questions about dog health

[geordie40]

ok although i sound like a dog novice, im not as ive had dogs for years and read everything i can get my hands on but still could do with some help on these questions. so any1 got any ideas about why daisy would suddenly start getting really stiff after a walk of about 15mins? also apart from the usual pasta that iv been adding etc what else can i add to the dog food to try n bulk daisy up as we weighed her cos she seemed to have lost a bit weight in the last week and we found that she has dropped quarter of a stone. ALSO does any1 else have a greyhound with a poor sense of smell, cos unless daisy can see something in front of her she doesnt seem able to find it where as my whippet would sniff out a doggie treat under 10 foot of concrete.

[Cath]

Sounds like family traits to me...

Bob's starting to resemble a skeleton  we can see so many ribs. We've changed his food from resting greyhound wafcol food to racing wafcol, and that seemed to help. But if we have a week where we get out for long walks he loses all he's gained. Just seems to be the way he is.

Both of ours seem to have very fussy stomachs. Anything different to their usual food and they have dire-rear and awful fartiness as well. It's taken us 6 months to get them settled and put some weight on... but they've lost it in the heat this week.

I've read elsewhere that people add fatty mince, sardines etc to dog's food to increase weight. That's not something we can try out as we've had enough upset tummies to last for years here

Their sense of smell isn't great. Certainly nothing like a collie's. It seems to be  a greyhound thing and a general problem- if they run off they can't retrace their steps through smell.

[geordie40]

i haver started adding sardines recently (more for dandruff and to improve our whippets arthritis etc), i also add pasta n sausages etc but thought i might be missing something as she adds and then drops weight really fast. will have a go at finding some racing food for daisy then, not for our whippet though as she is getting like a little football as she cant get walked much now and is constantly trying to steal food as we have cut hers right back on vets orders. i must admit daisy has got the toilet habits of a docker at times which isnt very pleasant for me as im on toilet duty! do u walk your 2 very far in this weather?

[Cath]

If we are up very early (like today) they'll get a normal weekend walk of a few miles - we carry bowls and water with us. During this week Jon's been taking them for a short walk, more of a sniff about, about 7am. After that they don't want to move away from the fans we have trained on their bed

We did try and take them out for a short walk one evening, about 9pm. We thought it would be cool enough by then, but it wasn't. It was just cruel, they were so miserable. We have a small back garden so they've been wandering in and out during the day.

Most pet shops will order in any type of food you like. Lizzie recommended Wafcol to us because Bob had appalling wind - there isn't a suitable word to describe it. It took about a month to get them settled on new food and it did make a difference. But at the same time our hounds have become a lot fitter- they go offlead sometimes and run for england- so they started to lose weight. Another month and they are established on Wafcol racing. It costs about £15 for a 15kg sack.

[GreyhoundBuddy]

A good tip Steve gave to me...The more food you put into a dog, the more poo you will have to pick up.  

If you stick to a good quality dog food that agrees with your dog, weight gain is always gradual, it  never  happens overnight.

I use Burgess sensitive and you can buy that at Pets at home, it is great for bunging up a runny bottom.  I also add lots of different foods when I feed up (not all together).  I only give a little pasta as this can make them more loose.  They only get 1 sardine each in their main meal a couple of times a week. Corned beef is a favourite and also mince stew, Yorkshires with veg (1 spoon with meal).  I have even added tinned dog food in to their meal just to give it taste.

Daisy Mae will be having a moult at the moment (most dogs are) and this is where the dandruff is coming from.  A good comb to buy is a stripping comb (pets at home £5-£6).  This comb is fab and I do all my dogs at least once a week with it. and then give them a buff with a towel, they love it.

Don't worry about the stiffness in her legs, it is just because she is not used to exercise.  The trainer who had her, did not walk her a lot. Tinned tomatoes or a little cod liver oil is good for stiffness and cramps.

[jenny + molly]

I use one third avon skin so soft oil to two thirds water and after brushing them and towelling them down once a week I rub oil into their coat , has helped with dandruff and also prevents fleas on animals