I think that just recently one of my dogs is looking ever so slightly (and I mean slightly) underweight. 

What could I give him to add a few extra pounds on bearing in mind he is not a greedy dog so something other than his kibble, chick wings, bit of fruit/veg, etc?

I don't have masses of freezer space to order tripe etc but was wondering if something like Naturediet would help as Berriewoods (if that's correct) have some varieties on offer. 

I would like the complete to be his main food source but am quite happy to add to it for the forseeable future if required.  I can't remember what the fat % is but it is not low like Burns and in all other repsects he looks great on it.

He has a well developed front and back end but sometimes looks a little ribby if you know what I mean but then the next day he will look more covered.  I wonder if this happens when he has done a lot of exercise?

Any ideas appreciated!

I've been using tripe from PAH and my Anton's looking really good on it at the moment!

Hi gerogepig
I think the simplest way to add a little bit of weight is to up the amount of food that you feed him.
I feed a raw diet so to up the weight I add more meat and bones to the veg and fruit ratio and to lose the weight vice versa.

He's not greedy and I don't think he will eat any more food, that is the problem.

I could try PAH tripe if it doesn't come in HUGE packs.  I looked on the net but most suppliers only had 32lb+ and there is definitely no room for that LOL!

Think you may need to increase the fat content of his diet, try giving tuna in oil or sardines or pilchards in oil in place of chicken. If it comes to it even Pilchards in tomato sauce may have more fat than chicken although the skin of chicken is quite fatty, not sure about the weight giving properties of pilchard in tomato but they are almost 100% acceptable to dogs.

In PAH you buy it singly, although it does cost a bit more than say Berriewoods.

I could do that - the chicken wings are more for their teeth than a huge part of their diet so I will keep on with those as they LOVE them.

Hopefully he should be ok with fish so I'll give it a go.  Do you drain off the oil first or give them the whole lot?  He does get fish oil anyway in capsule form.

He is not underweight for me to be concerned its just some days he looks a bit more ribby that's all.  I think he runs most of his food off when he's out and about (he's a boxer), although not at the minute due to his knee
I think I'd have to work really hard to make him a 'fat' dog so I am not concerned about upping the levels of fat in his diet slightly. 

Does anyone think the Naturediet might be an idea?

I'll have a look at that I think.  It won't harm him anyway to have some now and again!!

As you are trying to get some weight on I would give at least some of the oil if not all, you will see what you think when you come to serve it, if you only give some give the rest with another kibble meal particulaly if it is enjoyed.

Hi georgepig,one of my lads is a bit fussy but he loves pilchards in tomato sauce.( though doing very well on BARF which suprised me due to his fussiness).Tomatoes give no ill effect to my dogs,but i except all dogs are different.I give him a couple of Asda Smart price sardines in Tomato sauce  tins - 17p a tin so very cheap.and give him everything within the tin.Its very easy to mix in with normal complete food as well so could encourage him to eat a little more dry food as well.

In Response to georgepig

Breast of Lamb from the butcher.

The pilchards went down a treat so is it ok to feed them every day?  Can I alternate between the ones in oil and the ones in tomato or just feed one type?

Brainless:  I might try breast of lamb but I don't want him to put much weight on and I don't want him to stop eating his complete.  Do you feed the lamb raw but freeze it first?  Would you say just to feed him it a couple of times a week and how much?

Sorry for all the questions guys!!

No idea how much or how often to feed it to him, only that it will put on weight being fatty, and also well liked.

tripe is really good at putting weight on, and ive never owned a dog that didnt like it, lots of people store their dogs tripe in their own food freezer, i would never do that we have a seperate freezer in the dog shed for all dog food, rabbit skins etc

Right lots of things to try!!!!

It's hard when some days he looks more 'covered' than others but I do think I would have to try hard to make him fat.

Do you need to freeze and then thaw the lamb first to kill any nasties?

in reply to Georgepig I would think you could feed pilchards and or sardines everyday but not sure you should feed them in the tomato sauce everyday, perhaps sometimes in the tomato and sometimes the oil.

Think you could make one tin last for 2 or 3 days if you use it to add to the kibbles.

I give my brood a tin each ( only small 17p smart price ones )a couple of times a week.I haven't given them the oil covered ones (if I can't have -too fattening on my waist line)them then they can't.So have only tried the Tomato sauce ones.