Hello
We have a puppy 10 months old. Her ribs are always showing. Is this okay?  She will only eat what she has too, rarely finishes a feed.  One vet said not to worry, another said she was a "bit" underweight and to keep her on 3 feeds a day.  How do you get them to eat more?
Neeva

Hi Neeva, have you wormed her?  Also what food do you feed her on?  I'm suprised if the vet thought she looked underweight and he never done any tests on her.  Also what breed is she?

Warmest regards Susan

Try adding some sardines in sunflower oil to her feed or Pilchards in tomato sauce!!!!!!!!  They can't resist the temptation. Add it to her normal feed if feeding all in one or cut out some things and see what she does like.
Also Cod liver oil seems to do the trick and excellent for putting on the weinght and the coat.

Be aware that CLO can prove toxic if too much is given. 

As well as being potentially toxic it has recently been linked to epilepsy in dogs from breeds/lines predisposed to that condition or known to have a low threshhold for same.  As has Evening Primrose Oil....

Teri :)

Obviously given in moderation.!! or just given to get the dog eating may help!

What breed is your dog?

Unfortunately Bella, it isn't that obvious :(  what is a moderate amount?  Other people read these boards and may decide to give CLO by the bottleful and the amount that is poisonous varies with the size and breed of dog and how often it is given ;)

Agree with Dill - "moderation" is open to interpretation :(   In any event based on veterinary advice I wouldn't give any CLO.   Fish body oil is a safer alternative.   However, without knowing the breed of dog or any other relevant information re. health status it's pretty much impossible to make suggestions.

Hopefully the OP will come back with further details.  Regards, Teri :)

With the one of mine who barely ate enough to keep body and soul together (n0w at nearly 8 she stels food :D) i put her on a very rich diet.  this was Arden Grange Prestige.  It had a high meat and fat level so she ate enough of it to keep her in good lean condition.  She only ate 4 days out of 7.

She was on this for years until she had had a litter (ate well diring pregnancy and lactation, but back to not eating once had her next season) and reached 4 years of age.

well if the vet says not to worry, then i wouldnt worry.  If u find yourself worrying or ur dog seems to act different, then get a second opinion.
My staffie only eats half of her daily amount and some days she doesnt eat at all, but shes perfectly healthy and in good shape.  I think every dog needs a different intake of food and some are more interested than others.

Hi
Elvi is a Labrador.  We have tried to give her things like Sardines, Tuna etc but it goes straight through her, must be the oil in it although we squeeze as much out of it as we can.  She is wormed regularly every 3 months.  It used to go right through her too until we got Panacur liquid and it seems to be much easier on digestion.  Things like Cod Liver Oil, Eve Primrose Oil, they dont agree.  Ive not had a dog that EPO did not agree with before.  We used to feed her on Hills complete feed but then someone suggested James Wellbeloved which is what she is on now.  We really need to get her into better condition to show her as she is being passed over and we keep being told she is underweight and needs "body".  We were hoping to take a litter from her in a year or so but are begining to wonder about that now.
Neeva

You should most definately not be seeing the ribs on a 10month old Lab, feel them yes. From your posts and visits to the vet, I am assuming Elvi is healthy just picky about her food.  Have you tried feeding her tripe?  and maybe crushing a clove of garlic into it.... 

Hi Kay
Is garlic and onions not like a poison to dogs?
She is very picky about her food but no we have not tried tripe, do you mean the green raw tripe?  Not sure how my OH would feel about it in the fridge/freezer.  It smells a bit doesnt it?  Worth a try though. 
Thanks
Neeva

Onions are poisonous. Garlic is in large quantities but given in small amounts it actually acts as a flea deterrent.

Hi Neeva, doesnt need to be fresh green tripe, you can buy frozen freeflow packs.  PAH sell Prize Choice freeflow tripe in 2kg packs, and because its freeflow you dont need to defrost the whole pack, only the amount you require. Feed this raw, no smell, well not as much as the fresh stuff :D

Edited to add, this should replace one of her meals, not fed along with her kibble. :)