Dog seems malnutritious. What should I do?

[michjar06]

My sister gave me a dog about a week ago. I knew that she wasn't feeding the dog because she hadn't been staying at home, so the dog was being neglected. I have been wanting a dog since my Cocker Spaniel got ran over 3 months ago, so I told her I would take the dog. She's a mixture between a rat terrier and something else. She's very sweet, gentle, and smart, but not very pretty. She's very skinny and her fur looks really thin. When I first got her home, I gave her a flea bath and literally picked off hundreds of fleas. She's still been scratching ever since, and I know she doesn't have any fleas because I've checked her. So I don't know what's wrong with her. I did use conditioner to try to soften her fur a bit. That may have irritated her skin. My main concern is her nutrition. I'm feeding her "Kibbles n Bits". She doesn't eat much, but she has gained some weight. The first three days she was here, she ate so much that her belly was swollen. Her fur around her eyes, nose, and ears is the thinnest. I don't know much about dogs, so I don't know whether or not to give her vitamins, or a different type of food, or what to do. She also hasn't had any shots and before I got her she had only been wormed one time. I have wormed her and given her a heartworm pill (which I'm not sure I was suppose to do with her already being 8 months old). I just want her to be healthy and look better. The neighbor's think something is wrong with her and won't let her daughter play with her. I don't think she has a disease or anything. The fur isn't coming off in spots, it's just thin. If anyone has any advice, please give...

Thanks, Michelle Hensarling

[PawsitivePet]

Good morning, Michelle.

It's great you took this girl in - she obviously needs some love and care and I'm glad you're reaching out to find the best options for her.

I would start buy putting her on a good, high quality food. You'll likely have to go to a smaller pet food supply store or a feed store to get some of the great ones, but, here's a few you can look for: Timberwolf, Innova, Evo, Orijen, Canidae, Nature's Variety. There are many and I'm certain a better food will help her out. It is likely the Kibbles & Bits food isn't providing her with enough great nutrition.

Second, if you want to add any supplements to help her out, a good quality salmon oil is a great place to start. This will help her immune system and her skin and coat. Nupro also makes a nice powdered supplement that you can make a gravy out of - most dogs really like it.

Until she is doing better, I would not do any vaccinations, etc. as they do stress the immune system.

Good luck and keep us updated, OK?

[onlinepetdepot]

Originally Posted by michjar06

My sister gave me a dog about a week ago. I knew that she wasn't feeding the dog because she hadn't been staying at home, so the dog was being neglected. I have been wanting a dog since my Cocker Spaniel got ran over 3 months ago, so I told her I would take the dog. She's a mixture between a rat terrier and something else. She's very sweet, gentle, and smart, but not very pretty. She's very skinny and her fur looks really thin. When I first got her home, I gave her a flea bath and literally picked off hundreds of fleas. She's still been scratching ever since, and I know she doesn't have any fleas because I've checked her. So I don't know what's wrong with her. I did use conditioner to try to soften her fur a bit. That may have irritated her skin. My main concern is her nutrition. I'm feeding her "Kibbles n Bits". She doesn't eat much, but she has gained some weight. The first three days she was here, she ate so much that her belly was swollen. Her fur around her eyes, nose, and ears is the thinnest. I don't know much about dogs, so I don't know whether or not to give her vitamins, or a different type of food, or what to do. She also hasn't had any shots and before I got her she had only been wormed one time. I have wormed her and given her a heartworm pill (which I'm not sure I was suppose to do with her already being 8 months old). I just want her to be healthy and look better. The neighbor's think something is wrong with her and won't let her daughter play with her. I don't think she has a disease or anything. The fur isn't coming off in spots, it's just thin. If anyone has any advice, please give...

Thanks, Michelle Hensarling

Hello,
I would deffinetly put her on a good food. If she is skinny i would put her on evo dog food. It is high quality food and it is high in protien which will put the pounds back on her quickly. with evo you dont have to feed her as much as you would with other foods, she ill get full faster.
Her stomach might have swelled because she must not have been eating and then when you fed her she got over full.
start her off with small portions.


Poor dog, good luck!