07-17-2009, 09:55 AM
He's lovely Frank! Still a little on the thin side but don't let him get too much heavier. He needs to stay slim.
Just let him gain enough weight to cover his hips and ribs but you should still feel his ribs when you run your hands along the sides and you should SEE them when he takes a deep breath.
Poor guy, I can see marks on his nose from being locked in a kennel for his whole life.
Keep his nails trimmed too - this is very important. They use them for gripping while running, much like a cheetah does but if they get too long, they actually will lose their footing and become unstable while walking.
These dogs also bloat - Any dog with a deep chest bloats. Ivermectin can be a problem too - it's used to prevent heartworm.
I would not feed him crappy food. He's used to a high protien diet and one that is either raw or not all kibble. Dry food and foods with a high cereal / grain content will fill his gut like it would you if you ate a whole loaf of heavy Italian bread at once - but then unlike you, he'll puke it all right up.
I'd feed him canned food mostly.
Oh and another thing, these dogs are not chewers. Don't expect him to destroy your house. Get him a red KONG toy. The black ones are too stiff for him.
Just let him gain enough weight to cover his hips and ribs but you should still feel his ribs when you run your hands along the sides and you should SEE them when he takes a deep breath.
Poor guy, I can see marks on his nose from being locked in a kennel for his whole life.
Keep his nails trimmed too - this is very important. They use them for gripping while running, much like a cheetah does but if they get too long, they actually will lose their footing and become unstable while walking.
These dogs also bloat - Any dog with a deep chest bloats. Ivermectin can be a problem too - it's used to prevent heartworm.
I would not feed him crappy food. He's used to a high protien diet and one that is either raw or not all kibble. Dry food and foods with a high cereal / grain content will fill his gut like it would you if you ate a whole loaf of heavy Italian bread at once - but then unlike you, he'll puke it all right up.
I'd feed him canned food mostly.
Oh and another thing, these dogs are not chewers. Don't expect him to destroy your house. Get him a red KONG toy. The black ones are too stiff for him.