Too Thin 9 Year Old Yorkie Boy

[Samc]

My son, Bailey, is 9 and has always been healthy and active. About 6 months ago we rescued a female Yorkie, Mia... (un-spayed and headed for a puppy mill) and Bailey had some adjusting but it seems the transition has been made. We thought Bailey was losing weight and blamed it to the stress of the new addition as well as the fact he became more active. He is still healthy but bony and I am wondering what we can do, if anything, to get some weight on him without introducing more fat. He has a propensity to pancreatitis if he eats anything too fatty/spicy. I would welcome any and all suggestions.

Thanks,
Bailey's Dad

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by Samc

My son, Bailey, is 9 and has always been healthy and active. About 6 months ago we rescued a female Yorkie, Mia... (un-spayed and headed for a puppy mill) and Bailey had some adjusting but it seems the transition has been made. We thought Bailey was losing weight and blamed it to the stress of the new addition as well as the fact he became more active. He is still healthy but bony and I am wondering what we can do, if anything, to get some weight on him without introducing more fat. He has a propensity to pancreatitis if he eats anything too fatty/spicy. I would welcome any and all suggestions.

Thanks,
Bailey's Dad

Have you taken Bailey to Vet to have blood work drawn to see if something may be going on? A lot times they don't act like they are sick until they are in trouble.

[Samc]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

Have you taken Bailey to Vet to have blood work drawn to see if something may be going on? A lot times they don't act like they are sick until they are in trouble.

He was in about 3 months ago (he was thin then) and they did a full blood workup along with his teeth cleaning (which we do 2X year... and.... I brush his and Mia's teeth every night). His results were fine, nothing unusual but you are right.... we should get him in because things change.

I keep thinking it might be his diet which consists of canned rabbit plus potatoes and some high quality dry which he gets basically 2 meals during the day and a "snack" at night which is about 20% of what his meals consist of.

Thank you for your reply

[mimimomo]

Since he's a 'senior' (but is probably still acting like a pup), you should ask the vet to do a urinalysis. It will show his liver & kidney function & is a good prognosis.
How about feeding him a little more since he's been more active?

[Samc]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Since he's a 'senior' (but is probably still acting like a pup), you should ask the vet to do a urinalysis. It will show his liver & kidney function & is a good prognosis.
How about feeding him a little more since he's been more active?

He gets treats (not a lot) throughout the day. He gets easily 2x more to eat than Mia who is half his size and prone to putting on weight....she could be 1/2 to 1 lb over the weight at which she became part of our family.

Your advice is well received, thank you. We want him to have the best and we spare nothing to make sure he is loved to pieces. Sam

[Wylie's Mom]

Darn, I was going to suggest peanut butter and bits of cheese...but if you have to be careful with the fats, those 2 treats wouldn't work.

What about adding some extra cooked lean meats to his meals (and/or also btwn meals)? Or canned food?

[Yorkie24U]

I agree with Mimimomo, get tested for Kidney Disease. I have two 3 lb. yorkies , one went to skin and bones, lots of drinking water/ peeing a lot. Test results showed 2nd stage kidney disease as of 3 months ago. I now have them on pressure cooked Chicken Thighs ground up with mashed sweet potato added, some mashed green beans mixed with broth from the chicken dark meat. They love it ! To that I add Kidney Support Gold drops (2) at each of their 2 meals. They gobble it up in hopes they gain some weight and feel better. The older one is in early stage of Kidney Disease. They are 13 and 15 yrs old. They get tested every 3 months now and seem to be doing ok. The chicken thighs are low in phosperous, as are the sweet potatoes, green beans. Limit treats and get your little one eating more protein. Good luck with your furbaby and please post vet visit results.

[Yorkie24U]

Don't give any peanut butter, or salt foods. There are other food restrictions for Kidney diseased pets. Foods have to be low in Phosperous. Check and read online Canine Kidney Disease or look for the group in Facebook, lots of information there if your little baby is diagnosed with KD. Certain foods make it worst, be careful what they eat. My 2 furbabies are both blind and now I'm dealing with KD, but i still love them both just the same. Senior dogs can be a challenge but their unconditional love makes it worth it. Thoughts and prayers your little ones tests comes out ok.

[107barney]

Feed a third small meal. I did this and my skinny Daisy is a little sausage now.

