This recipe is good for putting weight on a dog. Be careful though, it will put weight on the dog in a matter of a few days. A lot of weight in a matter of a few weeks!

1 to 1-1/2 # fatty raw hamburger
1/2 C wheat germ oil or wheat germ
1 pkg knox gelatin
4-1/2 tsp molasses or Karo dark syrup
3 egg yokes
4-1/2 tsp vegetable oil
3 C uncooked oatmeal

Form into meatballs, place on cookie sheet and freeze. When frozen put in containers. To serve - microwave each meatball abot 30 seconds per meatball depending on size. Give 2-3 per day along with regular diet.

And one more...

2 C Tomatoes - puree in a blender
2 C Green Beans - puree in a blender
1# Liver - pureed in blender and cooked
3 C cooked elbow macaroni
4 C cooked Rice
4 Egg yokes
1/3 jar of honey
1 C olive oil
1/3 jar of wheat germ
2-3 pounds of raw hamburger meat

Mix all of the above ingredients in a big container. Add enough Chex cereal or oatmeal to bind together. Make meatballs and freeze. Thaw and microwave individual meatballs as needed.

And, in answer to those who believe in the "tough love" method of getting dogs to eat what's good for them (I particularly like this! -- I've asked Joan's permission to include it here.)

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A dog that has not recieved proper nourishment CAN NOT just start eating, digesting, and utilizing regular doggie kibble!

I have 20 years of experience rescuing, and, like all too many Rescuers, have had more than my share of 45 lb pups that should have weighed 90lbs, or the 60 to 80 lb adults that were starved or Heartworm positive.  Animals, that when they left my care, were weighing in a 125-145 lbs.  And they had all learned to eat the proper Kibble----but in a time frame that was geared to nuitrition and wellness--- not the caregivers convience, and certainly not tough love.

You find in almost every malnourished Giant Breed dog ONE common factor---once THEY feel a little better, they will not eat any more than it takes to maintain. They will still be under weight, but they only know they aren't suffering---they also aren't getting better.

Now add the stress of surgery, the fact that anesthesia can often depress the appetite ---   I'd say nourishment is definitely more important than whether or not the dog eats Kibble.

Putting weight on these animals is an art, and a committment --- it starts from the day they come into rescue. Multiple small meals, 5-6 times a day, works a lot better than your so called normal feeding schedule.  And what you feed is essential.

I will take you through my steps starting with the worse case scenerio.  Severe pancreaitis --- not bloody diarehea, just blood, from digesting its own stomach for total lack of nourishment --- an  animal too weak to stand, no muscle mass so legs are rickety, a skeleton wearing a sparse fur coat. Hold back the tears, and be encouraging.

1 lb or rice, appropriate amount of water
1lb of ground sirloin
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
and a sprinkle of salt.

Cook as you would the rice, making sure the meat s thoroughly broken up, and evenly dispersed.

Feed by the spoon if necessary. Only a 1/4 of a cup -- rejoice! And try again in a short while. Intersperse with plain yogurt, maybe rice pudding, occasional soft boiled eggs.

Bleeding stopped, a small stool --- Rejoice! And start mixing small amounts of kibble with the rice mixture. Good kibble, no grocery store crud --- did you rescue this animal and only plan to go half way?  Would you place this Rescue with a person who would cut
corners with its care?

Eating now, carefully controlled exercise to build muscle, and time to put on weight.
Krafts Macaroni and Cheese --- several flavors, and pasta is protein.  Start mixing in with Kibble. Alternate flavors---you like variety, and so does your dog. A real bowel
movement --- Rejoice!!! Still multiple small meals, but the meals are getting larger, and
less frequent.  Finicky eater, not even "just one more spoon for Mommy". Try Liver soup.

1 lb partial frozen thinly sliced Beef liver (Partially frozen makes it easier to cut), chopped into 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch chunks.
5 cups of water,
1 tablespoon minced garlic
a bit of salt.

Simmer until meat is that greyish brown that you know means cooked. A ladle of
this mixture over kibble, and it disappears.

Alternate meals of pasta and kibble with liver soup and kibble.  Gradually, once you've achieved a reasonable weight, decrease pasta, or soup, (and Cream sauces, gravy, cream cheese, homemade chicken soup), and all the other things you used to entice "Just one more bite".

The first twenty pounds are easy, the next 40 are a test of a rescuer's resolve.

After surgery --- try oatmeal, scrambled eggs, yogurt, and mash potatoes.  Once the appetite returns, you decrease, and then eliminate the extras.

I hope this information, and my experiences help.
Joan

Joan Fremo
Coordinator
Pyrangel Rescue Network
[email protected]

Pyrangel Rescue Network, dedicated to the care and placement of abandoned and abused Great Pyrenees.