No one has encouraged her to?? we encouraged her to take the advice from some one that knows the breed, and has seen the dog her self !!

Not to mention it's YOUR dog and YOU have determined (with the additional help of people "in the know") that the dog is a bit underweight. So no it's NOT dangerous to advise you as to how to have the dog gain a bit of weight.

Many people have had to help dogs gain weight as it's not that uncommon for dogs to come into shelters and rescues underweight and sometimes severely underweight due to neglect, abuse, and parasites.

I found pictures of him wet but he's shaking in them so he looks huge He loves the tripe and ate half a packet of it in one go so atleast I don't have the problem of him refusing to eat. Not much to go on but he is 7kg (14 pounds I think?) and he is the taller end of a min poodle so maximum he can put on another 4 pounds.

Someone actually told me at the weekend to try barley malt extract. Anyone heard of that being used before?

Hi Blu

The B vitamin complex in the malt extract that they recommend will increase the dog's appitite. (Dorwest Herbs sell a malt based tablet to do the same thing)

I hope you get your boy to the weight you think is suitable for him.

Labman I consider it very presumptions and arrogant for you to make such statements, no one here has defended overweight dogs and I don't think it is acceptable for you to assume everyone who posts about an underweight dog needs a lecture on canine obesity or is overfeeding their dog or that others here overfeed their dogs
Obesity in dogs is clearly your latest obsession , a little while ago it was telling people with in season bitches that they may die or be killed, and people with puppies including those living in cities to always go outside with puppies in case a hawk took them.

When it comes to dog abuse I suggest you go away and look at your own methods of dog care before you presume to criticise others here.

Just wanted to thank all the people who gave genuine advice. I have been looking into the same problem. My new poochie, is an 8 month old St Bernard, who is really underweight, ribs hang out. Have been advised to fatten her up (by the vet (for Labman)). She had been fed wrong foods for a giant breed, previous to me owning her. So she is very ganglyn and very thin
I have been today to J olleys and bought frozen tripe and she had her first batch for tea. Yummy yummy in her tummy. As Im a vegetarian, I found it repulsive - but wouldnt deny my dogs anything for their health and wellbeing.
I have read this thread with great interest, and taken from it all information that I found pertinent.
Thanks again guys

Hi Debs my neighbour has an underweight rescue dog and has had great trouble getting any weight to stay on her. He gets very upset by the looks people give her and he thinks they think he is starving her.

Increasing the number of meals can help, also as the others have said feeding tripe and I also feed porridge oats for breakfast with an egg beaten in which many dogs like and sardines in oil added to food are good too

Since you seem to be totally lacking in judgment, none of your posts mean much to me. Too bad anybody gives any attention to your myths of the 50's.

All I've seen from Minihaha are well thought out posts with good information. All I've seen from you have been posts of animal abuse and neglect and a heck of a lot of misinformation. I have no clue what these mysterious "myths of the 50s" are. Haven't seen anything yet.

This is very interesting reading to me, Gracie (ESS) is always on the skinny size, especially in the shooting season when she is in work.

I'm going to take on board what has been said, about what is good food to help 'up weight.'

Will the continuation of feeding tripe and such help maintain the body weight?