DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 06/12/2012 3:50 PM |
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So Rowdy is 12 weeks old today and is just under 20 pounds. I have been feeding him a rounded cup of Iams Puppy Food twice per day. He seems to be fairly skinny, but not severely underweight. The vet had told me to feed 3/4 cup twice per day when he was 14 pounds, and a few days ago I moved it up to just over a cup of food. Is there anything I can do to put a little more weight on him. He's fairly active in the yard and playing with my roommate's black lab, so I was thinking maybe upping the quantity to 1.5 cups and starting to mix in a little Purina Pro-Plan Performance. Is there anything else I can give Rowdy to put weight on him? Thanks. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7835
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| 06/12/2012 4:11 PM |
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| I would try exactly what you are thinking and see how that works. If he still needs weight after that try satin balls. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1188
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| 06/12/2012 4:14 PM |
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| I always look at bag recommendations but ultimately judge my dogs own personalized needs. Granted it was winter when she was that age and she needed the nutrients, but she was getting two cups twice a day of quality food. She now gets 3.5 cups total per day and bag recommendation for her weight is 1.5 to 3 cups so... If you feel he needs more, try it. Does he seem to be searching for more after he is done or does he seem content? He is a growing boy... I would air in the side of giving him a bit more... Especially Iams as i don't think it is as quality as other foods that offer more nutrients to be able to give smaller amounts. |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 06/12/2012 4:36 PM |
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| Thanks, I will try that tonight. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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Jena
SH
Posts:58
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| 06/12/2012 5:13 PM |
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| Stella is 15 weeks this week and when we took her to the vet Saturday she weighed in at 17.5. Just 2.5 lbs more than 3 weeks ago. I feed her Eukanuba (which the dog trainer said is not quality food). She gets 2.5 cups per day. So 1 1/4 cups per serving. I wonder about upping, but she may just be a smaller dog. I will also be keeping an eye on her over the next few weeks. |
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MOOSE1
Fruitport, MI
MH
Posts:1789
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| 06/13/2012 7:43 AM |
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| The pup I kept from my litter is now 4 month (17 weeks). She was 28 lbs last week. Her sister that I kept from the previous litter was 22 lbs at 12 weeks so a bit more. Anyway....my pup right now is getting 2 cups of food twice a day and has been for about two months or so now. |
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Rajah-APBT- USUV UMJCH Flying High Rajah-TDI Certified
Phoenix-GSP- USJCH UWP GRCH BNJ Shooters Rising Phoenix-CGC Tested
Cody- GSP- AKC/CKC CH UKC UWP GRCH Legacyk n Estate Sunray Minor FDJ CGC Tested
Tucson-UJJ CH Legacyk FlwrCrk The Old Peublo
Rumor-UMJ URO1 GRCH BNJ Rumor Has It-RN RD CGC NA II
www.ezydog.com |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 06/13/2012 8:22 AM |
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He's only 3 months old.
What are the weights and heights of the parents?
Shorthairs are skinny until about 2 years old or so.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3130
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| 06/13/2012 9:07 AM |
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| I remember when mine youngest was a puppy he ate just as much or more than the older one... 3-4 cups a day... puppies grow fast so they need the food... read some dog food bags and look at the difference between age and weight and amounts to feed... |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 06/13/2012 2:54 PM |
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| Wow reading this it appears I have a horse, not a puppy. At 4 1/2 months Havoc is a whopping 40lbs now and by no means plump. He's getting 4 cups of food per day split over 3 meals. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1188
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| 06/13/2012 4:26 PM |
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Lol Bella is holding steady at just under 48 and is 9 months tmrw. Safe to say he is gonna be a big boy I think  |
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MOOSE1
Fruitport, MI
MH
Posts:1789
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| 06/13/2012 6:24 PM |
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Posted By cynthiarose on 06/13/2012 2:54 PM
Wow reading this it appears I have a horse, not a puppy. At 4 1/2 months Havoc is a whopping 40lbs now and by no means plump. He's getting 4 cups of food per day split over 3 meals.
