we have recently changed Tally onto Lamb and rice Burns we were using  Eukaneuba, anyway she was weighed at the vets yesterday and according to the feeding instructions we are feeding her twice as much as we should be? we were feeding her about 60gms more eukaneukba than recommended but she was really skinny, she has bulked up slightly now, shes still nowhere near porky though...are the instructions wrong? we currently feed her twice a day 200 gms each meal (400 in a day) she is 8 months old...any comments wld be fab
Kellie

Hiya Kellie

I don't know how heavy Tally is...but my 8 month old bassett is 21kg's and I also feed her 400gm divided into 2 meals each day.(As per instructions on the packet regarding feeding amounts/weight ratio). She did lose fat...and is now what I would describe as 'lean'. Burns is far better than the 'commercial' foods IMHO...in time you will notice improvement in Tallys coat and there is far less wastage too :)
As long as you can't see Tallys ribs protruding, then she's not underweight. Also, you can always give her additional healthy treats such as a carrot or an apple if you feel the lowest ratio of feeding amount indicated on the Burns packets is too low. :D

HTH
Jo
x

Hi Jo

Thanks for this Tally is 24kg, she is still "defined" I would like a little more fat on her to be honest..only a little bit mind she has been on it for a couple of weeks, I think me and hubby have decided to keep her on 400 until she is a year old and then reassess the situation..she still has a bit of growing to do! She loves carrots she shares one with our budgies who also adore it..her favourite is definitely cheese though..only for when she has been very very good puppy!! its awful though as when I eat anything cheesey she sits by my side licking the air!!

awww bassets are beautiful....

Hi Jo,

You should just be able to feel your puppy's ribs when you press lightly on her sides. If you actually see her ribs sticking out, and she's been like that for a while, then she is too skinny.  Puppies go through odd growth spurts - one week they suddenly look long and lean, and the next week they compress back :-)  An 8 month old Visla still has a lot of growing left to do.

If you have a friendly vet, he or she might just let you pop in (at no fee) for their opinion.  Her breeder should also be able to offer good advice.

However, I would be inclined to feed Tally a bit more than you are now if she is truely skinny.  What is says on the package or how much the dog weighs means very little, it's how the dog looks and feels that counts with regard to the amount you feed. 

Stacey (I think Visla's are gorgeous!)

Hiya

Yeah we have asked the vet and he says that she is ideal, which is good!...think I would just want her to be a little bigger, if she gets fat then you know to reduce food a little - but however much we feed her she never looks fat - so I am assuming that she needs the food..I just wish that was the same for me!!! Vizslas are gorgeous, she is our first and is amazing..ok I am always tired but she is soooo worth it, what dog have you got Stacey??
Kellie

Hi Kellie,

I have a Cairn.  However, I've had Cairns, Yorkies, mixed breed and GSDs.   I want another dog and was going to get one this Spring, but unfortunately I am going to be working abroad a good part of the year - and I do not want to leave hubby with a new addition.

The first time I saw Vislas was at a dog show many years ago - I stopped in my tracks I thought they were so striking.  With my work schedule I am afraid I cannot get a dog that needs a lot of exercise though, otherwise Vislas would be at the top of my wish list.  Hubby is semi-retired but his lungs are shot from smoking, so he can only do short walks. 

Tally will get bigger, she is still a puppy and still growing.  Educated guess with Visla's, but I would imagine they would have reached their full height and length by a year.  However,  she would need to be at least 18 months before her body structure is settled.  Chests do not fully develop and neither do muscles bulk out until that age - the larger the dog the longer it takes.  GSDs do not look like fully developed adults until they are about two years old.  If you put an 18 month old next to a 24 month old you could tell the difference immediately, even if you did not know the breed.

Stacey

I grew up with springer spaniels..so was always a springer girl..then I met a pair of Vizslas..we were buying our house and the surveyor said we could pop round to his house and pick up the completed survey - he had 2 of them..I had no idea what they were depsite always being quite doggy! they made a huge impression on me and hubby..and 4 years later we got Tally, we couldn't have had a dog sooner as we were both going to college 2 nights a weeks and working f/t..college ended we got married and on our honeymoon we decided we really wanted a puppy and the time was right ( I now have flexi working!)..so we set about our search!!..its really funny as I assume that most people decide they want children & stuff when they are on their honeymoon..we just come back on a quest for a Vizsla!!
She still need to bulk out and get muscles..but she is growing nicely...! best thing we have ever done!!

Hiya Kellie

I'm now back home with a glass of vino....and will therefore talk more sense :D

Its 4oz split into 2 meals....NOT 2 x 200gs !.....Basically...that equates to an average sized mug full for each meal....so you are definately feeding too much (unless you've converted incorrectly like I did :)  )

Stacey is quite right though, most of the time feeding quantities are over the top......much like shampoo bottles telling you to wash your hair twice :? They can also underestimate the quantities your dog requires, as it depends obviously, on the amount of exercise/energy Tally uses up.

The best thing you can do is just keep an eye on her.....feel for her ribs as Stacey said...and as I orginially said...if you can actually see them...then she's too skinny...not that I would think you would let her get to that stage!.....they have irresitable faces don't they ;)

Take care
Jo
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yes she does have an irresistable face and loves her grub, will just keep an eye on her and see how she goes, she is obviously eating way too much - but there isnt a pick on her! maybe she will put some weight on once she stops growing and settles on this food - she does love it though!! she has about 45 mins off the lead excercise in a morning and about 45 mins lead work on an evening plus a bit of play inside (try not to make her too tired but we are trying to encourage her to sleep through from 10pm to 6:30am so try and tire her on an evening..just so we can get some kip!) Wish I was at home with a glass of vino and my puppy!!!

That is an awful lot of exercise for a young puppy IMHO!

Hi Kellie

Tohme is right.....that does sound an awful lot of exercise for a growing pup.....no wonder twice as much food is being devoured :D
It has often been recommended on this forum to follow the guide of 5 minutes exercise per age in months of your dog  i.e. your little one would be getting enough exercise at 5 (mins) x 8 (months) = 40 minutes of exercise....per day. If you do a further 'search' on this, reasons of such are given...such as the steady formation of the pups bone and muscle density etc.
I really am no expert...especially with your breed....but all pups need a chance to 'develop' at a steady pace, without applying pressure on their joints etc.....including using the stairs in your home (if there are any?)
Anyway....I hope this help Kellie
Take Care
Jo :)

We have had the same problem with Kujoe our 9 stone 10 month ole dogue de Bordeaux male, he has 3 mug fulls 4oz per mug twice a day but he is alway hungry, he also has half a can of Winalot meat mixed in, that is still more that Burns recommend him we feed when I rang them but he is looking for food all the time.I am going to try the Pedigree chum professional with him from tomorrow changeing over bit at a time. Got a new sack of Burn's this mornning and I had ordered the ocean bites, hubby opened them and said that they go or he will, I will be sad to see him go, but the dogs love the treats

Hiya

we have been very careful with excercise and have increased the amount she gets very very gradually, we do make sure that she is never tired after a walk, and as a rule dont play more than a couple of minutes of ball with her - so most of the time she is mouching and meeting other dogs and surroundings..she doesnt go up stairs..unless she manages to open the baby gate :-)

LOL @ Britney1000 :D  They really do reek don't they....nice to hear you've done the same as me....given up on the husband in favour of the doggie treats !! ;)