4 – Joint Health Issues and Arthritis
When Sydney was diagnosed with a partial cruciate tear, she was placed on rest for several weeks. Sydney used to be a dog that loved zoomies and she kept reinjuring her knee – over and over again. So several weeks turned into a few years and the subsequent weight gain (because my dumb butt didnt adjust her meals enough) became another hindrance.
Joint issues and arthritis can make getting enough exercise a challenge, which makes losing weight a challenge for my dog.
To help Sydney with her joint health, Ive added the following to her diet:
I prefer chews to powder because I dont like adding all the powders to her meals; I worry about the extra calories and some of the inactive ingredients. With the chews, its easy to control how much she gets, because shes on such a healthy diet with whole foods that support joint health (duck feet, beef trachea, bone broth), she doesnt need a lot of the Connectin chews.
The BONUS is that Sydney thinks these are treats, so I can make her happy while giving her a “snack” that supports her joints instead of cookies and other dog treats that just add to her waistline.
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Sydney is a couch potato. She loves being outside with us, but if Im not watching her, shell find a place to sit or lay down and chill. So Im always encouraging her to follow me as we walk around the property or else she wont get her exercise.
Ive tried taking her on solo walks or walks with another dog, but she prefers to be at home and with her history of joint issues, Im taking it easy on the exercise. Well be starting short walks away from the property this weekend.
Another challenge is having four dogs that have different activity levels.
Scout is our most active and all we have to do is throw a ball and hell chase it. If we dont throw the ball fast enough, hell head to the pond for a swim. Rodrigo loves to run, play fetch, and roam. His exercise session involves a lot of recall training – the combination of fitness and training do a good job of wearing him out and keeping him trim.
Zoey loves to chase Rodrigo around but she bores easily of their games. And Sydney will sometimes wander off on her own (or with Zoey), but mostly, shell only walk if I walk with her.
Its easy to get wrapped up in making sure Scout and Rodrigo get enough exercise because they are so active. We have to make sure that Sydney and Zoey are getting a workout that is right for them as well. So J handles the boys, I walk the property with the girls.
Two of my dogs are at a healthy weight. Two are overweight, but thankfully they arent obese so helping them lose weight should be easy and, in fact, Im already seeing a difference since committing to their exercise and diet routine.
Having four dogs is a lot of work and Im thankful to those in the dog lover community who have reached out to offer guidance and support. My goal is to see leaner dogs by the end of the year, avoiding additional health issues brought about by the extra weight theyre carrying around.
Usually I have people start by adding fat, such as coconut oil, in small amounts. If you’re going to try this, make sure that your dog does not have fat sensitivities or a history of pancreatitis as adding oils can trigger fat sensitive pancreatitis in some dogs.
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If you know that you’re feeding the appropriate amount (and most of my clients are), then it’s time for a general health check up with a veterinarian. Your vet (or me) will likely recommend bloodwork to check on the thyroid and other organ function as well as an intestinal parasite screen.
My carbohydrate of choice is sweet potatoes. I have also recommended white potatoes or rice in some cases of dogs who are allergic to sweet potatoes. The best part of using sweet potatoes is that, like pumpkin, they help to build Spleen Qi, so if this deficiency is part of why your pet isn’t as thrifty as they should be, the sweet potatoes are excellent food medicine to get them back on track.
Of course, there are many reasons why your dog might be unthrifty, which is to say not gaining weight as we’d expect. The first thing to check is always the amount you are feeding. The average dog needs 2-3% of their ideal bodyweight fed daily in raw food. If you’re feeding less than that, this is the first thing to try to fix.
Why is my dog eating but not gaining weight?
If your dog appears to be eating correctly but is still underweight and not gaining weight, one of two things is likely to be the case.
The most likely issue is that you arent feeding them enough. The second scenario is that there is an underlying issue that prevents them from gaining weight. You may try giving them extra at mealtimes, but if they dont appear to gain weight no matter what you do, you should take your dog to the veterinarian to ensure nothing else is causing their weight problems. Looking at your dog’s poop is important. If it is too soft, they may not be digesting their food properly.
How To Make Your Dog/Puppy Bigger Or Gain Weight To Build Muscle By Adding Raw Food Raw Meat Diet
When you look at your dog and think that it is too skinny, you are probably right… but not always. Although feeding your dog raw is a good thing that offers several benefits, it can be worrisome if your dog is underweight.
So how do you fatten up your dog on a raw diet? This article offers several solutions to your problem.