Filling Out

During our last annual physical the Vet informed me that Kodiak was a little under weight. I was a little shocked by her assessment, as her husband and partner told me previously that Kodiak was a 'lean husky', that some are more stout and some more lean, there was nothing to worry about, he didn't see a reason to change anything.

When the Vet told me she rated him at a 2 out of 5, 3 being healthy weight, 2 being significantly under weight, I was stunned.

The breed standard for a male Siberian Husky is between 55-65 lbs. by most accounts. Kodiak weighed 54.6 lbs. She had recommended that I find some sort of food to supplement his diet, whether it be canned cat food if he was wiling to eat that, peanut butter or unseasoned roasted chicken breast, anything that would inspire him to eat a little more, more regularly.

I'd asked if we could go back on the liquid vitamins Kodiak was on when he was a puppy, but each time I've asked, they said we could but they don't really think we need to.

Kodiak was eating sporadically, pigging out one day and not eating for 2 or 3 days, though he is high energy and exercises a great deal. The Vet said she thought his metabolism was exceptionally high, so he's burning off everything he is eating.

I tried canned cat food, but he would eat it one time and turn his nose up at it the next. I tried peanut butter, but that wasn't palatable when mixed with lamb and rice kibble. I started roasting chicken breast, shredding it and putting a handful in his dish with his kibble and that did the trick. He began eating twice a day.

I'm pleased to report that Kodiak now weighs 58.6 lbs.

Recently, when we went back into the bank for the first time in months, the tellers all commented about how he'd 'filled out' and how well behaved he was. We're playing outside 4 times a day, usually once after walking, then three other times throughout the day.

He's become a 'big boy'.