Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I have a white german shepherd pup. I got it about 1 1/2 months ago. I also have an adult german shepherd, normal color. I have had her for about 6 months. She is about 1 1/2 years old. The pup is 20 weeks old. I had a feeling this pup had worms when I got it. because all the pups were bloated. But I did not treat the pup right away. I wanted evidence first. ALSO the lady raising them was feeding them table scraps on top of thier food... I dont do table scraps. I mean she was feeding them everything and anythign that could mess up a dog. Especially a pup, (was 14 weeks when I got it). Anyhow, I have been feeding it high quality puppy chow. And this pup eats like it is starving. It will go through a HUGE bowl of dog food every day. I mean one of those bowls you would use to feed a mastiff! It eats till it is gorged and sometimes pukes now. I started to only feed it 2 cups of food per meal so it wouldnt do that. But then it started getting really thin. So I jsut let it free feed. Filling the bowl ABOVE the rim as far as I can without it overflowing. This dog eats it all in a day. My adult wont even go through more than 1/4 of this bowl filled up in one day. So, I wormed the pup about a week 1/2 ago. Because it was getting soo thin. But it is STILL getting thinner every day. My niehgbors are going to think I am starving this pup if I dont get wieght on it. My adult had worms when I got her. She was this skinny. But after worming her she did nothing but gain weight. And now is in great shiny beautiful condition. but this pup just isnt coming around if that was even the case. They are both outdoor dogs. outside every day. We have a nice backyard with plenty of water every day, and shade. They have a insulated dog house. But neither of them will use it. Instead they curl up together on the grass. SOMETIMES they will use it. But only if it gets too windy, rainy, or snowy. But sometimes even still, they will be out laying in the snow and playing in it. I am wondering if maybe the cold is making this pup worse. It gets down to 9 degrees some nights. Granted they curl up together. Still that is cold. And why they wont hardly ever use that dog house.. I dont know. I cannot let them in very often. I have a pug that is indoors and they both try to kill it, and the birds and cats as well. And when they do get to come in, all they do is want back out. They don't even like it indoors???
Other than the cold, I cannot figure out what is going on with this pup. Is there a chance this lady feeding it table scraps has destroyed its liver or something?
I cannottake the pup to the vet until next month. That is the only time I will have the money. Till then I need something to help put weight on this thing and ideas on what is going wrong? My adult is not having any problems with her weight and is out there in the same temps and all and eating the same food,,,,but less of it by far. I know pups eat more..but his is way more than it should be. Making it puke it gets so bloated. Any thoughts please.

>>Hi,
>>I have a white german shepherd pup. I got it about 1 1/2 months ago. I also have an adult german shepherd, normal color. I have had her for about 6 months. She is about 1 1/2 years old. The pup is 20 weeks old. I had a feeling this pup had worms when I got it. because all the pups were bloated. But I did not treat the pup right away. I wanted evidence first. ALSO the lady raising them was feeding them table scraps on top of thier food... I dont do table scraps. I mean she was feeding them everything and anythign that could mess up a dog. Especially a pup, (was 14 weeks when I got it). Anyhow, I have been feeding it high quality puppy chow. And this pup eats like it is starving. It will go through a HUGE bowl of dog food every day. I mean one of those bowls you would use to feed a mastiff! It eats till it is gorged and sometimes pukes now. I started to only feed it 2 cups of food per meal so it wouldnt do that. But then it started getting really thin. So I jsut let it free feed. Filling the bowl ABOVE the rim as far as I can without it overflowing. This dog eats it all in a day. My adult wont even go through more than 1/4 of this bowl filled up in one day. So, I wormed the pup about a week 1/2 ago. Because it was getting soo thin. But it is STILL getting thinner every day. My niehgbors are going to think I am starving this pup if I dont get wieght on it. My adult had worms when I got her. She was this skinny. But after worming her she did nothing but gain weight. And now is in great shiny beautiful condition. but this pup just isnt coming around if that was even the case. They are both outdoor dogs. outside every day. We have a nice backyard with plenty of water every day, and shade. They have a insulated dog house. But neither of them will use it. Instead they curl up together on the grass. SOMETIMES they will use it. But only if it gets too windy, rainy, or snowy. But sometimes even still, they will be out laying in the snow and playing in it. I am wondering if maybe the cold is making this pup worse. It gets down to 9 degrees some nights. Granted they curl up together. Still that is cold. And why they wont hardly ever use that dog house.. I dont know. I cannot let them in very often. I have a pug that is indoors and they both try to kill it, and the birds and cats as well. And when they do get to come in, all they do is want back out. They don't even like it indoors???
>>Other than the cold, I cannot figure out what is going on with this pup. Is there a chance this lady feeding it table scraps has destroyed its liver or something?
>>I cannottake the pup to the vet until next month. That is the only time I will have the money. Till then I need something to help put weight on this thing and ideas on what is going wrong? My adult is not having any problems with her weight and is out there in the same temps and all and eating the same food,,,,but less of it by far. I know pups eat more..but his is way more than it should be. Making it puke it gets so bloated. Any thoughts please.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Do not worm this dog yourself. Way too many people have killed their pups and dogs that way. The worms you can see are not the most serious ones. Roundworms and tapeworms show in the stools, but hookworms are the ones that can so harm and even kill a puppy. The only thing they show is eggs the vet can detect with a microscope. It's also common for pups from poor conditions to have coccidiosis, and that's only detectible under the microscope. Your pup needs veterinary attention. It's not a good idea to get a puppy when you can't provide the regular puppy veterinary visits. These are so very important--life and death, literally.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your pup's problems. I see you've already gotten some fine advice. I would just like to welcome you to the board. Hope the problems are resolved soon.

