You have to feed a food with more fat in it. A food with 20% fat is more palatable and more caloric. You might also try a food that comes in a very large kibble. That seems to help when they are lazy about eating.


Also avoid a food with oats as the primary source of carbs, corn and rice are much better during the warm months. How they know what is a "cool" food and what is a "hot" food is beyond me but they know. Fiber like beet pulp also seems to cool them down, would be the same for celery, etc.

 

What do you currently feed? Kibble? RAW? And when? Does it help to feed her later in the evening when it starts to cool down?

 

What do you currently feed? Kibble? RAW? And when? Does it help to feed her later in the evening when it starts to cool down?

That is a good strategy too, dogs tend to wake up hungry, so if she naps in the early evening you can try about 830 or so at night.

That could help.

In the end, it is a natural reaction to the weather and there is only so much you can do. They will generally gravitate to protein, fat & fiber when it is hot.

 

She eats 4 health chicken and rice adult...I add raw eggs and yogurt randomly...I try to feed her in the AM before I leave for work...she normally she just looks at at...So she eats better in the evenings...I give her 2 cups in AM and add 2 cups in PM...she rarely finishes it....

 

I would buy a better dog food with higher calories per serving. Calories not from carbs but from protein and fat. 4health isn't bad but there are better ones out there but they might cost a bit more.

 

And just a thought...when I had a horse that needed to gain weight due to being a hard keeper, I added a weight supplement to add a high quality fat to their diets. Is there such a thing for dogs that can be added without messing up the ratio of their proper nutrients?

 

And just a thought...when I had a horse that needed to gain weight due to being a hard keeper, I added a weight supplement to add a high quality fat to their diets. Is there such a thing for dogs that can be added without messing up the ratio of their proper nutrients?

Oh sure the Gold Standard for high protein/high fat supplements is Annamaet Impact. This is used for a variety of applications including sled dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs and by big hospitals for post op recovery.

It is easy to buy online.

 

If adding fat don't have that fat come from pan drippings, bacon grease .
You can add some cheaper high fat content hamburg meat .
Can you get your dog a beef shank , meat , fat and marrow bone all in one . Should provide hours of feeding enjoyment .
Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

 

From the dog's point of view: Why do you want to add weight in the summer?

 

The OP doesn't want to ADD weight, they want to maintain it because the dog won't eat in the summer and loses weight

 

Thanks for setting me straight.

 

Thanks for the posts...I will get some of the supplement to add to her food and see how it works!!