pacific Stream, which he is doing wonderful on. The only problem is, he is not putting back on any of the weight he lost, & he looks sickly. Any suggestions on what I might be able to add to his food that might help him bulk up a little? He eats 2 cups twice a day. Also, he has an EXTREMELY sensitive stomache, so it has to be something that will be easy for him to tolerate.

As long as his bowels are okay, I would try adding in a third feeding to see if that helps. Perhaps start with an extra 1/2 - 1 cup of food.

Our boy, Oscar, had troubles gaining weight and we finally realized we were under feeding him for his age and activity level. He is currently fed about 4 1/2 cups of Wellness Core Ocean a day, split into two main meals and a couple of Kong toys (he basically gets "fed" 4 times/day, but 2 of those are out of a bowl).

Good luck!

P.S. Has he at least stop losing weight?

I would try a generally higher Calorie kibble. Taste of the Wild is pretty low, by switching to something similar, but higher Calorie, you could feed the same, but he would end up eating more...

Example:

TOTW Pacific Stream: 360 kcal/cup
4 cups/day = 1440 kcal/day
5 cups/day = 1800 kcal/day

Acana Pacifica: 430 kcal/cup
4 cups/day = 1720 kcal per day

You almost feed a whole cup worth extra..

I'm actually having the opposite problem....

Koda was eating 4 cups a day of a lower calorie food when he was younger (Chicken soup and TOTW). Then now he only eat 3 cups a day, but even that seems too much, so now he is getting more exercise and 1/2 cup less food.

Looking sickly...is it only because of his lack of wgt, or in general, like a sickly look in the eyes, stance, etc?

Kira, with Koda, it could be thyroid or food sensitivity (starches, etc)

Lisa, looking sickly from lack of weight. His eyes are bright, coat shiney, alert.

Kira, with all his stomache issues, changing his food isn't a good option for him. He has always had a problem with loose bowels. He has been more solid on TOTW than any other food that I have had him on.

Someone recommended instant mashed potatoes.

Was he eating the same amount of the Chicken Soup food before he got sick as the TOTW now? The Chicken Soup is slightly less calories per cup and if the amounts are the same as before he lost the weight it's a little surprising that he's not gaining. Maybe an indication that you need to look deeper for the lack of weight gain.

Yes, he was eating the same amount & getting the same amount of exercise. He has the digestive tests run, a complete blood work up, & fecals. Everything came back normal.

Lish, can you feed three times a day and ad 1/4 - 1/2 cup to what you are feeding now and divide into three feedings. How is his appetite? I know three times a day sounds like a some what simple fix, but if he doesn't have great stools now adding more food to one feeding isn't going to help, it might actually hurt the stool condition.

Have you thought of trying some Probiotics, I am a firm believer in them. Two of my dogs do pretty bad with out them, but with them much better digestive systems. A human grade you can pick up at the health food store at in the health food section at your normal grocery should work. It could be he just needs more healthy bacteria in the digestive track to make things work right.

Thanks for the suggestion Val. It would be hard to add a third meal into his schedule, as I always wait 2-3 hours before and after a meal to let them play/exercise because of my fear of bloat. He eats like he's starving, but he has always been like that. He is a major chow hound, & you are correct if I try to add too much more than what he is use to, he gets loose.

Right now, he's very solid when he first goes, but each time after that gets looser & looser.

The vet recommended probiotics, but only for thirty days. Would keeping him on them help him gain a few lbs?

I would second Val and try the probiotics, but not just for 30 days...I would keep him on them indefinitely if they work.

Probiotics are just healthy bacteria so there is not reason for a limit of 30 days, that is just silly. If the gut bacteria has too much bad bacteria the digestive tract isn't working right, you put in good bacteria to crowd out the bad. A healthy digestive tract might help him to gain a few pounds.

How about making the third meal as a night time snack. Lakota gets 1 cup of food at bed time. I can't give him more food because his pancreatitis flares up, but the 1 cup of food at bed time seems to be working well. 1 cup is 1/2 of what his other meals are (2 cups).

He isn't fat, I mean he is still the long lanky thing. I accredit about half the reason is due to the heat of the summer, out walks used to be 2 miles a day (1 mile each time), and once it got so hot, it was one 3/4 mile walk in the evening (like 10pm). And then maybe 3-4 smaller 10 minute walks. We also did a lot of off leash walks for 3-6 miles last winter.

And I think part of it has to do with his diet, I guess you could call it starch sensitivity, or even just kibble chub. He gained the 10-12 pounds at the same time we took him off a raw diet. He still has a nice, coat, good energy level, and everything looks fine, but it was a trade off with raw I guess. We stopped raw about the same time it got really hot, so I'm not sure which one to blame.

Right before bed is when they get their dinner. That way they are quiet after they eat. I will try the probiotics. Is there anything I should look for or stay away from?

What are your thoughts on Satin Balls?

I have never tried satin balls because I never had a use to try them. I can always get good slow weight gain by switching a few things around. I go 1 hour before/after eating on the exercise. I personally don't think waiting 2 - 3 hours is any better than 1 hour, but that is me, because I know people who do every thing in the world to prevent bloat and the dog bloats. Some dogs are more genetically disposed to bloat, is my theory.

Could you try sneaking 1 cup in around noon.