I read a post from someone one used coconut oil to help her dog gain weight - please could anyone advise where I can get this. I have a male GSD who is only 32kg and desperately needs to put on weight. He is epileptic and is taking anti-epileptic drugs, so this could partly be the cause. Thanks.

Pamela . coconut oil is in health shops .
I would also recommend chicken complan to put weight on a dog . it is full of goodness one packet a day as an extra meal best wishes Mari

If any of my dogs are underweight I give them a "Rask" a day, those treat bones from Pedigree that "clean their teeth", the large ones are quite high in calories and much enjoyed by my dogs. I give them after a meal, so it does not stop them eating the next one. If his tummy is OK, consider oily tinned fish, beef suet, a little grated cheese as extras with his meals, but introduce slowly, one by one. The complan previously mentioned is excellent too. I wish dog food manufacturers would make "weight on" diets. They concentrate on "light" diets - but not ones for underweight dogs, or does anyone know of any?

Hi Pamela

Think it was me who mentioned the coconut oil. I got it in a jar for a couple of quid from a health food shop. He ordered it in for me as they had ran out. You have to keep it warm at all times so that it stays in liquid form otherwise it will turn solid, I kept mine in a small cupboard I have that is always warm.

The reason I used it was because my boy needed to put on weight and just incase there was a problem with him absorbing all the goodness from his food by adding a desertspoon of coconut oil to one of his meals each day it helps with absorption. I stopped using it after a couple of weeks as his motions were not runny but a little soft and I wondered if the oil could cause this. He continued to put on weight even though I was not using the oil so that proved there was no problem with absorption, all I did was increase his daily food by approx 200g and put him on 3 meals a day. I started to notice a difference after a couple of weeks but it took a couple of months before he put enough weight on for me to slightly reduce his food so that he didn't get too heavy.

I was told at the time that custard creams were very good at putting weight on dogs (and humans no doubt......lol)

HTH.

pamela I forgot to mention , that another way for keeping weight on is a meal of brown rice mince beef or chicken and shredded suet. , again use this as an extra meal. weight increase just like weight loss is better done gradually . best wishes Mari

I have heard one to two eggs a day added to the normal diet are good but never tried it. Our cocker cross is on the very slim side and the vet suggested we put him on either puppy or working dogs food. He is currently on Eukanuaba Premium which has higher protein and fat than the regular, I believe.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, they have all been very helpful.

What weight should an adult male GSD be - compared to my Dobe bitches who are slightly taller than a standard male GSD 29 - 34Kg is about normal

Christine