Diet for an underweight dog after bloat

[animalslave]

So Murphy is ridiculously underweight.  He'd started putting it back on then dropped it all again (though I'm both greatful and happy to report the recipies I was given on here bulked Mayday up and she's nearly back up to her proper weight.)

Murphy since his stomach operation last week is loosing weight.  He's eating happily and having six-eight small meals a day but as they have recomended just chicken or fish and rice for a few weeks he isn't putting any weight on however much he eats.  He's on average going through a kilo bag of rice each day.  Any  ideas as to food that will be genle on his tummy and help him put some weight back on?

His fur is shiny and soft, his eyes bright and nose wet and he has ridiculous amounts of energy as he isn't allowed walks or even offlead in the garden for two weeks so I'm not worried about his health but his weight is a major problem at the moment.

Help?

[samburns]

potato - mashed, with chicken or fish added?

[animalslave]

Will certainly add potato to his diet thanks

[andywillow]

cottage cheese, pasta?

[animalslave]

Didn't know they could have cottage cheese. Will certainly give it a go! Thanks
and I've been giving him pasta instead of rice a couple of meals a day as I don't want him to get too bored although if he ever stops eating I know take him straight to the vets. They had him eating within a couple of hours of his surgery. Greedy boy <3

[lurchernut]

Sweet potato is a good one too, and gives a tiny bit of variety in taste.

Hope Murphy continues to recover well

[andywillow]

What about the trays of naturediet? The fish ones? Or have a look in pets at home, they have lots of soft naturediet like foods, nice and soft and lots of fishy flavoured ones which should be ok I would have thought? Any doubts check with your vet

[lurchernut]

Just remembered that Hills WD is highly rated. Zico came home with a few tins after his overnight stay in the vets due to HGE. When I opened it, everybody was clamouring around trying to get some. It's for sensitive stomachs, colitis etc, .

Not sure if it will be the right one for Murphy, but as Sue said the vet will be able to advise

[vickyb]

I was going to suggest potato and or sweet potato. Gracie was on sweet potato and white fish for a couple of months this summer after tummy trouble and it was a nightmare trying to keep her weight up. She weighs 26-27k and needed 600g sweet potatoes and 500g fish. I found tescos frozen everyday value white fish fillets at £1.68 for 520g cheapest.
She didn't put any weight back on until I was allowed to add in potatoes, minced beef and minced turkey. I added in small amount of tinned pink salmon too (aldi do big tins for £1.99) a few times a week and she looks much better now and has more energy I used tinned as the bones are soft so they can be mashed in and they add calcium. It was definitely getting the fat into her food that made a difference once she was allowed it.
You could ask the vet if he could have salmon, fresh or tinned and perhaps an egg a couple of times a week?

Good luck - I know how hard it is.

[julies]

Did he have his stomach stitched to his side? Just wondered as a friend's dogs who have had bloat all have had this safeguard Gastropendectomy? possibly??

Anyroad up .. I read a survey last year on bloat and interestingly it was reported no raw fed dogs had had bloat so how about fatty meat like Lamb? Greek yohurt which is rich, oils should help as there are lots of calories in a small amount - Yumega do a Show Dog oil which is packed full of nice things tho probably worth checking with your vet too.

Good luck with him

Julie

[animalslave]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner I was in the middle of a house move when he fell ill. Thankfully though I'm in now and he seems happy and settled in the new house.
Thank you for all the suggestions he's loving the sweet potato and cottage cheese. Hadn't thought of either of these so big thanks
the vet said egg and salmon are fine in small amounts so will be trying him with these in the week.
I'm afraid to report I thought my vet was going to have an aneurysm at the mention of pet foods and of lamb as he thought I was already giving them Murphy before checking. Apparently these are far far too rich for him and he has to stay on fairly bland things for a while longer.

Thank you again everyone for your support

[animalslave]

Dec 1, 2013 9:50:50 GMT -5 julies said:

Did he have his stomach stitched to his side? Just wondered as a friend's dogs who have had bloat all have had this safeguard

Thankfully murphys surgeon was experienced with bloat and secured his stomach to his side during the operation. Apparently bloat nearly always reoccurs in dogs who don't have this done and only reoccurs 1% of the time in dogs who do.
Thank you so much for pointing this out though as had he not had it done I would certainly be asking my vet about getting it done. It's apparently fairly minor as opps go and mixed in with twisting his stomach was pretty much no extra stress or pain for him but potentially life saving.
x

[deborahburt]

Can he have porridge. I give that to Sammy, who is still a little underweight.
I've also started giving it to Jimmy and Cas as I was sick and tired of the 'favouritism' moanings.........

[animalslave]

Hadn't thought of porridge but I phoned the vet and he said that although he hadn't thought of it either porridge will be great for murphy. Thank you he loves his oats so it'll be a nice change for him

[deborahburt]

As you can see, mine love their porridge so much, Cas decided she couldn't wait one morning...............
Don't go getting any ideas Murphy and Mayday.