Reviving Muscle Health: Lister’s Story of Recovery with ProDog Muscle Plus

Martine and Lister met in September 2020, when the world was a very restricted place for both humans and dogs. He was 18 months old when she adopted him, and it became evident quite quickly that Lister had spent most of his life outside, left to his own devices without any socialisation or affection. In Martine’s words,

“All they told me was that he pulled like a train on lead, but it was soon obvious that Lister had quite a few issues,”

Lister was a big, unsocialised, untrained dog, which understandably resulted in various behavioural issues. He was hyperactive, had a difficult time settling down, and was reactive to most male dogs. Lister also became obsessed with Martine’s Pomeranian, Peanut, whom he followed everywhere anxiously.

Martine explained,

“I wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. I’ve always had small dogs until Lister, and I was feeling really overwhelmed.”

A few months after Lister’s arrival, Martine started to notice a new set of issues; this time with his physical health. Lister was young and had endless energy, but one day he stopped and laid down while he and Martine were out walking, as if suddenly he had no energy. This happened again the following day, and Martine quickly brought him to the vet.

It’s a good thing Martine was so quick on her feet: as it turned out, Lister had Haemolytic Anaemia; an aggressive disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy red blood cells. The vet immediately started Lister on steroids and immunosuppressant drugs, which were necessary in the moment to save his life. However, the steroids caused him to be ravenously hungry at random times, resulting in him eating his own faeces as well as contracting salmonella (due to his suppressed immune system).

When recalling this stage in their lives, Martine simply says,

“It was seven months of hell for the both of us.”

Due to the long-term use of steroids, Lister began to experience muscle wastage. While watching him come down the stairs one day, Martine noticed him favouring his left back leg, and brought him into the vet where he was prescribed painkillers and rest. The weeks that followed involved multiple vet visits and therapies, including eight weeks of confinement rest; all of which were only temporary fixes. Martine was finally given two options: pin Lister’s leg, or amputate it.

Given Lister’s Haemolytic Anaemia, both options posed a risk of relapse. However, amputation had a greater chance of success and less complication risks, so Martine chose to move forward with it. Lister was a great sport during recovery, and loved going to his physio appointments. Whilst his curved spine had improved and he was on the road to recovery, the progress was slow going. That’s when Martine looked to ProDog Raw for help.

Martine had been feeding Lister a raw diet since she adopted him, and after trying a few different options, she settled on ProDog’s raw dog food meals. She reflected,

“ProDog Raw has proven to be the most consistent and beneficial for Lister of all the raw diets we’ve tried. The wide variety of proteins all in one place is really helpful!”

Martine knew about ProDog’s various supplements for dogs, so she reached out to us to help Lister in his recovery. That’s when she decided to supplement Lister’s diet with Muscle Plus: ProDog’s weight gainer and muscle-building supplement for dogs. Packed with whole food ingredients such as ProDog’s signature Tri-Protein blend, pumpkin seed powder, fish collagen and oil, and essential amino acids, Muscle Plus weight gainer and muscle building supplement is a healthy, natural, effective option for dogs whose muscle health needs a boost.

Alison Frost, Canine Nutritionist for ProDog, explains why Muscle + is such a great choice for dogs like Lister:

Martine noticed a major difference in Lister’s condition and overall health after supplementing his diet with Muscle Plus. His strength and endurance improved, she started seeing noticeable muscle definition in his shoulders and spine, and he loves his walks again. He adjusted marvellously to having three legs, and is growing stronger and fitter as time goes on.

Martine and Lister may have had their ups and downs in the beginning, but their challenges have only made them stronger. Due to his reactivity to male dogs (which Martine continues to work on with him), quiet spaces are best for their long walks, which Martine is happy to provide. They spend their time together going on various adventures, with Martine sometimes driving for hours to find places where Lister can roam and explore happily. He loves the beach most of all!

Martine has gone to the ends of the earth for Lister, and will happily continue to do so. He is now her companion and family member, and their adventures together are only just beginning. Martine posts weekly updates on Lister’s recovery in ProDog’s Facebook group,’The ProDog Rawbellion’, for all to see his progress!

Even after everything she’s been through, Martine says:

“I can’t imagine my life without a dog — more specifically, without Lister!”

With all Martine and Lister went through together, his health struggles were the most disheartening. However, Martine refused to give up on her companion, and with the help of a species-appropriate diet, ProDog’s Muscle Plus, and a lot of patience, they’re finally through the woods.

If your dog is struggling to maintain weight, experiencing muscle wastage, or simply needs to boost their protein intake, Muscle Plus might be just what their diet is missing.

Our nutrition team is standing by to help you find the right match for your dog’s nutritional needs, so contact us today for FREE personalised support with your dog’s diet. Alternatively, check out our Raw Dog Food for Beginners guide or Beginners Guide to Dog Supplements, to discover more.