getting my dog to gain weight

Question
We have a 4 year old female boxer. She is underweight, so much that you can see her spine and ribs. We try to get her to eat twice a day, but sometimes she doesnt eat at all. She is very attached to my husband, who is gone every third day since he is a fireman. It seems that when he is away she does alot of sleeping and nothing else. Sometimes she doesnt eat if he isnt home. Is there another food we should be giving her? Right now we give her Purine dog chow. Any help would be great. Thanks

Answer
Hi Karie,

You didn't say if you've ever had your dog examined by your vet to see if there is a medical reason for being underweight. The reason can be anything from parasites to a thyroid condition, or a hundred things in between, but it's something which needs to be looked at, if you haven't done so already.

You can give your dog extra exercise, in the way of longer walks (in the coolest part of the day) runs (not just letting her outside in a fenced back yard), or play groups, if you live near a park. The extra activity will increase your dog's appetite, but it also serves as mental stimulation. Occupying her time, rather than having her lay around pining for your husband will make her happier.

You didn't say how much you feed your dog. Some dogs need more than the feeding guidelines say. You may be under-feeding your dog. Begin increasing your dog's food intake little by little.

If your dog generally eats her food with enthusiasm then there's no reason to change it, unless you're feeding your dog a brand of food with more grain than meat listed in the first five ingredients on the package. A dog food should have a named source of meat (Chicken, Beef, Lamb, etc.)as the first ingredient listed. Corn, and corn products are cheap fillers that add nothing to nutrition. A dog food should be free of chemical preservatives, artificial colors, salt, sweeteners and flavoring agents.

Many dogs on a diet that contains Corn, Wheat, and Soy develop skin problems or allergies. Other grains such as Barley, Rice or Oats seem to be better tolerated.

If you're considering switching dog foods, this "dog food comparison wizard" can help:

http://www.naturapet.com/tools/comparison.asp

Also, when changing brands do so gradually over a period of 5-7 days to avoid upsetting your dog's stomach.

Best of luck,
Patti