# Trying to put some weight on my old doggie **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2021, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839 "2021-06-08T12:43:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/41 "2021-06-15T15:10:47Z")
Any of the meat baby foods are worth a try. Some of them actually smell like dog food! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/42 "2021-06-15T15:34:10Z")
Have you tried this? [Mirtazapine](https://www.1800petmeds.com/Mirtazapine-prod11320.html) Mirtazapine was created to treat depression in humans, but was found to be very beneficial in stimulating appetite in pets. It is usually administered to pets suffering from conditions like renal failure and stomach disease. In addition, it aids with loss of appetite or nausea associated with cancer treatments. Mirtazapine is sold per tablet and requires a prescription from your veterinarian. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/43 "2021-06-15T16:03:11Z")
Very interesting. I’ll ask the vet about it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/44 "2021-06-15T16:19:16Z")
There is an appetite stimulant called [Entyce (capromorelin)](https://www.chewy.com/entyce-oral-solution-dogs/dp/203316?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=p&utm_content=Entyce&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAjwn6GGBhADEiwAruUcKlZNd1yaJ_vKd-zEosbvjbUzxRJfF8Gi9zjENwh29ofyoWAC3Sw1QRoCjPgQAvD_BwE) that was prescribed for Ella. It was expensive ($15 dollars per dose) but I see it has come down in price. It did increase her appetite slightly, but it caused diarrhea (a common side effect). ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/45 "2021-06-15T16:36:14Z")
I also have a friend with an old rescue golden (put up for adoption at 14 because his owners were divorcing). She takes him for chiropractic and acupuncture. It started every two weeks, but now it’s once a month. His gait and balance have improved and so has his appetite. StG ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/46 "2021-06-15T16:46:55Z")
When we had Luc and Shanni, Shanni was a real diva. Luc was a typical dachshund – scarfed his food and polished his bowl clean. Shanni was picky. My sister started hand feeding her, and that was it. Shanni wouldn’t eat unless she was hand fed. She thought she was the Empress of the Universe. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/47 "2021-06-15T16:47:10Z")
Sweetie is going for acupuncture every week. I took her (now deceased) companion Buddy for acupuncture, and it worked wonders for him. He would go in barely able to walk and come out prancing. **I’VE** had acupuncture and I never thought it did anything for me. \ But clearly the placebo effect doesn’t apply to dogs. I’m not seeing such dramatic results with Sweetie, but she’s only had two treatments so far. The plan is every week for eight weeks, then every other week. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/48 "2021-06-15T16:48:32Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The Purina One Salmon isn’t available at any pet store in town. I’d have to buy a case from amazon. But you have set me on a quest. I get it from Kroger. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/49 "2021-06-15T16:52:24Z")
We don’t have Kroger any more. HEB, our local beloved benevolent grocery dictatorship, has driven out every grocery store except Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. Maybe Wally has it. I guess I could buy the small pouches of human salmon and put a little on the top for the smell factor. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/50 "2021-06-15T17:13:13Z")
You think salmon smells bad??? We’ve had digestive issues with Max, and our vet wanted him on a novel single protein – which is hard to find without any veg or fillers – and we ended up with tripe. Stinko! But, hey, it’s working out well for him, so I just try to mouth breathe when I’m preparing his food. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/51 "2021-06-15T17:39:42Z")
Ooooo, tripe. 🤢 I live in the land of menudo, so fresh tripe is pretty easy to find around here. How do you prepare it? Cooked or raw? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/52 "2021-06-15T18:05:38Z")
It comes in a can. I do _not_ want to be exposed to it more than I need to be. It’s cooked, but we nuke it since Max\*\*\* can’t eat a full can at once, so it stays in the fridge. Max lurves it, though, so I can hang. \*\*\*He only weighs 13 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/53 "2021-06-15T18:15:33Z")
Ahhh… canned tripe. You hope that when the power goes out that’s not the only thing left in the pantry. I’m off to the store to buy ingredients for the Baby Food Dog Treats. I’ll look for canned tripe. Probably right next to the canned haggis. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/54 "2021-06-15T18:37:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Ahhh… canned tripe. You hope that when the power goes out that’s not the only thing left in the pantry. Our power was out for about 9 hours last Wednes/Thurs. I would go hungry rather than eat that stuff. Ugh. 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/55 "2021-06-15T19:37:31Z")
Speaking of smelly… I just gave her half a can of no-salt-added sardines packed in water. She loved them (today, anyway…). Her doggy breath is plumbing new depths. (I drizzled the sardine juice over the other food in the bowl.) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/56 "2021-06-16T00:16:01Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > …our vet wanted him on a novel single protein… I wonder if these sardines would do? Sweetie really liked them. [![](https://i.imgur.com/P7pudl5.jpg?1) ](https://i.imgur.com/P7pudl5.jpg?1) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/57 "2021-06-16T00:29:06Z")
We’re supposed to stick to only one protein, so it would mean replacing the sardines for the tripe. Don’t know if sardines are better --should ask my vet! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/58 "2021-06-16T17:06:35Z")
Sweetie’s weight last week was 44.6. This week it’s 45.4, a gain of .8. Going in the right direction. In Feb 2021 she was 46.7. In Aug 2020, she was 52.2. That was probably bordering on too heavy. Back in March 2019, she was 58 lbs, and that was too much. Part of the problem with putting on weight is that I’m feeding her lots of high-quality protein and very few carbs. The carbiest thing she gets is all the grains in the satin fingers. But she is looking more filled out, and her coat is glossy. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/59 "2021-06-16T20:32:48Z")
That’s great news, Thelma Lou! It’s so great to see a doggy improving. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839/60 "2021-06-17T13:32:08Z")
I once had a piano teacher who put weight on his old dog, literally. While the dog was lying on the carpeted floor on his side, this guy would kneel (gently) on the dog, eliciting grunts of apparent satisfaction from the beast. He referred to this as “grunting” the dog. The dog adored him. Go figure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-put-some-weight-on-my-old-doggie/943839.md?page=4)