Max

[illanfya]

I became a GDS owner for the first time on 4th dec (have owned/worked with many dogs) Max is a rescue & is 5yrs, he was so thin you could count his ribs across the room. On 7th he went to vets for health check he weighed 36kg. He's been bathed when i got him, n is brushed Dailey. Having been brought up on farms I don't bath very often, but have noticed a lot of dandruff, any advice?
Also Max had a seizure on Xmas eve he's had blood taken waiting for results. Because of his malnutrition worst case he could have fatty liver
Today he weighed 35.5kg he's having 5 small meals aday he has been wormed. I'm hoping someone here can advice me coz he has such a gentle kind nature & all my kids love him & Evan my old boy monkey (lab x collie) only grumbles at him twice aday!

[illanfya]

Oh god I just read that back!!! I do bath regularly!!my dogs don't as it strips hair of natural greases

[nisbreagha]

Hi there sounds like he's had a rotten start and lucky he's ended up with you. The dandruff will be to do with his poor condition and as he I proves it should lessen or go away I would suspect. I know that to put weight on I give mine tripe however I've never owned a dog that's not been well looked after so I wouldn't want to jump into giving him this incase it upsets his tummy as a too rich diet if he's underweight and malnutritioned might make him worse. Find out what the vets got say about his fit and just keep up the good work, hopefully he'll start to put weight on as he settles into his new home.

[illanfya]

Thank you. the vet Has given many poss reasons for fit & now have rectal diasipam in case of another.
He's on a working dog complete food, n occasional treats too don't want to change his food around too much either for the same reasons you gave xx

[nisbreagha]

Just check the food doesn't have too much in the way of additives, colourings etc that could upset him. Maybe add in small amounts of things like scrambled egg, oily fish, a wee bit of cheese, some goats milk, just a bit at a time to introduce food that will help put weight on but not enought that he'll be ill with it maybe a couple of times a week at first then up things as he improves.

[Stuart]

Welcome to the forum, and well done for rescueing Max, I am sure he will repay you in spades.

The post above is a good one, most commercial dog foods are full of fillers that a dog doesnt naturaly eat, these ingredients tend to go right through them and do little good

What has been suggested above is all things that Max needs right now, fish in particular will be great for him, fish is equal to any meat product

[LindaM]

Hello and welcome

Poor boy what a start he must have had. I think the dandruff is due to his poor condition.

My GSD Lukey has seizures. I have rectal diazepam in case he doesn't come out of a seizure quickly. Lukey is now on meds and God willing hasn't had a seizure since. I've not had to use the diazepam yet.

I'm sure you will know more when the blood tests come back.

I look forward to hearing how he settles.

Linda and Lukey

[zetstaff]

Evening primrose oil will help with the skin, + fish oil. Please let us know how he gets on x

[LOVEGSD]

Well done on rescuing Max, so glad he's now in a good home. I would discuss with your vet the best way to increase his weight, you don't want him to pack on too much too quickly.

[illanfya]

Thank you all for your advice Max has had small fish slowly baked in garlic & olive oil for lunch let's see how he goes with that for now.
I will keep you all updated on his progress. Thank you again Caroline xx