Question
My puppy is too skinny, even though he eats rice and other things I feed him. I bought dextrose powder in case he will become ill. But since he is not sick, can I put a dextrose powder in his water/food even he is not sick? My puppy is about 3 months old. Or if you have any tips how to make my puppy fat please leave me a comment or answer. Thanks guys.
Answer
Puppies need more energy and different nutrients than adult dogs.
- They play and are very active, which burns many calories
- Their bones must grow, which requires calcium and other minerals
- Their muscles must grow, which requires protein (meat)
- Their brains must grow and develop, which requires fat
Rice is a bad dog food, because it contains only carbohydrates and water (if cooked). All the other important nutrients like protein, fat and minerals are missing. That can lead to malnourishment. Wikipedia states:
A diet based on unenriched white rice leaves many people vulnerable to the neurological disease beriberi, due to a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1). [...] Adopted over brown rice in the second half of the 19th century because it was favored by traders, white rice has led to a beriberi epidemic in Asia.
Adding dextrose to the rice won't add any nutritional value, it's just more carbohydrates on top of carbohydrates. In the worst case you cause diabetes in your dog.
What you need to do is feed your puppy proper dog food, preferably one especially formulated for puppies.
Answered By - Elmy