One of the males from our litter is 40 lbs as well at 4 months. But their dad is abut 75lbs so it doesn't surpise me at all. As long as they are happy and healthy that is what matters 
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Rajah-APBT- USUV UMJCH Flying High Rajah-TDI Certified
Phoenix-GSP- USJCH UWP GRCH BNJ Shooters Rising Phoenix-CGC Tested
Cody- GSP- AKC/CKC CH UKC UWP GRCH Legacyk n Estate Sunray Minor FDJ CGC Tested
Tucson-UJJ CH Legacyk FlwrCrk The Old Peublo
Rumor-UMJ URO1 GRCH BNJ Rumor Has It-RN RD CGC NA II
www.ezydog.com |
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NOLAGSP
New Orleans, LA
JH
Posts:31
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| 06/13/2012 7:47 PM |
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Beauregard is my first GSP but I checked my records to share and compare. He is now 8 months, a bit over 25 inches, and 51 pounds. He is lean and looks like he is just starting to fill out in his shoulders and quads. He eats 4-5 cups a day and usually has a couple of eggs thrown into his diet by the kids after breakfast.
At 3 months he was 23 pounds, 4 months he was 32 pounds, and at 6 months he was 46 pounds. He has clearly slowed his growth since he hit the 6 month mark. |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 06/14/2012 4:26 PM |
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| Thanks for all the replies. I increased to 1.5 cups twice per day. Also the bag says to feed 7 cups per day for 10 - 20 pounds which I know isn't right. Probably just trying to get me to go through food faster. In any case, he seems to be proper weight now without his ribs protruding as much as they were. Will ask the vet tomorrow when I take him in for kennel cough treatment. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1188
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| 06/14/2012 6:14 PM |
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| I don't mean any disrespect for Iams users by calling it a lower quality food (because I believe in feeding the type of food that agrees with and works for your dog), but the reason your bag is telling you such high amounts is because your dog needs a higher dose of that food to get the nutrients other higher quality foods would provide in less amounts of food (due to the use of less unfavorable ingredients, and better fat/protein ratios). It's one thing that it helps to keep in mind when thinking of switching to a higher quality food...as though the cost is greater, you are feeding less amounts of foods so it would really average out about the same. |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3130
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| 06/15/2012 6:36 AM |
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I just had mine at the vet yesterday for rabies
Blitz 3 years old is now 59lbs and he eats about 3-4 cups a day
Striker 2 years old is now 54lbs and he eats about 6-7 cups day (he just is on the go all the time that he burns his food off as fast as he eats it) |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 06/15/2012 2:58 PM |
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| smatulewicz, thanks and what would you recommend as far as a brand of food for a puppy. Keep in mind I Rowdy will be an avid hunter and getting plenty of exercise. I'm definitely open to suggestions, I only use Iams because that's what the breeder had him on, so I bought a bag of that, rather than have a severe case of diarrhea from switching foods too fast. Looking forward to your reply, since I've been looking for a new brand of food anyway. Purina Pro Plan Performance is what the GSPs I was raised with were always fed. Any suggestions for a puppy. Took Rowdy to the vet today and he weighs 20.8 pounds at 12.5 weeks. Looking much better in terms of weight. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7835
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| 06/15/2012 4:20 PM |
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| I would use the Purine Performance as it is an all life stages food. It is what I feed all of mine now including the puppies. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 06/15/2012 8:11 PM |
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Thanks Texas Belle. So I shouldn't be concerned with his growth slowing by switching to PPP now? Just want to be sure. I've always heard that it's one of the best foods for working hunting dogs. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7835
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| 06/16/2012 12:28 AM |
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| No you shouldn't. He should do just fine on PPP. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1188
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| 06/17/2012 7:17 PM |
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Good suggestion from Texas Belle. We actually feed Bella a high quality food that one of our local vets developed and marketed. I know he has it all over, but I'm not sure as of where yet.
Switching foods shouldn't cause any issues, you can wean to the new by adding a bit in each feeding and reducing the old food until eventually you are on all the new. That is a little easier on their tummies than an abrupt change.
For outings where Bella is going to be going all day, we give her a high performance energy treat (no more than two) vs feeding more food (though I'm sure during hunting season we will alter her feeding a bit). She likes them and they work well. I will double check what they are if you're interested. |
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