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PHMisty

Thanks PH.
As for the other comment, please dont ASSUME i cannot afford vet attention. Things happen. And ALOT has happened since I got the pup that has taken the money I had. I have a 2 year old with "problems" that require doctors care and cost money. And several otehr personal matters that have arised all in what seems a very short period of time. no one ALWAYS has the money they need WHEN they need it. When I got the pup it was said to have had it's shots (still needed one more set but it is not time yet) and I do know how to worm dogs and other animals. This is not the first time I have wormed my own animal. Nor will it be the last. I lived with a vet for a long time. Learned how to do alot more than worm. I do know about heartworms and other types taht can be fatal and cannot be treated with your normal worming solution. IF it can be treated at all. I know alot of dogs die just by the treatment used to kill heartworm. I hope and pray my pup does not have this problem. I only came here in HOPES to find some good advice to help my pup keep weight on until the 15th. It is coming up soon. But in only a few dyas, more weight could be lost. So I just wanted some advice to help with the weight and any thoughts on what might be causing it. I did not come here for insults or assumptions. All my animlas are well cared for. All my animals are healthy. EXCEPT this pup. Which hopfully, will be ok. I will find out on the 15th.
Again thank you for the welcome PH.
As for the other, I suggest not being so rude.

Well I'll apologize first if I come off as being rude..If you lived with a vet for a long time, he must not have passed on much knowledge..Feeding a PUPPY THAT much food, is NOT healthy.

If I threw a 50lb bag of dog food on the floor, mine would scarf it up but I am certainly NOT going to overfeed them.

I totally agree with Kathy, I don't care how many times you've wormed a dog,,do you know what kind of worms she has if any? IF not, than worming yourself is not a good idea..What kind of wormer were/are you using?

Feeding table scraps is not going to screw up a puppy..Alot of people feed Raw diets, which include most of what we humans eat.

I'm sorry your low on funds, but if you have a good relationship with your vet, I'd think they would allow you to start a bill so you can get this puppy the medical attention it could possibly need.

Putting weight on the dog that could possibly be ill without knowing exactly what's going on, is not a healthy thing to do.

My dogs do not live outside, so sorry I can't comment on that.
Again, I'll apologize for coming off rude, but holding off on medical care is a BIG peeve of mine.
diane

Not going to reply to anyone. Just saying I took the dog into the vet today. He is fine. Underweight. But has been gaining since I first wrote. The vet said he most likely did have worms. It just took a little while till he started gaining weight again. He is clear of parasites and as long as he keeps gaining his weight back he is healthy.