Expert: Jannie Balliett - 12/8/2008

Question
Hello there,
My first question is I have a boy boxer who is 17 months old.  He is very energetic, but appears to be not gaining weight.  he does not have worms or anything of that sort.  We have tried all kinds of different food (mostly all organic) short of cooking him chicken and rice every night he seems to do well at first and then loses the weight.  I know he is not starving, but if you looked at him that is what you would think.  He even turns away from his food and since we feel bad about his weight we tend to overfeed him. We are trying a grocery store brand now to see if that will change anything. I just have no clue.  WE also have a 1yr old girl who is beautiful.  Both are crated during the day, as im sure you know how boxers can be when they are not watched.  But both will purposefully potty in their crates.  My husband will clean them and then they look at him and potty. Im just wondering if you know of any reasons.  Any answers you can give will be appreciated.  Thanks

Answer
First, I want to address the potting in the crate.

If you leave any dog in a crate all day long, they will poop and pee. They can not hold it all day, as you can not hold it all day.

You can not, and must not, leave them in a crate all day. This is inhumane and the Humane Society can and will, confiscate them from you and issue you a citation to appear in court.

You MUST arrange different living arrangements for them while away and at work.

You must either, come home at noon on your lunch hour to take them outside, let them drink a little water, and then, come back no later than 4pm, 4 hours later.

When they have to poop, they will-- they can not hold a bowel movement. Adult dogs can hold their urine in their bladders an average of 5 hours without hurting if they did not drink before being crated. Yes, they can go an 8 hour night while you are sleeping, IF you cut off their water an hour or so before bedtime and they peed before bedtime.

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It is a myth that you can not leave a Boxer alone loose in the house. If you have trained them well, they will behave. The only reason any dog is destructive is due to separation anxiety.

If you can, puppy proof, dog proof a bedroom, or utility room well, no electrical outlets or plugs within standing reach, so block them off, plug child protectors in them, etc. and remove anything they can get to. Anything. Allow them water and food, and toys: Kongs and Nyla Bones only. These are as near indestructable and safe as you can get. Anything else can hurt them unsupervised.

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As far as the 17 month old, do not change food, continue the natural dog food, or organic, with no corn or corn gluten which is bad for Boxers as they are generally allergic.  And, changing foods are harmful to their stomachs unless done gradually- and why a cheap food opposed to an organic? That is down grading.

Add 1 cup whole, plain yogurt to his organic food twice a day, and that will help with some weight. He also needs to be on "self-feeding" which is allowing him access to food 24/7.

Being crated and left alone all day is one severe culprit to his weight lose.

Get him to a vet and have him checked for a thyroid condition. It will cause weight lose, even though he eats, and excess shedding as well. A simple pill once a day resolves those symptoms. It could be diabetes as well. Only a vet will know with proper tests.