Difference between too skinny or just thin?

[onyx'girl]

Have you given digestive enzymes and probiotics?
You could feed small meals a.m., right when you come home, and then another small one at bed time.

[Kaiser2012]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Our GSD eats 4c. per day...do you mean 2.5 cups TWICE a day??

If you can feel all the spine, all the ribs easily, the hip bones. Too thin.

Look here:
Body Condition Scoring Chart | College of Veterinary Medicine

He certainly isn't "stout" or "obese", thats for sue; However due to his coat I can't actually "see" any prominent features by just looking at him so I really don't know which of the remaining body types he has. When I run my hand down his spine I can feel the tops of his vertebrae. I also feel his hips. When I run my hands down his side, I can feel his ribs.

Oh gosh now I feel like I'm doing him harm! Am I?

I thought I was doing right by the feeding instructions on the bag I've always seen them as a guide, but a generally overestimated guide. With Dakota, I never fed her what the bag said. Always less. With Kaiser, I'm feeding (more or less) the amount listed for an active dog, which I've never done for any dog before. It never occurred to me really that I was actually feeding him less than what he requires

[Kaiser2012]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Have you given digestive enzymes and probiotics?
You could feed small meals a.m., right when you come home, and then another small one at bed time.

I use geneflora (probiotic). Its all that was available the last time I went looking for some.

[msvette2u]

You're doing fine, and you've seen when you up the food he has loose stools. Keep trying to up the food, and if it isn't working (he still has soft stools) by all means, switch!
Some dogs don't do well on some foods, that's all. Not a big deal. Feed him something he does well on.
There's quite a few choices out there

[Kaiser2012]

Started with Fromm, then Orijen, then Acana, now Innova Prime. I really like the ingredients and while I'm not opposed to switching, again, I hate to keep tormenting his tummy I guess I have to choose the better of two evils!

Aside from pumpkin, do you have any other recommendations to help his digestion(including maybe a different probiotic)?

[llombardo]

Originally Posted by Kaiser2012

Started with Fromm, then Orijen, then Acana, now Innova Prime. I really like the ingredients and while I'm not opposed to switching, again, I hate to keep tormenting his tummy I guess I have to choose the better of two evils!

Aside from pumpkin, do you have any other recommendations to help his digestion(including maybe a different probiotic)?

If I over feed two of my dogs(the golden and the GSD)..their poop is off the charts I noticed that if I give them pumpkin, yogurt, or cottage cheese it helps. Why? I'm not sure, but if it helps and I don't have to deal with icky poop, then I have no problems with it

[msvette2u]

Yogurt?
If you suspect an allergy to chicken, choose beef/venison or fish.
Have you tried Taste of the Wild? They have a fish one that's good.
Kirkland also makes a Turkey and a Fish variety.

[Kaiser2012]

Originally Posted by llombardo

If I over feed two of my dogs(the golden and the GSD)..their poop is off the charts I noticed that if I give them pumpkin, yogurt, or cottage cheese it helps. Why? I'm not sure, but if it helps and I don't have to deal with icky poop, then I have no problems with it

I'll try yogurt/cottage cheese a try again!

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Yogurt?
If you suspect an allergy to chicken, choose beef/venison or fish.
Have you tried Taste of the Wild? They have a fish one that's good.
Kirkland also makes a Turkey and a Fish variety.

I prefer fish (for his coat) but it tends to be more rich so I have to REALLY be careful with how much I feed. I couldn't find a venison one at the store I tried (my second choice to lamb, after I couldn't find any of the Acana I wanted) so that's why I went with the beef/lamb combo with Innova. I've used TOTW with Dakota but she's allergic to it. In fact, she's allergic to a LOT of foods out there They aren't out of the running for Kaiser though.

I'll try to feed Kaiser a third meal before bed (even though I tend to go to bed pretty early).

[llombardo]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Yogurt?
If you suspect an allergy to chicken, choose beef/venison or fish.
Have you tried Taste of the Wild? They have a fish one that's good.
Kirkland also makes a Turkey and a Fish variety.

You've never tried plain yogurt?? Mine love it...I'm not the only one that gives their dogs yogurt, am I?? So this is quite disturbing

[Kaiser2012]

I used to give it to Dakota all the time, and I gave Kaiser some when he was younger but back then he didn't really like the taste of plain (unflavored)