[Samc]

Originally Posted by Yorkie24U

I agree with Mimimomo, get tested for Kidney Disease. I have two 3 lb. yorkies , one went to skin and bones, lots of drinking water/ peeing a lot. Test results showed 2nd stage kidney disease as of 3 months ago. I now have them on pressure cooked Chicken Thighs ground up with mashed sweet potato added, some mashed green beans mixed with broth from the chicken dark meat. They love it ! To that I add Kidney Support Gold drops (2) at each of their 2 meals. They gobble it up in hopes they gain some weight and feel better. The older one is in early stage of Kidney Disease. They are 13 and 15 yrs old. They get tested every 3 months now and seem to be doing ok. The chicken thighs are low in phosperous, as are the sweet potatoes, green beans. Limit treats and get your little one eating more protein. Good luck with your furbaby and please post vet visit results.

Bailey (and Mia) both eat Royal Canin Veterenary Diet Hypoallergenic Selected Protein Adult PR (Potato-Rabbit) canned "Dll" food. Also mixed with the dry version of the same. Mia is built like a mini-tank and eats half or less than half of what Bailey is fed. Mia is also 3 years old (she is our Little Red Haired Girl).
So all that said I think a kidney inspection is in order. Do you know if that requires a blood draw? Bailey is one of those that is better sedated because as he has a very low tolerance for pain, needles, restraint, etc...... it is not worth the stress on him. We usually get other things done at the same time, like anal glands, nails, teeth cleaning, ears plucked, etc..
I can't thank you all enough for your kind, thoughtful and experienced answers.

Yorkies Rule

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by Yorkie24U

I agree with Mimimomo, get tested for Kidney Disease. I have two 3 lb. yorkies , one went to skin and bones, lots of drinking water/ peeing a lot. Test results showed 2nd stage kidney disease as of 3 months ago. I now have them on pressure cooked Chicken Thighs ground up with mashed sweet potato added, some mashed green beans mixed with broth from the chicken dark meat. They love it ! To that I add Kidney Support Gold drops (2) at each of their 2 meals. They gobble it up in hopes they gain some weight and feel better. The older one is in early stage of Kidney Disease. They are 13 and 15 yrs old. They get tested every 3 months now and seem to be doing ok. The chicken thighs are low in phosperous, as are the sweet potatoes, green beans. Limit treats and get your little one eating more protein. Good luck with your furbaby and please post vet visit results.

So sorry to hear about your precious girls. I hope they continue to do well...moisture is key for healthy kidneys!

Originally Posted by Samc

Bailey (and Mia) both eat Royal Canin Veterenary Diet Hypoallergenic Selected Protein Adult PR (Potato-Rabbit) canned "Dll" food. Also mixed with the dry version of the same. Mia is built like a mini-tank and eats half or less than half of what Bailey is fed. Mia is also 3 years old (she is our Little Red Haired Girl).
So all that said I think a kidney inspection is in order. Do you know if that requires a blood draw? Bailey is one of those that is better sedated because as he has a very low tolerance for pain, needles, restraint, etc...... it is not worth the stress on him. We usually get other things done at the same time, like anal glands, nails, teeth cleaning, ears plucked, etc..
I can't thank you all enough for your kind, thoughtful and experienced answers.

Yorkies Rule

For a urinalysis, they need a sterile urine sample. If you can, collect a sample in a cup when he pees. The vet can get also get a sterile sample either by catheter (for males) or needle draw.

[Samc]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

So sorry to hear about your precious girls. I hope they continue to do well...moisture is key for healthy kidneys!


For a urinalysis, they need a sterile urine sample. If you can, collect a sample in a cup when he pees. The vet can get also get a sterile sample either by catheter (for males) or needle draw.

That will be easy, I never saw a boy lift his leg so much

[marlenemaria]

I would try to keep some dry food out for him.

I'm an advocate for free feeding though during the day and night, but I make a home cooked meal at night for mine (in addition to having the dry food out).

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by marlenemaria

I would try to keep some dry food out for him.

I'm an advocate for free feeding though during the day and night, but I make a home cooked meal at night for mine (in addition to having the dry food out).

That wouldn't work out very well bc he also has a girl that doesn't need to gain more weight. I don't think this is an issue that can be corrected by feeding him more, as he is already getting more than enough food. Naturally, a senior dog will tend to gain more weight as they get older, but in this case he's losing weight, so I think he needs to be seen by a vet.

[marlenemaria]

Totally agree with taking him to the vet first and foremost.

I just thought because he is older he might become more finicky with his eating time habits

But for sure a vet visit is in order.

Praying he is well